Approach

SMEC oversaw a collaborative, design-led process, partnering closely with architecture and urban design firm Pilot Places. The project involved a multi-disciplinary team spanning urban design, engineering, economics, stakeholder engagement and planning expertise.

At its heart was an iterative engagement and design methodology which initially involved extensive engagement with over 30 Council staff, executives, and elected members to establish shared objectives and address initial challenges. A “walk on Country” with Traditional Owners and subsequent Council led engagements embedded Indigenous knowledge from the outset.

Subsequent engagement broadened participation, including community groups, industry professionals, and state agencies and institutions, refining strategies based on evolving feedback. Adjustments were made to precinct boundaries, housing types recalibrated for feasibility, and nature-based flood mitigation measures integrated following new hazard mapping insights.

SMEC provided technical rigour throughout, translating community aspirations into actionable solutions. This involved precinct frameworks, infrastructure coordination, sustainability integration, and ensuring deliverability through practical planning and investment pathways. The result is a cohesive, inclusive regeneration plan and roadmap that supports infill housing, revitalises public spaces, and positions Cairns to thrive amid future climate challenges.

Key deliverables and outcomes

Precinct Master Plans

Three concept masterplans were developed for Cairns’ most strategically significant inner-city precincts: the Health Precinct, Major Events Precinct, and CBD South. Precincts were analysed and initiatives developed based on existing and potential activation, existing and pending investment, readiness, and likely impact. Each plan sets out a clear spatial framework to guide future infill housing opportunities, infrastructure upgrades, and public realm improvements, tailored to the distinct identity and role of each precinct.

The Health Precinct focuses on supporting Cairns’ role as a regional medical hub, with opportunities for mixed-use housing and improved connections to health services. The Major Events Precinct prioritises walkability, green space, and long-term recreation infrastructure that complements its tourism and cultural assets. CBD South, adjacent to the Cruise Terminal, positions itself as a future-ready mixed-use neighbourhood with activated street edges, improved stormwater management, and a gateway arrival experience for cruise ship visitors.

All three plans integrate site-specific conditions, such as flood risk zones, coastal exposure, and cultural heritage to ensure that future development strengthens the character of Place. Together, they form the foundation of a holistic and coordinated approach supporting infill development and precinct revitalisation across central Cairns.

“Cool Green” Connectors

To improve movement across central Cairns and unify key precincts, the project establishes a network of “Cool Green” connectors – shaded, tree-lined corridors linking the hospital, CBD, education and event precincts. These corridors enhance the inner-city public realm and make it easier to get around without a car.

More than just transport links, the connectors function as blue-green infrastructure. With street trees, water-sensitive landscaping, and generous canopy cover, they help manage stormwater, cool the city, and support biodiversity. In doing so, they also create more cohesive neighbourhoods and lay the groundwork for infill development.

Cool-Green Connectors

Housing Diversity and Feasibility

Delivering higher-density housing in Cairns has long been a challenge, with traditional apartment models proving difficult to finance and build. In response, the project explored alternative infill typologies (including duplexes, triplexes, quadplexes and low-rise apartments) that could offer more diversity and choice in the current market conditions without compromising the city’s scale or character.

SMEC and Pilot Places partnered with economic specialists Bull and Bear to explore housing typologies that could boost supply and diversity in the current market. The team identified several potential planning amendments and policy levers to improve viability. These included variations in lot sizes, building height increases, and more flexible parking requirements.

Designs were guided by principles that prioritised liveability and climate responsiveness. The result: vibrant, safe, tropical homes and neighbourhoods, featuring natural ventilation, shaded outdoor spaces, flood-resilient ground levels, active frontages, and generous planting.

Sustainability and Innovation

Sustainability was embedded throughout the project as a natural driver of integrated outcomes. The team championed nature-based solutions, such as creek-line restoration and expanded urban tree canopy, to deliver environmental benefits alongside growth. Climate adaptation strategies were also incorporated into the design response.

Planning innovation was a key focus. The team proposed shifts toward form-based codes to support better design outcomes and suggested initiatives that promote blue-green infrastructure and resilience.

Iterative design with key stakeholders and community members shaped place-making outcomes and input from Traditional Owners has informed cultural narratives and progressed the journey towards implementation partnerships. This inclusive process ensured the vision was both locally grounded and widely supported by the community.

The project also demonstrated flexibility. Initially scoped around two precincts, the plan was expanded to include CBD South after Phase 1 engagement identified it as a strategic opportunity. SMEC and Pilot Places seamlessly integrated this third precinct, building on existing Council initiatives such as the Greening of Grafton Street.

Artist Impression, Lake St, Health Precinct

Impact

The Cairns City Precincts Urban Regeneration Project has equipped Council with a clear, design-led roadmap to guide growth, shape policy, and attract investment in the city centre. The project’s outputs include detailed regeneration plans for central Cairns, a suite of catalyst project opportunities, and a staged, costed implementation strategy. These initiatives include tools designed to streamline housing development assessments and inform potential updates to the Cairns City Plan. They also support future capital works programming and funding applications.

This ambitious project was delivered within seven months. The framework helps Cairns accommodate growth within the central City neighbourhoods, supporting housing supply and diversity and reducing pressure on the urban fringe. Revitalised precincts and public spaces will also strengthen Cairns’ position as the regional capital of Far North Queensland, supporting health, education, tourism and creative sectors.

As a result, Cairns is now better placed to meet the challenges of a changing climate, while creating a more liveable, connected, and inclusive city. The emphasis on housing diversity is expected to shape planning reforms, enabling the delivery of more duplexes, townhouses, and low-rise apartments. At the same time, investment in shaded connectors and green infrastructure will advance more resilient, community-focused public spaces.