New Craiglie estate breakthrough - Highway slip lanes, housing, set to be built
Shire homes
The stalled New Port Estate Stage Two housing project at Craiglie has kicked back into gear today in a big way with the State Government announcing a $6.6m grant for necessary roadworks and other essential services.
The plans have been in limbo for about three years as developers Port Douglas Land Developments, Douglas Shire Council and the Transport and Main Roads Department (TMR) have been negotiating who would be paying for services such as turning and slip lanes from Captain Cook Highway into Andreassen Road and another planned road called Boer Street, as well as other essential works.
About 40 blocks in Stage Two of the Craiglie project have been sitting on the shelf since 2022.
“Today’s announcement includes a $6.6m boost towards the Craiglie Residential Subdivision, a master-planned housing development set to transform a 19.6ha greenfield site into fully serviced residential estate, delivering much-needed housing supply in Port Douglas,” a Government announcement today states.
“Funding focuses on the construction of critical trunk infrastructure needed such as water supply, sewerage, stormwater, and roads.”
Douglas Shire Mayor Lisa Scomazzon said the investment would help meet growing demand for housing in the region.
“This is a significant step forward for our community,” Mayor Scomazzon said.
“The Craiglie Residential Subdivision will help ease housing pressures in our Shire and we’re incredibly grateful to the Queensland Government for backing this project.”
The grant is one of five announced in Far North Queensland today, including one in Cooktown.
Cook MP David Kempton said the money, which comes from the Government’s Residential Activation Fund, will unlock much-needed housing in his electorate.
“The Residential Activation Fund is critical to unlocking more homes in Far North Queensland,” Mr Kempton said.
“This $7.7 million investment in Cook is just another example of the Crisafulli Government’s commitment to deliver for regional Queensland."
The Gigers housing estate in Cooktown is also set to receive $1.1m for the building of water, sewer, and stormwater networks, new roads and other utilities.
Cook Shire Council Mayor Robyn Holmes welcomed that project.
“Housing remains one of the greatest challenges across our region,” Mayor Holmes said.
“Cook Shire Council has consistently advocated for greater investment in housing, and it is encouraging to see funding flow to projects that will help unlock much-needed homes.”
The other three projects are in Cassowary Coast Regional Council.
A Douglas Shire Council spokesman told Newsport earlier this month that, although his staff had not submitted any applications for the RAF grant money themselves because the council did not have any eligible projects ready, they had helped the developer of the New Port Estate Stage Two project with a submission.
Port Douglas Land Developments first submitted plans for large tracts of housing along Captain Cook Highway more than five years ago, with Stage One of the development now complete.
The Government has budgeted for about $1 billion of RAF money to be handed out in 2025-26 for “shovel-ready projects”.
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