Estate release despite critics
THE first lots of a controversial residential estate being developed bordering rainforest at Kamerunga have been released to the market.
Five blocks at the new 6ha hillside property along Douglas Track Rd, called “Sanctuary on Stoney’s”, have been made available by developer iicon Cairns Pty Ltd, which says it has already had a heap of interest from buyers.
The generous-sized housing lots, which range in size from 987sq m to 2386sq m, are being promoted as “ensuring surrounding tropical environment and established trees and natural parkland are retained”.
Residents had rallied against the planned estate, claiming its construction had resulted in the removal of native vegetation, and flooding the creek with sediment.
However developer Greg Clyde-Smith said while this was the first stage of the estate, only five blocks of 17 planned had been developed to ensure minimal impact to the environment.
He said the company had cleared a total 10 trees, and replanted more than a thousand.
“We’ve had the property for 14 years, getting it to a point where it’s saleable,” he said.
“We’ve (previously) had a huge resort site approved, but we didn’t want to do that because it was too big and it would impact too much.
“So it’s been scaled right down, and we’ve developed a hell of a lot less of the site than we would have otherwise done.
“If people don’t like it, then there’s not much else I can do about it.”
Mr Clyde-Smith said the name of the estate reflected the peaceful rainforest environment, off the beaten track.
“We’ve got a few people already looking at buying,” he said.
He expected the first home to be constructed within the next five months.
The property was believed to be the base camp of John Robb, the contractor of the Redlynch-Kuranda railway construction from 1886-91, however the rainforest has since overgrown the former industrial site.