Tick for primary school
PROPERTY buyers can almost hear the school bell ringing with approvals poised to drop on the city's newest educational establishment.
The Catholic Diocese of Cairns will learn the fate of its new Kewarra Beach primary school plans on Wednesday as Cairns Regional Council hands down its decision.
Council officers have recommended approval for the facility as part of the burgeoning The Palms community and tourist park on the site of the former Paradise Palms Golf Course.
Developer Darren Halpin hoped for a smooth process for a facility that will be a central part of his vision of a masterplanned neighbourhood.
“It’s all about building a community, that’s always been our intent,” he said.
The unnamed school will feed students into the new Newman Catholic College high school at Smithfield, which is linked with James Cook University both by location and a facility-sharing arrangement.
Off-the-plan property sales have been surging for the project with the first two stages, called Enclave One and Two, Stages 1 and 2 now sold out. Mr Halpin said 138 lots already had buyers.
“We’re in an ever-evolving process of just getting land approved,” he said.
“The next couple of stages are going to have some nice large blocks and some smaller blocks – they should hopefully be ready in the next month and a half.”
Approved sites have been cleared but major earthworks are not expected to begin until June.
Mr Halpin said plans to build a tourist park and water park were still on track.
“Our focus is on getting the release of land all done and approved, then we will shift focus to the tourist and water parks,” he said.