General News
12 August, 2025
Pros and cons of land move
DEVELOPERS fear that the declaration of the Mount Peter southern growth corridor of Cairns as a priority development area (PDA) will not speed up the construction of homes fast enough.
The Urban Development Institute of Australia (UDIA) chief executive officer Kirsty Chessher-Brown said that given the ongoing housing crisis in Cairns, the focus now had to be on delivery, feasibility, affordability and speed to market.
UDIA Cairns president Nathan Lee Long said the PDA did not guarantee a solution to the area’s infrastructure shortages and the risk of delays and higher costs for home buyers remained.
He said the branch had long been clear in its view that there were advantages and disadvantages to the declaration of a PDA.
“We welcome Economic Development Queensland (EDQ) maintaining the development assessment function, following institute advocacy,” Mr Lee Long said.
“History shows us that EDQ- led assessment is the most successful PDA model in delivering clear and efficient decision making, ultimately getting more homes on the ground faster.
“Members are ready to work with the state to deliver more housing for Cairns and the institute will present our plans to fast-track delivery of the catalytic infrastructure to increase early release opportunities to boost supply.
“The industry is acutely aware of the need to deliver 1200 homes each year in Cairns to meet the needs of a growing population and we remain committed to working with all levels of government to ensure this target is attainable.”
Deputy Premier and State Development and Infrastructure Minister Jarrod Bleijie said the new Mount Peter PDA supported the government’s election commitment to deliver more Queenslanders a place to call home.
“This declaration brings Queensland another step closer to delivering one million homes by 2044,” Mr Bleijie said.
“The priority development area will deliver 18,500 homes, including approximately 200 homes through an early release area.
“Mount Peter is the last major greenfield site in the Cairns local government area – earmarked for decades as a key growth area for Cairns and a prime opportunity to help resolve the region’s long-term housing supply shortfall."
Cairns Mayor Amy Eden said the declaration of a priority development area was a step towards securing Cairns’ housing foundations.
“The southern growth corridor is the last remaining greenfield development site of scale in our region,” she said.
“We need to get the planning right and ensure the infrastructure funding is there to support it.
“Our partnership with the state government through the priority development area will make ready-to-build parcels of land available and provide homes to Cairns residents.
“This brings together the state’s expertise and resources to bolster (the) council’s local knowledge and experience.”
