Ken Frost plans new south Cairns house lots at Mount Peter
The next stage of a huge residential subdivision in the south Cairns growth corridor will not be assessed under a fast-tracked state government planning mechanism that some say is not a silver-bullet solution to delayed new home builds.
Late last month, developer Kenfrost Homes applied to Cairns Regional Council for approval to reconfigure one lot into 102 lots at Moorinya Circuit. Stages 1 to 9 of the Kenfrost Homes Mount Peter Residential Estate have been completed and civil construction works are under way on stages 10 and 11.
The latest application is for stages 15, 16 and 18, but because of the timing of the submission and boundaries of the recently declared Mount Peter Priority Development Area (PDA), the development will be assessed by council.
Following the activation of the Mount Peter PDA on July 30, development applications will bypass scrutiny of council and be dealt with by Economic Development Queensland.
The lot plan for stages 15, 16 and 18 of the Kenfrost Mount Peter Residential Estate. Picture: Supplied
It is understood impact assessable developments requiring a more comprehensive assessment process will bypass the public notification and submission process.
The PDA has been touted as the most 'effective option to streamline approvals' within the emerging suburb of Mount Peter by Cairns Mayor Amy Eden.
However, Urban Development Institute of Australia Cairns branch president Nathan Lee Long said that a PDA alone was not a solution to the underlying issue of incomplete infrastructure that was widely regarded as the biggest handbrake to new home construction at Mount Peter.
'We have an infrastructure issue, not a planning issue, so we are yet to see any commitment on how infrastructure will be delivered and how housing will be delivered in that area,' he said.
'However, we welcome Economic Development Queensland maintaining the development assessment function.
New home construction at Mount Peter Estate in the Cairns southern growth corridor. Picture: Brendan Radke
'And history shows where EDQ leads the assessment, there is more successful decision-making and getting homes on the ground faster.'
The development arm of Woolworths, Fabcot, has already acquired a 5.8ha site for a future supermarket at the corner of Cooper and Mount Peter roads.
Meanwhile, Kroymans Developments and Fortress Group housing developments rejected by council due to allegedly being 'out of sequence' remain before the planning court.
According to Kenfrost Homes planning documents, newly proposed blocks at Mount Peter will range in size from 420sq m to 758sq m. 'A mixture of lots will promote varied house design and streetscape amenity and will be reinforced through the use of building envelopes on specific lots,' the development application reads. 'Each of the proposed allotments will incorporate direct road frontage and access on to the proposed new internal roads.'
A 2012 Mount Peter structure plan that laid out a vision for the evolution of Cairns's newest suburb will be superseded by the new state government PDA, but previous work is expected to inform development of the new planning instrument.
Kenfrost declined to comment when contacted by the Cairns Post.
peter.carruthers@news.com.au
Originally published as Kenfrost proposes new south Cairns house lots at Mount Peter
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