DIFFICULT CHOICES AS SOUTHSIDE EXPANDS

REZONING approval for a new mixed-use development in Gordonvale has Cairns’ southern growth trajectory rocketing through the stratosphere. At a Cairns Regional Council meeting on Wednesday, approval was granted to rezone a former canefield to pave the way for a host of potential land uses.

A retirement village, tourist park, relocatable home park, childcare centre and place of worship have been mooted at one of the three precincts.

In another, a servo, car wash and food and drink outlet could go ahead.

And a third precinct would cater to a transport depot, landscape supplies or a hardware and trade supplies business.

But a sticking point with councillors voting against the project has been the project’s scope falling outside the code defined by a recent rezoning from a rural land use to an emerging community zone.

Usually developments not complying with the Cairnsplan 2016 would be required to inform residents of the project and invite submissions.

Council officers have conceded the service station component of the project falls outside the planning scheme, but planning boffins are “satisfied that such departures are appropriate based on the information submitted”.

A council planning department appearing to bend its own rules has not been lost on councillors Cathy Zeiger, Brett Olds and Amy Eden, who all voted against the development.

Few would dispute the economic benefit of development at one of the few areas within the Cairns area capable of physically facilitating new construction.

But in the future, do planners enforce strict adherence to the code or allow goalposts to shift and run the risk of projects being knocked back by councillors?

Peter Carruthers

Reporter