General News
26 May, 2026
Sam’s Rae of sunshine
ROAD and intersection as well as sewerage upgrades are to be funded to the tune of $300 million in the Cairns southern corridor, paving the way for more than 13,000 new homes within a decade.
The Australian and Queensland governments are partnering to help deliver 13,145 new homes, including 5258 reserved for first home buyers, by 30 June 2034.
It is part of the federal government’s $2 billion in support through grants and concessional loans for enabling infrastructure like roads, sewerage and water across Queensland. In Far North Queensland, this will specifically include over $110m in funding, which the Queensland Government will match, and a $80m concession loan for enabling infrastructure in the Mount Peter Priority Development Area, south of Cairns.
Assistant Minister for Northern Australia Senator Nita Green said that, not only would it lead to more than 13,000 new homes built, “but we’re ensuring that more than 5000 of those are for first home buyers – that’s how you level the playing field and ensure that the dream of homeownership is accessible for young Queenslanders”.
Federal Leichhardt MP Matt Smith said the funding would enable “hard-working Australians to get their first rung on the property ladder”.
“We’ve known for some time that Mount Peter is the natural expansion route for Cairns, and it’s important that we get pipes in the ground and bitumen laid down, so that we can build over 13,000 new homes in the region,” he said.
Federal Aged Care and Seniors Minister Sam Rae was also in the Far North this week to announce $27.5m for the Portsmith Blue Care Hollingsworth Elders Village to rebuild the current 42-bed home at Westcourt.
“Today’s (Monday) announcement will deliver $30m in capital funding to ensure older locals in Leichhardt get the quality care they deserve,” he said.
Federal Leichhardt MP Matt Smith said the funding was great news for Leichhardt.
“Upgrades to the Cooktown Multipurpose Health Centre and a complete rebuild of the Hollingsworth Elders Village will support older locals to access quality aged care services while remaining close to their families and cultural connections,” he said. The minister also visited Meals on Wheels at Westcourt.
Mr Rae toured the Gatton Street facility alongside Mr Smith and joined volunteers on a delivery run to meet local clients.
Mr Rae said Meals on Wheels played an important role in supporting older Australians beyond meal deliveries.
“The value that Meals on Wheels provides, it’s not just the tucker that lands on people’s tables, it’s the relationships,” he said. “We were out in the car today with one of the vice-presidents here, Jon (Cleary), delivering, meeting the amazing people, like it’s extraordinary work these guys do.”
Cairns Meals on Wheels general manager Chris Van Dorssen said volunteers remained essential to the organisation’s operations.
“Volunteering does affect us. We couldn’t do what we do without volunteering,” he said.
