HIGH DENSITY DOES WORK

ABOUT the plan to increase population density around the city (CP, 19/07).

I’ve been advocating to the council for years for greatly increased dwelling density around the city centre, the heart of district centres and shopping centres in this way, like around Forest Gardens.

Density should be quickly reduced the further away from the centres to provide multiple living options.

In Cairns, I identified that the city should be developed as a tropical Australian living destination for Asian business owners’ families and for internet businesses, offices and apartment home offices, which attract a high income services industry and arts to the city.

All of this aims for low-cost street side shops, with rear parking, subsidised by high cost, low crime, high rise tenancies above, as happens in capital cities.

This would bring back foot traffic and normal local low-cost shopping into the city with a population density of more than 20,000 people per square kilometre (the golden square kilometre), expanding to more than 50,000 people eventually.

The influx of business and wealth income will greatly increase local wealth and support will eventually reach 500,000 people in the region.

This plan, with desirable lowcost shopping rentals, is something which would make developer properties more valuable, increasing profits.

All we can do is try to succeed or do nothing and fail.

We have a lot of new residents coming here. I ask them to get involved.

Wayne Morellini, White Rock