POPULATION BOOM LOOMS IN CITY’S SOUTH

Growth corridor’s value for money and proximity to CBD are proving big lures for developers and residents alike

THERE are more than 1000 reasons to consider living in Cairns’ southern corridor with a barrage of proposed residential developments in the pipeline.

Cairns’ southern suburbs could be home to one of the city’s biggest subdivisions in history if a Townsville developer gets the green light for Pinecrest – an 826-lot development off Cooper Rd, Edmonton, within the Mount Peter growth corridor.

And the end product could be 1500 new lots. Although Pinecrest would be the biggest, it wouldn’t be the only new development proposed with a 36-lot estate at Bentley Park awaiting council approval as well as a 226-lot subdivision planned just off Draper Rd, Gordonvale.

In the background, work continues on the Cairns Southern Access Corridor – Kate to

Aumuller Street upgrade and further south work has begun to expand the Bruce Highway between Gordonvale and Edmonton, improving traffic flow between the southern suburbs and the CBD.

With the Cairns Southern Health Facility set to be completed later this year, alongside a wellestablished multi-million-dollar sports precinct at Walker Rd, Edmonton, long-term resident and Ray White Cairns South principal Therese Plath wasn’t surprised by the region’s growth.

“We’ve always said there’ll be a population of 40,000 between Edmonton and Gordonvale,” she said.

“Just to be located 15 minutes to the city and have all the conveniences that we have with multiple shopping centres – the southern suburbs offer so much value for money.

“Especially as the majority of properties for sale are on large blocks. We have everything we need and can be independent of the city.

“I think what I would like to see next is an expansion of service industry jobs so that we can provide work right here, for the people that choose to live here.”

Defence force workers Emily and Leroy

Ghee, along with their children Oliana and Nash, recently purchased their first home at Edmonton, moving from Brinsmead.

“The value for money we got here on an

800sq m block, four-bed house was a huge reason,” Ms Ghee said.

“We did look at suburbs around Brinsmead where we were, but you couldn’t get the same value there. Edmonton is great, with young kids it’s great to have shops just five minutes away and it’s a really family-friendly area.”

THE Cairns Botanic Gardens are only minutes away from this Whitfield property, but the tropical paradise can be experienced right in the backyard of this “magical” home.

The three-bedroom house at 6 Crowley Close, Whitfield, sits on a large and rare 908sq m block with a deceptively “normal” appeal from the street, according to RE/MAX selling agent Cathy Ratcliffe.

“But once you enter it, it’s like a magical, enchanted world,” she said.

“It’s very colourful and busy. The gardens are just amazing but so low maintenance because everything is in pot plants.

“There is a big lychee tree in the backyard and the way the branches are on that, it would make a great treehouse for the kids.”

She said the house, built in the mid-1900s, was constructed using bricks from the original Cairns Gas Works.

“It’s been renovated since but it still has pockets of its original charm throughout to add that warmth to the house,” she said.

“The main lounge has high ceilings with exposed beams and with it you have parquetry timber floors, which are quite rare.

“The kitchen is every chef’s dream. It features plenty of bench space and storage.”

Ms Ratcliffe said the “unusual” house had an unexplainable feel and was perfect for relaxing.

“There’s something about this house and you get that real homey feel,” she said.

“Once you’re inside, it feels like you’ve gone completely somewhere else from the rest of the world. It’s truly a private piece of paradise.

“All the things that attract people to Edge Hill and Whitfield are right there, but once you’re inside, you don’t want to be anywhere else.

“It’s been built to its era so it’s quite large and open and everyone can just find their own little pocket somewhere in the house to sit back and relax or read a book.”

There is a full-length rear deck, which provides the perfect entertainment area for all the family to escape the daily grind and is ideal for sitting and watching the birds and butterflies that drop by the garden.

With so much space there is an additional office room inside the main house and Ms Ratcliffe said this property could be ideal for extended families or earning an additional income.

“There is separate granny flat with its own kitchenette and bathroom. In Whitfield it would make for a great Airbnb or even help supplement the mortgage.”

Listed in the mid $600,000s, this home comes fitted with a 3kW solar system including hot water and space for two cars, and despite its large land size, there is no mowing required.

“There’s also no rear neighbour and it’s at the end of a very friendly and quiet street,” Ms Ratcliffe said.