General News
10 June, 2025
Luring folk to inner city
A BOLD vision which provides the framework for housing growth in the Cairns CBD has been unveiled by Cairns Regional Council,
The council has launched the ambitious new initiative aimed at unlocking investment in well-located residential areas and revitalising key precincts in and around the city centre.
The ‘City Precincts Urban Regeneration Project’ sets out to guide the council’s planning for more residential housing and quality public spaces across the Cairns CBD and surrounding inner suburbs.
The initiative is a key step in preparing for the city’s projected 32 per cent population growth between 2021 and 2046.
The vision spans the Cairns CBD and three major precincts:
Major events centre – including Barlow Park and the Cairns Showgrounds
Health precinct – encompassing Cairns Hospital and the JCU Health and Innovation Precinct
CBD south – featuring areas such as Abbott Street, Grafton Street and Wharf Street.
It comes as the council last Wednesday approved a 14 storey residential tower on the corner of Abbott St and Spence St and a seven-storey structure at 9 Pembroke St, Parramatta Park, with 22, two-bedroom units.
The CBD tower involves the partial demolition of the former Cairns Telegraph Office at 4 Spence St and parts of the former Cairns Post Office at 14-16 Abbott St. The facades of both will be retained, while former Maritime House next door will be knocked down.
The building will be 50m tall, containing 44 units and two commercial spaces.
Cr Rob Pyne told the council meeting the tower of this scale could partly solve anti-social behaviour in the CBD.
“We need more people living in the CBD and I acknowledge the problems that confront the CBD are best addressed by a vibrant inner-city population that live in the area and that’s the reason I’m supporting it,” he said.
Cr Cathy Zeiger said it was great to see some growth.
Cr Pyne said the Pembroke St proposal was “an attractive-looking development” which was part of the council’s plan to “encourage vibrant living spaces in the inner city”.
Cr Matthew Tickner said it provided density where it was required.
“It’s a really nice design and well put together,” he said.
