Push to unlock reason for delays to new Craiglie housing estates
Shire development
An application for much-needed cash from a $2 billion Residential Activation Fund to upgrade intersections on the Captain Cook Highway at Craiglie has been lodged with the State Government by a private developer, with the hope of it helping to alleviate the Port Douglas housing crisis.
A Douglas Shire Council spokesman told Newsport, 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.
“DSC collaborated with the developer of Andreassen Road, Craiglie, to support their application for funding to upgrade both Andreassen Road and its intersection with the Captain Cook Highway,” the spokesman said.
“The proposed upgrades aim to enable and support future residential development in the area.”
When the company, Port Douglas Land Developments, first submitted plans for large tracts of housing along Captain Cook Highway more than five years ago, the council and the Transport and Main Roads Department stipulated they pay for upgrades to turn-off points from the Highway, including approach and slip lanes at Andreassen Road and a planned road called Boer Street.
Although Stage One of the development is now complete, the upgrades of intersections such as Andreassen Road are standing in the way of future stages, which would help alleviate Port Douglas’s current housing crisis.
About 40 blocks in Stage Two of New Port Estate at Craiglie have been sitting on the shelf since 2022 following conditions applied to the application by TMR and DSC.
The DSC spokesman said the council was also working hard to identify other projects that might qualify for the $2 billion pool.
“DSC undertook a comprehensive investigation into other potential infrastructure projects that would facilitate residential development,” he said.
“However, the projects identified were not eligible under Round One of the program.
“DSC is actively working to secure funding for the essential planning and modelling work needed to support future applications under the Residential Activation Fund.
“A range of projects… could significantly benefit from State Government funding, including water and sewer main upgrades, reservoir upgrades, and intersection improvements.”
The Government has budgeted for about $1 billion of RAF money to be handed out in 2025-26 for “shovel-ready projects”.
It provides funding to get infill and greenfield land ready for new housing developments, including for water supply, sewerage, stormwater, power and roads.
A standoff between developers and governments for new housing developments in the Mount Peter region south of Cairns was last week resolved, paving the way for development of up to 18,500 homes in that region.
The Government last month announced about 3000 homes would be delivered in Far North Queensland through 16 projects in multiple councils, but Douglas Shire received none of that money.
This included funding for Tablelands Regional Council, Cassowary Coast Regional Council, Northern Peninsula Area Regional Council, Aurukun Shire Council, Cook Shire Council, Mareeba Shire Council, Pormpuraaw Aboriginal Shire Council, the Wide Bay Burnett region and Torres Shire Council.
As part of the first round of applications for the RAF, the Government received 178 submissions, including 114 from regional, rural and remote areas.
More than 46,800 homes will be unlocked through 34 projects announced to date across the state, according to the Government.
“The Crisafulli Government understands the urgency of delivering housing supply across Queensland,” Deputy Premier Jarrod Bleijie said last week.
“We are unlocking land, reforming planning processes, and investing in infrastructure to ensure every Queenslander has access to housing through more supply.”
Attempts by Newsport to contact Port Douglas Land Developments have been unsuccessful and Deputy Premier Bleijie’s department declined to comment.
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