Planning and Infrastructure

The “character” of Cairns region

We value the character of the former Cairns City Council area and the Douglas Shire and passionately believe that development must add to this character, not diminish it.
Cairns 1st will:

• limit the demolition of Queenslanders and other older buildings, and protect places with cultural heritage values
• ensure mechanisms in the Cairns Regional Plan are tight enough to be effective in protecting our natural environment, particularly hill slopes, rivers, streams, the coast line and significant vegetation
• develop Local Area and Action Plans in consultation with local community representatives to preserve and enhance the character and lifestyle of local towns and neighbourhoods
• uphold the principles of the Iconic Places legislation designed to protect the former Douglas Shire
• advocate for additional Character Precincts, where appropriate, in local communities
• offer practical encouragement for the construction of new buildings that have an innovative tropical style through provision of a merit/award system, and provide ongoing input into the Cairns Style Design Manual
• lobby local State Government Representatives to tighten IPA 1997 to ensure development approvals given under superseded planning instruments are considered under current planning guidelines.

New Cairns Regional Plan

The current Cairns and Douglas Plans are living documents.  They are the way our communities’ vision for the development of our towns and neighbourhoods is realized, and are the only way to effectively manage the impacts of development on our society and environment.  These plans need to be viewed in a way that respects and balances economic, environmental, social and cultural factors. 
We will: 

• work within the framework of FNQ2025: the process which will be determining the urban footprint and the extent and location of urban, industry and commercial development
• review densities, site controls, zoning and development codes in the plans to make sure development controls will deliver outcomes consistent with the needs of our community
• increase the level of assessment required for high density residential developments and other land uses that impact on neighbourhoods and are currently “as of right”
• work with town planners, developers and architects to provide information and awareness sessions on Council planning policies and guidelines
• introduce the concept of plot ratios, (transferable development rights) to protect areas and buildings of significant heritage and character value, while giving developers certainty with their development aspirations.

New Cairns Regional Plan

(continued)

• ensure urban design principles of integration of land use, movement and traffic management, and the form of the built environment are incorporated in the new plan to provide high quality urban places that are efficient, functional and attractive and can respond to the changing needs of the community, the economy and the environment, over time
• establish an Urban Design Advisory Panel, composed of local architects, planners and engineers to recommend initiatives for good urban design.

Strategic planning

A Cairns 1st Council will:

• create a Strategic Planning unit and give the unit a mandate to facilitate strategic planning processes across all activities of Council.  It will ensure social planning gets the focus it deserves
• create a sustainability unit within the planning department to advise on such areas as water use, energy efficiency and sustainable building guidelines.

Disaster mitigation, planning and management

We acknowledge that the region is in a high-risk area in relation to cyclones, storm surges, other potential disasters and the impacts of climate change.  Council must play a lead role in mitigating, preparing and responding to disasters.  We will work with the state government, agencies and with community members to:

• prioritise flood and storm surge mitigation; eg Chinaman’s Ck
• regularly review and rehearse disaster plans
• increase public education and awareness campaigns
• ensure that disaster management arrangements are well understood by all segments of the  community.

Partnerships in planning

Our region requires sound planning that is based on
consultative,  co-operative processes and is integrated with other regional planning.  Cairns 1st will:

• consult with the State and Federal Governments, industry, business, community groups and other stakeholders to undertake ongoing planning for the development of the region
• coordinate Council’s planning work with regional planning work
• work with all levels of Government and other local Governments in the region to secure resources for the implementation of plans
• insist that a vital role in the strategic planning tool, FNQ 2025, will be to ensure the needs and aspirations of the region are incorporated in the final document.

Infrastructure charges

Ensure that developer infrastructure charges are adequate so that development in particular areas is not subsidised by the general community.

Water

It is vital that demand management strategies are implemented for the development and management of water resources and infrastructure. We also need to ensure that urban growth does not exceed water capacity, that we plan more effectively and that we consider the environmental impacts of water storage.
We will:

• move immediately to construct the intake on the Barron River and implement the recommendations of the Public Environment Report on the Mulgrave Aquifer 
• investigate new sources and additional storage capacity to provide long term security of water supply
• investigate membrane technology (currently used by Douglas Shire) to reduce chemical additives to water
• ensure the user-pays system is fair, and that revenue from water use is used to upgrade and maintain water infrastructure
• provide incentives to households and businesses to reduce daily water consumption by encouraging residents to take up State Government  rebates for installing water tanks, water-saving plumbing fixtures and water efficient appliances
• show leadership by installing more efficient watering systems in Council-controlled gardens
• mandate the installation of rainwater tanks and have them plumbed in for toilet and laundry use in any new housing construction in accordance with State Government regulations
• make the use of water-saving taps, appliances and garden watering systems mandatory for new developments
• investigate greater uses of recycled water, particularly for private and council-controlled gardens and mandate its use for gardens  in new developments
• investigate water efficiency systems for public swimming pools
• Include in headwork charges for new developments, the costs of recyclable as well as potable water infrastructure
• conduct a public education and awareness campaign to convince residents of the current needs and long-term benefits of water demand management.

Sewage

Cairns tertiary treatment of sewerage as provided for in the Clean Seas Strategy will continue to provide recycled water for use  in the Cairns area.
We will:

• continue to seek funding for the  upgrading of our sewage treatment plants to meet increasing loads and produce a cleaner end product
• pursue planning for sewage systems at the northern Douglas beach communities: Wonga, Cooya and Newell beaches
• investigate and trial wetlands to better filter the effluent before it reaches the inlet and rivers
• facilitate increased use of effluent in recreation areas, gardens, agriculture and industry
• keep up with research into the re-use of grey water, and pursue opportunities to adopt these systems locally
• review the concerns of small businesses about the cost and maintenance of grease traps and trade waste arrestors
• support the introduction of more environmentally appropriate on-site wastewater disposal systems in un-sewered areas. 

Storm water

We understand the need to deal with storm water more effectively, and the impact of flooding on residents and businesses.
We will:

• move immediately to conduct an independent study on the overall drainage and storm water management in the region
• implement a systematic program to minimise drainage problems in the worst affected neighbourhoods; eg Bungalow, Gordonvale
• utilise natural drainage systems more effectively to deal with rainwater, thus maximising re-charge of the water tables and decreasing loads in street drains
• plan and develop more efficient and accessible storm water quality intervention devices (SQIDS), such as drain baskets, trash racks, retention basins and wetland systems, to make sure the storm water going into creeks and the sea is less polluted
• introduce mandatory requirements for better storm water collection and management in new developments
• resource a maintenance team to regularly clean and maintain SQIDS throughout the Council area
• offer incentives for the retro-fitting of rainwater tanks and sub-surface storage tanks in houses, businesses and other properties. 

Flood management

We recognise that localised flooding is an ongoing problem in various areas in the region.
We will:

• implement the recommendations of the regional drainage and stormwater study
• ensure that housing estate developers have adequately planned to manage the increased run-off into creeks and waterways of water from roofs, paths, roads etc
• ensure drainage systems are regularly and effectively maintained to reduce the likelihood of flooding
• prioritise further drainage works at places like Wonga Beach
• minimise the impact of tidal inundation and localised flooding on residents and businesses
• prevent development on flood-prone lands, by using and enforcing the Q100 flood level overlay
• plan for the management of tidal surges
• investigate better sand replenishment and beach stabilization strategies with the view to long term solutions
• progressively upgrade access roads to beach suburbs to the standard of flood immunity.

Rubbish and recycling

Ensure the current waste management regime is meeting the needs of the community and provide an ongoing public awareness campaign that waste outputs pose a growing threat to the environment, health and well-being of the community.
We will:

• investigate alleged dumping at the Portsmith landfill of household and industrial waste that may be placing Trinity Inlet at risk
• insist that the owners continue to monitor the Bedminster System to ensure it is operating effectively, that inputs and output figures are publically available, that odour problems are managed and that the waste produced is of the required standard
• properly supervise contractors who have responsibility for disposal and dispersal of biosolids from the waste treatment plants, to ensure that odour management is maintained
• reinforce community education about waste that can go into the Bedminster system and provide alternative disposal for waste products that cannot go into the system
• investigate options to increase recycling and re-use
• work with retailers and consumers to reduce plastic bag use and encourage more use of recyclable or compostable packaging
• provide residents and ratepayers annually with at least 2 free tokens for the tip
• offer rebates or discounts for the purchase of composting bins
• widely advertise an annual pre-cyclone pick-up
• enforce tougher penalties for unauthorized dumping of rubbish.

 Environmental health

Council has a responsibility to manage environmental health issues in the community.  We will resource Council’s Environmental Health staff to provide effective health management and health promotion services to the community.  This will include:

• public education about tropical environmental health issues
• ongoing management of mosquitoes and other disease vectors
• monitoring of health-related essential services such as water, sewage and rubbish
• effective supervision of food outlets
• working with the Tropical Population Unit of the State  Government’s Queensland Health to streamline  and progress public education.

Roads

Our road system must be safe for drivers, pedestrians and cyclists and we need accessible, affordable transport options.  We can also learn from international experience that building more and wider roads does not necessarily solve traffic problems; it just increases the number of cars.  We acknowledge the traffic problems created by the rapid growth in the southern corridor of Cairns in particular.
A Cairns 1st Council will:

• work closely with the State government to explore options to some of the on-going traffic problems
• review road priority lists in the former Cairns City and Douglas Shire on the basis of needs and usage
• work  with State Govt to investigate pedestrian underpasses for the Cook Highway
• ensure proper maintenance and cleaning of roads and paths to minimise the incidence of pot holes and other hazards 
• continue to implement the Cairn and Douglas Bikeway Strategy, in particular access state government grants to  accelerate the construction of improved bike paths and bikeways that provide quick, safe commuter links; and maintain meetings with the strategy implementation works group
• implement a construction program for footpaths and crossings to keep pedestrians safely off roads
• work with the community and State Government to explore other innovative alternative transport models
• provide access to more parking for city workers and investigate construction of another  car park station in Cairns
• make better use of off-street parking; eg in Port Douglas, by working with businesses to advertise and sign post off-street parking
• work  with residents to plan for and circumvent “rat runs” with appropriate streetscaping and traffic calming devices.

Public transport

We acknowledge that this is a state government responsibility; however, we need to advocate strongly to:

• get additional state-subsidised bus services, especially to the areas to the north (Port Douglas, Mossman, Cooya, Newell, Wonga, Daintree, Cape Tribulation) and to the south (Gordonvale, Fishery Falls, Babinda)
• work with schools to develop travel plans that encourage students to use public transport, ride bicycles and/or ride to school
• advocate on behalf of the community to improve bus services and develop “Park and Ride” bus stations, north and south of Cairns
• work with the state government to seek funding for the development of a north-south commuter light rail system 
• investigate options for commuter lanes in peak hour on highways, used only by buses and cars with multiple passengers

Power and lighting

Although providing power is not the responsibility of Council, we understand the importance of energy security to our community.
We will:

• advocate on behalf of the community to secure more reliable power supply and better street lighting in places such as Mooroobool and the city centre
• work  with Ergon to promote undergrounding of power in new developments and cabling of powerlines in established areas
• encourage the development of ‘green’ power generation plants in our region
• promote strategies to reduce power consumption and greenhouse gas emissions    
• Institute energy saving devices for street and traffic lighting
• Investigate with Ergon how Council may make renewable energy a greater proportion of its total energy use.

 Asset management

Many of the older parts of Cairns, Gordonvale, Babinda, Mossman and Port Douglas have old and undersized infrastructure (eg sewerage) which will require replacement or upgrading in the near future. The current rate of development will force urgent action if this problem continues to be ignored.  Cairns 1st will:

• undertake a review of infrastructure maintenance and replacement needs as a priority
• develop a financial strategy to respond to these needs
• make sure appropriate developer contributions for new and upgraded infrastructure are applied to all new developments, including that in established areas, and that dispensations  for  the requirement to provide open space are minimised.

Streetscape program

Current shoulder sealing works do not improve streetscapes or create safer streets.
The proposed Cairns 1st ‘Streetscape Program‘ will:

• involve residents in the planning of works in their streets and
• incorporate footpaths, landscaping, shade trees, lighting and traffic management devices as required by residents
• respect existing attractive streetscapes in established areas
• appropriately account for streetscapes and landscapes of heritage significance
• provide attractive and coordinated street furniture and facilities to meet user needs
• create attractive residential environments with clear character and Identity, incorporating existing vegetation, where possible
• rectify problems with unsealed streets, old gutters and drainage
• foster partnership arrangements with residents and local businesses for the maintenance of enhancements; eg, public art, parks , roadway superstructure
• develop and implement a ‘shade’ strategy to shade key pedestrian and recreation areas with a mix of trees, shade structures and verandahs as appropriate.

Tropical buildings

Our towns need innovative, tropical buildings that add to the character of the region.
We will:

• sit down with developers and talk about how we might improve tropical design
• further develop design guidelines for tropical buildings appropriate to
  Tropical North Queensland
• offer planning incentives for design excellence and sponsor design competitions and awards
• provide rebates in development contributions and/or rates for buildings that use less water and energy
• embed sustainable design principles in all Council building projects.

Parks and playgrounds

Following the development of an open space strategy, Cairns 1st will develop a play space strategy.
The play space strategy will:

• ensure there are adequate local and regional play spaces that are physically, financially and culturally accessible and cater for a variety of ages and group needs
• conserve and enhance existing parks so they meet the recreation needs of the neighbourhood, including providing basketball hoops and other sports areas for ‘big’ kids, and separate facilities for dog exercise
• ensure parks are shady, safe, well maintained and revitalised
• develop new parks and playgrounds where they are required; for example, in older suburbs that have few parks and are subject to higher density development
• improve the diversity of fauna and flora by providing adequate natural corridors between existing parks in developed areas
• encourage planting of native trees in new developments to increase the canopy cover, attract birds and improve the visual amenity.

Safety

Council must work with the whole community and other levels of Government to increase people’s feelings of safety in public spaces and support strategies that enable them to feel more personally safe.
We will:

• help build community relationships and play a role in resolving conflict
• foster employment initiatives and so build a more inclusive economy and reduce poverty-related crime
• support Neighbourhood Watch and other community safety programs
• adopt design strategies to improve safety in public spaces, including appropriate lighting of streets and paths
• work  with all agencies to respond effectively to substance abuse
• provide, where appropriate, ongoing review of venue licensing and venue management.

Management of pets

Pet ownership is an important personal freedom; it provides individuals with comfort, companionship, security and enhanced well-being. However, unmanaged pets can have detrimental effects on the environment and on neighbours.
We will:

• conduct community education programs about responsible pet ownership, including legal obligations of owning a pet
• offer incentives (through registration discounts) to complete accredited dog obedience training courses
• provide designated dog exercise areas, separated from general public areas, throughout our  suburbs with enough “pooch poo stations” to encourage owners to dispose of faeces
• ensure pets sold by refuges are de-sexed and encourage pet shops to  include de-sexing costs in the sale price of pets
• enforce the prohibition of breeding in residential areas, and ensure that only breeders who are registered are able to sell young animals
• support welfare organisations like Animal Welfare Cairns Inc. which offer discount desexing, and encourage local veterinarians to embrace Early Age Desexing
• promote microchipping for permanent identification of owned pets
• revisit the community engagement forum dealing with cat management with particular emphasis on: registration, micro-chipping, trapping of stray/feral cats, and cat curfews in environmentally sensitive areas.

Cairns Central Business Area (CBA)

The Cairns Central Business Area offers services to inner city residents, to the broader community and to visitors. The vitality and viability of this area is essential to our whole community.
We will:

• work closely with city traders to re-build a diverse economy in the Central Business Area
• encourage more mixed-use developments
• undertake ongoing review of accessibility, pedestrian safety, traffic control, car parking and bicycle security
• despite the considerable funding spent on it, acknowledge that City Place should reflect the tropical character of Cairns  with better shade and appropriate user friendly seating
• foster wider community use of the inner city area through: development of a speaker’s corner; regular buskers; public art and street theatre; and support for events by community groups
• improve public safety in the inner city by working with licensees and the police to enforce responsible service of alcohol
• consider implications of diverting heavy trucks out of the CBA.

Community hubs

Community hubs - such as neighbourhood shops, services and recreation areas - build local economies and communities.
We will:

• work with community groups to develop Local Area Plans and Local Action Plans for community hubs
• provide incentives for private enterprise to develop community hubs and vibrant neighbourhood shopping precincts.

Bicycle strategy:

We will:

• double the number of bicycle trips in the next five years by creating new dedicated cycle paths, providing bike parking, improving safety for cyclists and encouraging more people to take up cycling.

(see also the Arts, Sports and Recreation policy)

Affordable housing

All residents have a right to appropriate, affordable housing.
We will:

• support charitable organizations and the private sector to ensure a wider range of affordable housing options for our community
• actively pursue the development of more short-term and transitional accommodation options
• investigate the implications of implementing an “inclusionary zoning” policy when housing developments are built to ensure a certain proportion of affordable housing
• work with state-funded agencies to assist homeless people to find appropriate accommodation.