Southern Corridor planning underway as taskforce holds inaugural meeting
Planning for the future growth in the Southern Corridor is officially under way, with the inaugural meeting of the Cairns Southern Corridor Task Force taking place on Wednesday.
The taskforce has been created by Cairns City Council to ensure that the next major area of urban growth in the city is planned appropriately. It is anticipated that an estimated 60,000 people will reside in the area by 2036.
Council has appointed an independent chair to the committee, Mr Trevor Gordon, principal of Cairns High School.
"Trevor brings a range of skills to the taskforce" Cairns Mayor Kevin Byrne said.
"We looked for someone who has a good standing in the community, has the ability to chair meetings, and has no involvement in the development industry, but has an affinity with the southern area given that he lives in Meringa.
"Most importantly, we are working in partnership with the community and the development sector in order to achieve the goals for the Southern Corridor.
"Having an independent chair sends a clear message that Council wants this to be a true partnership."
Mr Gordon said he was honoured to have been asked to lead the taskforce.
"The future of the city in a large way rests with what happens with the Southern Corridor. If we don't get the right mix of land use patterns of our future communities then there will be implications for the town as a whole," Mr Gordon said.
The taskforce would oversee various investigations and studies that need to be carried out before development can commence.
The taskforce will also provide the framework for the detailed planning work to begin on the Edmonton Town Centre site in Mill Rd.
"I was very pleased with the inaugural meeting and look forward to getting involved in understanding the issues more thoroughly and ultimately watching the planning turn into reality when the development occurs," Mr Gordon said.
"As was highlighted to me yesterday during the course of the meeting, the key to our success will be considering the social, economic and environmental implications during the planning phase so we can ensure that the needs of both the current and future generations are met. "
