Queensland’s housing ambitions have taken another decisive step forward with the declaration of a new Priority Development Area (PDA) at Mount Peter, just 15 kilometres south of Cairns.
Announced by Deputy Premier and Minister for State Development and Infrastructure Jarrod Bleijie, the declaration will unlock 18,500 new homes, including 200 that will be fast-tracked through an Early Release Area. It marks a strategic move in the state’s plan to deliver one million new homes by 2044.
“Mount Peter is the last major greenfield site in the Cairns region,” Mr Bleijie said. “This declaration will help ease Labor’s Housing Crisis and give more Queenslanders a place to call home.”
Once fully developed, the PDA will support more than 42,000 new residents in Far North Queensland.
A Long-Awaited Opportunity for Cairns
The announcement builds on the Crisafulli Government’s broader agenda to tackle Queensland’s housing shortfall, particularly in regional areas. Earlier this month, 3,000 homes were committed through 16 projects in Far North Queensland under the state’s $2 billion Residential Activation Fund.
The declaration of Mount Peter as a PDA also aligns with Cairns Regional Council’s Towards 2050 Growth Management Plan, which identified the southern growth corridor as the key to meeting future housing demand.
“This is a step towards securing Cairns’ housing foundations,” said Cairns Mayor Amy Eden. “We’ve got one chance to get this right.”
She added that the partnership with the State Government will help deliver “ready-to-build parcels of land” and ensure critical infrastructure—like sewerage, roads, and water—is planned and funded appropriately.
Early Release Area to Kickstart Development
An Interim Land Use Plan is already in effect, allowing development applications to begin immediately within the Early Release Area. This means the first 200 homes could come to market much sooner, offering much-needed supply to a region under housing pressure.
According to Mulgrave MP Terry James, the initiative has been a long time coming.
“I’ve been working closely with Council to open up 200 lots immediately and 18,500 in the longer term,” Mr James said. “This joint venture gives families a chance to build the homes of their dreams.”
Coordinated Growth With Infrastructure in Mind
Economic Development Queensland (EDQ) will lead delivery coordination in partnership with local council, developers, and the broader community.
In a region where housing supply has lagged behind demand, the scale of Mount Peter offers a rare opportunity for coordinated, long-term growth. EDQ will be responsible for ensuring infrastructure and community facilities are rolled out “in the right place, at the right time.”
For Cairns, that coordination is critical.
“We need to get the planning right and ensure the infrastructure funding is there to support it,” Mayor Eden emphasised. “Declaring a PDA was the most effective way to streamline approvals and detail the trunk infrastructure needed to make this development work.”
TGB Take
Cairns has long been a sleeping giant when it comes to growth-ready land. This declaration finally gives the region a framework to respond to housing needs at scale, and in a more considered way than the piecemeal sprawl we’ve seen in other parts of the state.
But the success of Mount Peter won’t just be measured by how many homes are built. It’ll come down to how livable, connected, and resilient this new community becomes over time.
With EDQ leading the charge and a clear partnership between Council and State Government, this PDA has the potential to become a model for regional housing delivery, especially in areas where affordability, climate resilience, and infrastructure timing are non-negotiable.
This move also sends a clear message: regional Queensland matters. And when planned right, it can carry a meaningful share of the state’s population growth, without sacrificing lifestyle, identity, or community integrity.
If you’re a builder, supplier, or planner looking to get involved in the Mount Peter rollout, now’s the time to connect. At The Good Builder, we’ll be keeping close watch on how this unfolds, and how the community—and the industry—responds.
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