Cairns Housing Crisis
Like many communities across Australia, Cairns desperately requires solutions to address the housing crisis currently being experienced, a problem made even worse in the wake of household displacement caused by Tropical Cyclone Jasper. With a rental vacancy rate of 0.7%, Cairns has one of the lowest rental availabilities in the nation. This crisis is amplified across the economy with housing a critical enabler of growth. This shortage of dwellings places additional pressures on the region’s ability to attract and retain staff across the board. Driven by a combination of factors, including population growth, limited housing supply, rising construction costs and labour shortages, Australia’s housing crisis is a multifaceted issue requiring interventions from all levels of government, the private sector and not-for-profit sector.
Mount Peter Priority Development Area
Cairns Regional Council is working to ensure an adequate supply of approved land for development within serviced areas, along with providing incentives for community housing providers and private developers building social, affordable, or infill housing in key areas like Cairns City, Cairns North, Gordonvale, and Babinda. While addressing immediate housing needs is crucial, long-term planning is equally important to prevent future shortages. To support this, the Council has urgently sought a Priority Development Area (PDA) declaration for the Mount Peter Southern Growth Corridor.
Accommodation for Students
James Cook University is committed to meeting the needs of domestic and international students in Cairns. These students contribute to the regional economy and their work as professional graduates is an important factor in growing Cairns. Students require safe, affordable and appropriate housing. The existing self-catered John Grey Halls student accommodation located on the Nguma-bada, Smithfield Campus is at capacity.
To address the immediate housing needs of Cairns, James Cook University has developed an initiative to deliver a 250-bed student accommodation facility, alleviating pressure on Cairns’ rental market by releasing rentals currently occupied by students back into the general community, whilst also contributing to a more vibrant and dynamic precinct for Cairns.
Explore more
Office of the Pacific
Support and enhance government coordination and drive implementation of our regional activities with our Pacific neighbours.
National Land Transport Network
Improved connectivity between Cairns and the region’s agricultural production hubs on the Atherton Tablelands.
JCU Purpose-Built Student Accommodation
Promote continued growth in the education sector, increase economic diversification and address immediate housing needs of Cairns.
