Cairns Property News - March 2025

■  Cairns Locally - More houses for more people!
Cairns Regional Council is prioritising the Mount Peter Southern Growth Corridor as a key housing development area, aiming to provide 18,500 homes for 42,500 residents. To fast-track development, Council has endorsed the Securing Cairns Housing Foundations plan and is urging the State Government to declare the area a Priority Development Area (PDA).

Mayor Amy Eden's Council has committed $1.5 million (50% of planning costs) to support the initiative but stresses that external funding is essential to cover critical infrastructure, preventing cost burdens on ratepayers. The project aligns with the Queensland Government’s Securing Our Housing Foundations strategy, which focuses on accelerating land release and home construction. Located between Edmonton and Gordonvale, the 3,300-hectare corridor represents Cairns' last major greenfield development opportunity.

■  Around Queensland - Agents get more paperwork, Seller's Disclosure Regime
The REIQ & Qld Law Society are making some significant changes to the property sale contracts starting 1st August 2025. A seller will be required to provide a disclosure statement and prescribed certificates in relation to the property they are selling, to a prospective buyer before a contract of sale is signed by the prospective buyer. More.

■  Free Home Designs - for your new build.
The Australian Government has a website for free Design For Place home designs, this will help you create an energy-efficient, sustainable home that suits your climate and lifestyle. The designs are a set of five energy-efficient homes that can be used as-is or customised to suit your needs. They have been designed by an architect in collaboration with an energy assessor to create homes with well-designed, comfortable and practical spaces. More.

■  Did you know? - Smoke Alarm Laws
Legally, the seller is required to disclose whether the property has compliant smoke alarms installed. While there is no mandate for the seller to furnish a smoke alarm compliance certificate to the buyer, if it's discovered that incorrect information was provided, the buyer possesses rights of non-disclosure. This includes the right to seek further compensation and the option to terminate the contract up to and including at settlement. More.

Helping you with your real estate journey

DANIEL SHEEHAN - 0409 265 326