Demand climbs for land in south
THE developer behind a 226lot subdivision at Gordonvale is keen to launch further projects along the southern corridor.
Noel Covey’s Sunshine Coast-based firm, Mahaside, currently has two major developments before Cairns Regional Council.
One, at Hickling Access, Gordonvale, will be considered for approval at Wednesday’s ordinary meeting.
Council planning officers have recommended the application for a development permit be granted subject to conditions.
“The proposed development has adequately demonstrated that the region’s natural environment, ecological processes and biodiversity values are protected and enhanced over the site,” the recommendation stated.
Mr Covey said the southern access corridor was the only area in the Cairns region for developers to consider given the bottleneck between mountains and ocean north of the CBD.
“The southern corridor is the only place you can go to right now,” he said. “Over time, we will be looking at other projects in the area, definitely.”
He said his office had received intense interest from prospective buyers.
“There is bugger-all land stock at Gordonvale,” Mr Covey said. “We have had plenty of inquiries even now, and we are a fair way away from breaking ground.
“For now, we will see what the approval conditions are and work our way through them.
“Everything is driven by demand and into the future it is going to be good.”
REIQ Far North zone chairman Tom Quaid said buyers who had not signed a contract had “virtually nil” chance of qualifying for a COVID building stimulus.
“You need to have the land and a signed contract by March 31 and have the slab down six months later,” he said.
“There will still be demand regardless. Having the grants in place put us in the position that the land stock that was available will be gone.
“The last six months have sped things up considerably.
“In Bentley Park, Gordonvale and Edmonton, new stages that would normally take a few months to get through were sold in days.
“There certainly has been a large increase in demand. We don’t have half as much stock we needed to meet demand.”