Page 62 - Tropic Magazine Issue 12

Industry
Urban affairs

Small homes,

big future

Population growth and a
limited supply of land in Cairns
will create more demand for
small homes in the inner-city.

Words Gavin King
You’ve probably never noticed Nellie St.
A short, skinny strip of bitumen that
leads to the Lily’s Creek walking path in
Parramatta Park, it boasts just a few
small houses and a couple of average
apartment blocks. While Nellie St may
be small in stature, it holds big clues to Cost savings
the future of inner-city living in Cairns. e group of councillors appeared to
And that future is tiny, at least in miss one of the most relevant points in
comparison to the Great Australian the high density, in-fill development
Dream of a quarter acre block where debate: the cost savings to taxpayers. In a
freshly mowed lawns hosted backyard from Cairns then that’s what you’ll get if submission to the Federal Parliament’s
cricket matches and boozy barbecues we don’t approve this type of project,” ongoing inquiry into the development
with friends on weekends. at quarter he said during the debate. of cities, Freemantle Council noted that
acre block of suburban Aussie dreams urban sprawl costs the Western
past – about 1000 square metres – is a Australian Government $150,000 to
kingdom when transposed on a Nellie provide infrastructure for every new lot
St housing development recently If we are going to do in outer developments (in Perth)
approved by Cairns Regional Council. high density compared to $55,000 for in-fill
e project sought to chop an already development in the development in urban areas.
small 405 square metre block into two According to Planz managing director
tiny lots, one of which was just 170 inner city, we need to and Tropic Magazine columnist Nikki
square metres. You could fit five of make sure it’s in the Huddy - one of the region’s most
those tiny lots into the traditional Cairns style. experienced town planners – good
quarter acre block. And still have room design and community benefit should
for a pool. Nikki Huddy be the guide for any in-fill urban
development in Cairns. “Let’s not have a
Council debate Mayor Bob Manning conceded this type yes or no argument about whether we
When it was put to a vote at council’s of small housing configuration was the should have high-density development
Planning and Environment Committee, future of inner-city development in in the inner city,” Ms Huddy said.
Northern Beaches councillor Brett Olds Cairns. “People move into lats and units “Instead, we should shi t the debate to
was the only councillor among a group that are sitting on top of one another focus on the standard and quality of
of eight to vote against the project. For and I find that fairly unnatural but yet housing. If we are going to do high
the most part, councillors recognised there are people who want to live that density development in the inner city,
the future need for such small lots in way,” Cr Manning said. “ ey don’t want we need to make sure it’s in the Cairns
Cairns. Councillor John Schilling, a the responsibility of yards and style. If we approve projects like the
vocal supporter of the Nellie St maintenance of areas. As we go into the Nellie St development, we need to hold
application, predicted council would future we are going to be seeing more people to a standard that is tropical and
see “more and more of these and more people who will determine livable and not a cookie cutter style
applications because the cost of land what their wants and needs are and then from Melbourne or Brisbane. We do
and development these days is so high”. they’ll seek accommodation to satisfy need to see more high-density
“If we want to see prices go through the that. Nobody is being forced to move development in the inner city of Cairns
roof so our kids can’t a ford to buy into these small blocks. It just makes but let’s li t the standard and raise the
property or they have to move away sense to infill in this way.” bar when we do it.”