The Mount Peter Southern Growth Corridor has been announced Queensland's latest Priority Development Area (PDA). It's a crucial step towards securing Cairns' housing foundations and supporting the long-term growth and liveability in our region.
It is an outcome that Council and Economic Development Queensland (EDQ) have been working towards with input from the community and industry stakeholders.
The PDA will help fast-track more services to more homes sooner and responsibly streamline development applications to support the needs of a growing population.
Cairns Mayor Amy Eden said the declaration of a PDA was a milestone event for the region.
"The Southern Growth Corridor is the last remaining greenfield development site of scale in our region. We need to get the planning right and ensure the infrastructure funding is there to support it" she said.
"The PDA will make ready-to-build parcels of land available and provide homes to Cairns residents. We will continue with the work that is required to enable 18,500 new homes for 42,500 people in the future.
"We've got one chance to get this right, and we identified a PDA as the most effective option to streamline approvals and detail the required sewer, road and water trunk infrastructure.
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Council remains committed to backing liveable communities with open spaces, schools, health services and shops. We want to fully realise the benefits to Cairns residents — providing affordable choices to work, live, play and connect.
"We thank the State Government for their commitment, and our local State representatives for their support and advocacy in securing this outcome."
EDQ will prepare a PDA Development Scheme over the next 18 months, in partnership with Council and the local community.
