General News
19 September, 2026
Two further Airbnbs axed
TWO more Airbnb applications have been denied by Cairns Regional Council which is urgently trying to finalise its planning policy regarding short-term accommodation properties.
Councillors at Wednesday’s council meeting rejected the applications in recognised quiet residential areas of Bayview Heights and Mooroobool. This follows another at Cairns North being knocked back by council last month.
Cr Matthew Tickner (Div.2) was the only councillor in support of the applications.
Cr Tickner said the short term accommodation industry, led by Airbnb, had been allowed to operate in our city “unfettered for 14 years”.
He said there were 1400 to 1800 short-term accommodation rentals in the city and all but two were operating without approval.
Cr Tickner said two had recently been approved by the council (at Kewarra Beach and Trinity Beach), which had “looked the other way as we grappled with how best to manage them”.
“Until we’ve done the work that has been 14 years in the making to provide clarity and assurance to the industry, then in my opinion, we should apply the rules we have at our disposal today under the planning scheme and approve this application (at Bayview Heights), as well as the second at City View (Mooroobool),” he said.
“Going forward, I expect and have assurance from our team that a new strategy will be implemented to ensure these uses are adequately covered and better regulated within our planning scheme, so the owners and us, as councillors, and the residents of Cairns have a tangible benchmark to make decisions against”.
Cr Cathy Zeiger (Div. 3) voted against the two applications.
“There are no submissions for the approval, only submissions against, and with very good explanations. To have a home located in a quiet residential area … with difficult parking, no access to public transport nearby and to house 10 people lends itself to problems which have already been identified,” she said.
“Short-term rentals are best located close to tourism-related sites, beaches, the city, etc.”
Cr Brett Moller (Div.1) said to “invest in a residential home to bring up a family in a residential zoning, enjoying the quiet enjoyment of my property, raising that family and then having my neighbouring property be approved for short-term accommodation up to 10 tourists, despite the management conditions on behaviours … we know noisy behaviours are a big issue for Airbnbs and that’s why there’s a management plan attached”.
“But by those that don’t behave accordingly, they’re notable party houses, and a lot of issues come with that in that residential area,” he said.
Mayor Amy Eden, Cr Moller, Cr Zeiger, Cr Trevor Tim, Cr Rob Pyne, Cr Kristy Vallely and Cr Anna Middleton voted against both applications which were recommended for approval by planning officers. Deputy Mayor Brett Olds and Cr Rhonda Coghlan were absent from the meeting.
