Cairns has long been a multicultural place with many languages, stories, lives and cultures.

Around 10% of Cairns people identify as Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. Many First Peoples of Cairns have a strong connection to Country and are able to trace their relationship with this land back thousands of years.

We have a range of significant places, including buildings, memorials, structures, gardens, cemeteries, archaeological sites, streets, townscapes and culturally significant natural landscapes.

Cairns is known for its outstanding natural beauty and relaxed tropical lifestyle, with our urban areas surrounded by our vast natural environment. This makes for a unique character and style of built environment.

When it comes to neighbourhoods, culture, heritage and lifestyle, we could:

• encourage and celebrate our cultural diversity and history;
• focus cultural activities and expression in key tourist areas in the city centre;
• encourage new housing that follows Council’s policies on tropical design.

WE HEARD

• 50% of responses from online quick poll respondents told us that a great neighbourhood in 2050 would have good footpaths and bike paths.
• 36% of responses from pop-up visitors during September and October 2023 told us that a great neighbourhood in 2050 would encourage walking with cool and shady streets with lots of trees.
• 91% of Community Panel respondents said they would like to see percentage targets for shade canopies or tree coverage in Cairns.
• 34% of Phase 1 online survey respondents from the Northern Beaches and Surrounds said one of their top concerns with growth is that new development will change the way neighbourhoods look and feel.

WE LEARNT

• Increasing tree planting on streets and encouraging shady structures create a more attractive street for people walking, bike riding or using other active transport modes.
• Mixed use buildings with small retail shops on the ground floor provide more spaces for retail and hospitality businesses in existing neighbourhoods and suburbs.
• Tropical and climate responsive buildings can be more expensive to build. Implementing an incentive can encourage developers and builders seeking to develop these kinds of buildings.
• There are several suburbs in the Northern Beaches and Surrounds with a high number of traditional homes (like Queenslanders and Workers Cottages).

WE HEARD

• Youth Summit attendees imagined Cairns neighbourhoods in 2050 as including "Skyscrapers, vertical gardens, underground infrastructure and houses on the water. More public parks and green spaces, walkable places, pedestrian streets, affordable net-zero apartments ."
• The principle for growth "Consolidate urban growth with higher density, well-located apartments supported by public transport, recreational and social facilities and limit urban sprawl" tied for the second most important principle, as rated by Community Summit attendees.
• 76% of pop-up visitors at Get Ready Day 2022 were very concerned about heat hazards.
• 25% of Phase 1 online survey respondents said their suburb does not have enough shops and services to cater for day-to-day needs.
• When asked what they love about their home suburb, 10% of Phase 1 online survey respondents said they love the character, feel or sense of place.
• 35% of Community Panel survey respondents said their local centre does not celebrate First People’s culture.

WE LEARNT

• The city covers a large physical area and has a more sprawling form of buildings. This may be due to the extensive flood and storm tide issues impacting Central Cairns and Surrounds.
• A compact city centre can provide an enjoyable area with a range of shopping, services and facilities, while also reducing the cost to build and maintain infrastructure (like water, stormwater and sewerage).
• Street trees and green streets reduce the 'urban heat island' effect, which is caused by high use of paved and hard surfaces that hold more heat than green natural areas.
• Localised centres cater for the basic shopping and service needs of a local community, which could include workers, residents or visitors.
• Places with a unique identity are desired by residents and visitors.
• Future community assets could visibly honour the history and heritage of an area that has influenced the regional landscape.
• Central Cairns and Surrounds needs to focus on cultural activities and expression within the key tourist precincts in the city centre.

WE HEARD

• 53% of Phase 1 online survey respondents from the Southern Corridor said buildings being designed sustainably to suit our tropical climate is a top 5 opportunity that could come with growth.
• 30% of Community Panel survey respondents said their closest centre does not have a variety of community amenities to encourage connection with others.
• 54% of Phase 1 online survey respondents from the Southern Corridor said more investment in community services, facilities and essential infrastructure is a top 5 opportunity that could come with growth.
• 43% of Community Panel survey respondents said planning for people to have easy access from home to everything they need (work, local services and amenities) is a potential benefit from growth.
• Improving access to housing was one of the top 3 hopes Youth Summit attendees have for Cairns in 2050.

WE LEARNT

• New urban developments across Cairns have not met the direction set in the planning scheme for the level of climate response required to ensure a high degree of liveability in these areas.
• Localised centres cater for the basic shopping and service needs of a local community, which could include workers, residents or visitors.
• Master planning greenfield areas with the environment creates sustainable, integrated communities that minimise impact and maximise high quality of life. Master planning provides an opportunity to strategically place infrastructure, meet community needs and minimise ad-hoc development.
• Housing diversity in neighbourhoods promotes social cohesion by catering for people in different stages of their life.
• We need to encourage and celebrate our cultural diversity and history.