There's some nice blocks, if you can get them

Shire housing

Shaun Hollis

Journalist

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New Port Estate Stage 2, comprising up to 39 blocks, stalled in 2022.

They may not be enough to save Douglas Shire from a chronic housing shortage, but there are currently more than 50 blocks of land ready for sale in subdivisions in the area.

One key project, however, up to 39 blocks in Stage 2 of New Port Estate at Craiglie, has been sitting on the shelf since April 2022 following conditions applied to the application by the State Government Transport and Main Roads Department (TMR) and Douglas Shire Council, including improved highway access and increased block sizes. 

Numerous attempts by Newsport to contact the developers have so far reached dead ends.

Those ongoing land divisions currently in various stages of progress in the region include BeCHe Estate at Craiglie being developed by Allaro Homes, Niramaya Resort Stage Three in Port Douglas, and Ocean Breeze Estate Stage Five at Cooya Beach.

BeChe still has about 13 blocks available, the Niramaya release will feature 22 blocks from about 440sq m to 650sq m and Ocean Breeze had available, at last check, 19 blocks ranging from about 700sq m to 1100sq m.

But a plan by developer Port Douglas Land Developments to make 39 lots at Craiglie near Captain Cook Highway, as part of Stage Two of New Port Estate, has been stalled since April 2022.

Council reports relating to the development from that time and before indicate several concerns following the completion of Stages 1a and 1b.

“The applicant now seeks the approval of an additional 39 residential lots and a further extension of Wabul Street that will comprise Stage 2,” one report states. 

DSC raised issues about the block sizes in 2021/22, which started from about 490sq m, saying lot sizes less than 600sq m were “inappropriate” for the area.

“The condition of the approval requires an amended lot layout that is likely to result in a reduced number of lots,” DSC stated in 2022.

Conditions imposed by both TMR and the Council also required an upgrade of the intersection of Beor Street and the Captain Cook Highway. 

Both parties wanted the developers to install a right turn channel with a “short turn slot” on the Highway to allow for safe entry into Beor Road.

At that time the developers stated Stage 2 was scheduled to start construction in early 2022, with building to be finalised in late 2022.

But attempts by Newsport to contact Port Douglas Land Developments and applicant Cardno (Qld) Pty Ltd have so far been unsuccessful.

Cardno was taken over by global design and engineering company Stantec in August 2021.

A Stantec representative has been contacted for comment, although the project is not currently listed on the company’s website as an ongoing concern.

Meanwhile, the Port Douglas Land Developments website is no longer active.

New Port Estate is still a registered business name and still has an Instagram page, but the last post was made in September 2021 saying Stage One was sold out.

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