Council is inviting the community to help shape the city's future, with the release of the Towards 2050 Draft Growth Strategy – a comprehensive, long-range plan to manage population growth, development, and sustainability over the next 25 years.
With the Cairns population expected to increase by more than 72,000 people by 2050, the city will require at least 33,000 new dwellings and 32,000 jobs to meet future demand.
The Draft Growth Strategy presents a framework to accommodate this growth while preserving the region's unique tropical character.
Mayor Amy Eden said the strategy was developed with strong community input and aims to ensure a thriving and liveable Cairns for future generations.
"This is about planning ahead to ensure our city grows in a way that is sustainable, resilient, and what makes Cairns, Cairns – what we call Cairns-ness," Mayor Eden said.
"We want to maintain the things people love about living here – our natural beauty, our lifestyle, our neighbourhoods – while also preparing for the needs of a growing and changing population."
"As we have shaped this strategy, we have engaged the community along the way, getting their feedback and using that to shape a vision for our city.
"Now we want the community to tell us have we got it right.
The strategy focuses on managing growth by:
- Protecting and celebrating our blue and green tropical landscape
- Encouraging appropriately planned and designed infill development in well-serviced locations to use land more efficiently and reduce pressure on natural areas
- Creating neighbourhoods with a tropical feel and undertaking tailored planning for localised areas – maintaining the character of areas in line with community expectations
- Supporting a diversity of housing types to reflect the changing needs of the community
- Designing infrastructure and development that is sustainable and resilient, especially in light of natural hazards and climate change
- Ensuring an adequate supply of land in greenfield and emerging urban areas
Mayor Eden said strategy was also about celebrating what makes Cairns special.
"At the heart of this plan is a commitment to protecting our unique blue and green spaces and creating neighbourhoods that reflect our tropical environment – for example lush landscaping and tree lined streets, buildings that are built for our climate, and areas the complement our love of the outdoors."
"We're not just planning for more people – we're planning for better communities and places that people want to call home."
Community consultation is now open, and residents are encouraged to share their views on the draft strategy.
Between 2 May and 24 June, the Council's Towards 2050 team will be attending community events, local shopping centres, and forums across the region to engage directly with residents.
To view the full draft strategy and provide feedback, visit: haveyoursay.cairns.qld.gov.au/towards2050.
