- Queensland's newest priority development area has been declared at Mount Peter in Cairns.
- The priority development area will unlock 18,500 new homes, with 200 to be fast tracked through an Early Release Area.
- Priority development area to give more Queenslanders a place to call home, supporting the delivery of 1 million new homes by 2044.
The Crisafulli Government is delivering a major step forward for housing supply in Far North Queensland with the declaration of a new priority development area in Cairns.
The new Mount Peter priority development area, located 15 kilometres south of Cairns, will unlock 18,500 homes and support delivery of coordinated infrastructure and community facilities to ease Labor's Housing Crisis.
Once fully developed, the priority development area will cater for over 42,000 new Cairns residents.
This declaration comes just weeks after the Crisafulli Government announced 3,000 new homes would be delivered in Far North Queensland, with 16 projects set to be fast-tracked under the landmark $2 billion Residential Activation Fund.
The Crisafulli Government also recently approved $350,000 in funding for Cairns Regional Council to accelerate housing development by updating their planning scheme to facilitate housing.
The priority development area responds directly to Cairns Regional Council's Towards 2050 Growth Management Plan, which identifies Mount Peter as the key location to meet projected housing demand over coming decades.
An Interim Land Use Plan is now in effect and enables development applications to proceed immediately for the early development area.
Economic Development Queensland will work with Council, industry, and the community to deliver the right infrastructure, in the right place, at the right time.
Deputy Premier and Minister for State Development and Infrastructure Jarrod Bleijie said the new Mount Peter priority development area supported the Crisafulli 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.
"This declaration will help ease Labor's Housing Crisis and give more Queenslanders a place to call home."
Cairns Regional Council 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," Mayor Eden 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.
"We've got one chance to get this right, and we identified a priority development area as the most effective option to streamline approvals and detail the required sewer, road and water trunk infrastructure. This brings together the State's expertise and resources to bolster Council's local knowledge and experience.
"We thank the State Government for their commitment, and our local State representatives for their support and advocacy in securing this outcome."
Mulgrave MP Terry James said he had long supported the Mount Peter priority development area.
"I have long supported residential growth in Mount Peter," Mr James said.
"I have been working closely with Cairns Regional Council to assist them to open up 200 lots immediately and 18,500 in the longer term to unlock housing across the Cairns Region and give families a chance to build the homes of their dreams.
"I am excited about this joint venture between the Crisafulli Government and Cairns Regional Council and the opportunities that will deliver.
