Infrastructure charges for the development of social and affordable housing will be waived as Council pivots to do its part to help address the undersupply of these dwelling types in the city.
At today's Planning and Environment Committee meeting, Council endorsed another Development and Investment Incentive Support Policy, which encourages development that adds to the city's housing and rental stocks, broadens the economy, enhances key centres, and revitalises the CBD.
Deputy Mayor Terry James, who chairs the Planning and Environment Committee meeting, said the policy demonstrates that Council is doing its part to address the current housing crisis and cost of living pressures.
"More affordable and social housing, as well as rentals and student accommodation, are desperately needed in the city," Cr James said.
"While social housing is primarily the remit of State and Federal Governments, Council can be part of the solution by actively encouraging investment through policies such as this one.
"As well as waiving infrastructure charges for social and affordable housing development, the policy waives infrastructure charges for the conversion of short-term accommodation to permanent accommodation.
"This will help to unlock available, but underutilised, housing in Cairns.
"Infrastructure charges will also be waived for the development of student accommodation.
"Development of specific residential developments in key zones, in particular but not limited to Gordonvale, Babinda, Cairns City and Cairns North, will be encouraged through waiving of infrastructure changes."
The policy also looks to stimulate further investment that will broaden and strengthen the economy by waiving infrastructure charges for health, education, maritime, aviation and manufacturing developments.
"Cairns has a unique tropical environment, 'a City in a Rainforest', hence Council will also provide incentive for development that expresses 'biophilia' through 'tropical urbanism' as per Council's current Planning Policy – Tropical Urbanism."
"Improved architectural outcomes which integrate landscaping and tropical design elements into the built form will be encouraged through discounts on infrastructure charges for buildings that incorporate tropical design as per this policy.
Council will also provide $100,000 annually, over the next three years, to help revitalise vacant shop fronts in the CBD.
Property owners will be able to apply for up to $25,000 to renovate the façade of their building, which will assist in enhancing the visual amenity of the city.
The Development and Investment Incentive Support policy will replace the current COVID-19 Response Investment Incentive Policy, which expires 30 June 2023.
This policy was adopted in August 2020 in response to the COVID-19 pandemic to stimulate investment in the development and construction industry.
"Since the adoption of the policy, $2.2 million in Council charges have been waived, which has led to $45-$55 million in development," Cr James said.
"That is a return on investment of almost 22 times the amount of the cost of waivers."
"The new policy builds on the previous one and aims to further stimulate development in Cairns in an appropriate and considered manner.
"It focuses on key areas of need, particularly on encouraging investment in social and affordable housing, as well as promoting investment in key economy sectors."
The policy also supports local employment, with 80% of the workforce on site to consist of locals for developments to be eligible for the waiver of infrastructure charges.
Council anticipates that over the next three years, about $6 million in infrastructure charges could be waived under the policy.
