Lots of growth in boom

A PROPERTY boom has driven up home prices and more than doubled the number of new subdivisions in Cairns as the city’s planning department hires new staff to avoid succumbing to stress fractures.

Builders have hit out at Cairns Regional Council for a development application backlog that threatens to cause an undersupply to a market that is hungrier than it has been in years.

Planning and environment department general manager Martin Garred said the upswing could be easily seen in the numbers. There were 357 lots approved in 2019 – a number that more than doubled to 790 last year.

“And this year, council is on track to facilitate a similar number, with 511 lots having already been endorsed,” he said.

“Council does not control the way in which proponents stage their developments; when land is made available for sale is determined by the developer. The assessment of applications is monitored by council to ensure they are decided within appropriate time frames.

“This is also dependent upon adequate information being provided by the developer to enable council to make a decision. This is a situation being experienced not only in Cairns, but across the country, in response to huge government incentives.”

Developers have also been critical of a recent council decision to increase infrastructure fees to the maximum allowed by the state government.

Mr Garred said three new permanent staff had already been hired and another three temporary planning workers were being recruited – but they would not be paid from the spike in development fees.

“Infrastructure fees cover costs to ratepayers such as providing roads, sewer networks and water treatment, resulting from new residential development,” he said. “They are not used for staff costs. Council continually monitors its staff needs to ensure they align with community, industry and business needs.”

Mr Garred reassured the industry that a recent string of resignations within the department had been handled.

“Some planning staff have left council to pursue other career opportunities,” he said “All positions have been filled.”