Project Overview
Therefor Group, in partnership with Cairns Regional Council and a consortium of expert consultants, is shaping the future of Cairns through a visionary growth strategy called Cairns Towards 2050. Anchored by 12 comprehensive technical studies, this strategy challenges traditional planning approaches and assumptions to ensure a resilient and sustainable future. The project addresses pressing macroeconomic and environmental challenges while safeguarding Cairns’ unique lifestyle and World Heritage-listed natural treasures.
Key focus areas include tackling housing supply, affordability and choice, addressing environmental and climatic hazards, and reinforcing sound planning and settlement principles.
Project Outcomes
The project brief identified several challenges and objectives that needed to be overcome to deliver a resilient, inclusive, and environmentally conscious strategy, including:
- Balancing Growth with Environmental Protection: Protecting Cairns’ World Heritage-listed assets while accommodating growth required innovative planning. This challenge was overcome by leveraging the expertise of multidisciplinary teams to develop evidence-based strategies that prioritised sustainable development and environmental preservation.
- Addressing Housing Supply and Affordability: Rising demand for housing, coupled with affordability pressures, posed a significant challenge. To tackle this, the team conducted detailed housing market analyses and engaged with stakeholders to identify practical solutions.
- Mitigating Environmental and Climatic Hazards: Risks from flooding, cyclones, and rising sea levels required a focus on resilience. Advanced hazard mapping and climate data were used to guide land use decisions.
- Stakeholder Engagement and Alignment: Differing priorities among stakeholders initially made alignment challenging. This was addressed through extensive consultation, open communication, and the use of workshops to bring diverse voices into the planning process.
- Bridging Long-Term Vision with Immediate Realities:Aligning the 2050 vision with current policies required flexibility. The project team adopted a phased implementation approach, linking immediate actions with longer-term objectives to create a roadmap that was both actionable and future focused.
- YIMBY Outcomes: The project achieved a significant “Yes In My Backyard” (YIMBY) win by fostering community support for innovative housing and urban development solutions. Through proactive engagement, the team demonstrated how well-planned, higher-density housing options could enhance affordability, diversity, and sustainability without compromising Cairns’ unique lifestyle and natural beauty.
Leading Change
The Cairns Growth Strategy project aligns with Therefor Group’s commitment to leading positive, impactful and lasting change through sustainability, innovation, and community enhancement.
This forward-thinking framework will serve as a legacy for future generations, balancing growth with the preservation of Cairns’ distinctive character and environment.
Key project wins included:
- Community Buy-In for Diverse Housing Solutions: By showcasing the benefits of mixed-use developments and diverse housing typologies, the project gained support for policies that promote affordability and choice.
- Support for Transit-Oriented Development: The integration of housing strategies with public transport planning won community and stakeholder approval, highlighting the benefits of reduced traffic congestion and improved access to services and amenities.
- Advocacy for Sustainable Growth: Transparent communication about how sustainable practices, such as green building designs and preserving open spaces, can coexist with urban growth helped overcome resistance to change.
