Community
20 February, 2024
Ideas to energise city
COMMUNITY First has launched a CBD revitalisation policy as one of their broad-reaching campaign strategies for the future long-term success of the Cairns CBD.
“There are a number of ways in which council can help in the revitalisation of the CBD,” said mayoral candidate Denis Walls.
“One of those is advocating for mixed-use precincts in the city. These are precincts that have a variety of uses, such as higher density housing, commercial and retail services and facilities to support employment areas,” he said.
“This is a successful way to energise the CBD, provide housing, jobs, and enhance security making the city safer, more attractive and more liveable.
“Council can facilitate mixed-use precincts through sound planning and collaboration with landowners and by working with state government to provide PDAs (Priority Development Areas) to facilitate this.
“I will be strongly pushing for this if elected. These mixed-use precincts could incorporate affordable housing, including student housing for JCU and CQU students, as well as tourist and retail facilities.
“This whole process can be accelerated through Temporary Local Planning Instruments (TLPIs). TLPIs enable the provision of residential accommodation for those currently having difficulty finding available and affordable accommodation within the Cairns local government area and can be used to bring more available properties on to the market which may be logjammed due to red tape.
“For the CBD to be liveable we also need to reduce urban heat with cool walkable streets to encourage people to live and visit. As Singapore has shown, and as mayor, I will be advocating greening verges, planting more suitable trees, shade structures, ensuring developments have good ventilation that don’t block breezes, and encouraging light-coloured roofs and the greening of buildings.
“In order to drive this agenda to turn Cairns into a thriving city we need to make every effort to reduce the costs for businesses in the CBD by examining the ratings structure and the waiving of certain fees to attract innovators and investors.
“I will be asking for an audit of available land in the CBD for this purpose so that the CBD of the future can adhere to the wishes of Cairns’ citizens who have said in surveys that the three most important things that count in Cairns are its sustainability, its liveability and its environment.
“Naturally, I will be consulting with CBD stakeholders on key priorities to kick start the rejuvenation process. We’ve been talking a lot recently about a resilient Cairns. Great. But let’s also aim higher and go for a thriving Cairns.”
