Frequently Asked Questions

The project proposes low impact industry uses and may include:

• mini-storage facilities,
• contractors/builders yards,
• vehicle, caravan and boat storage, or
• bulk landscaping supplies and other light industry uses.

These uses do not rely on passing traffic or attract significant patronage from the public. 

Low impact industry provides no significant impact on surrounding land uses and provides potential business opportunities for Redlynch residents along with increased services and potential employment opportunities.

Storage and Warehouse facilities will not create noise or odors likely to be experienced external to the site.

Light impact industry uses must comply with industry thresholds defined in the Cairns Plan as follows:

• Repairing and servicing motor vehicles, including mechanical components, radiators, electrical components, wheel alignments, exhausts, tyres, suspension or air conditioning, not including spray painting
• Repairing and servicing lawn mowers and outboard engines
• Fitting and turning workshop
• Assembling or fabricating products from sheet metal or welding steel, producing less than 10 tonnes a year and not including spray painting
• Assembling wood products not involving cutting, routing, sanding or spray painting
• Dismantling automotive or mechanical equipment, not including debonding brake or clutch components.

Industrial uses likely to produce excessive noise and odors are defined as Medium and Heavy impact industries.  Medium and Heavy impact industries are not proposed as part of this project.

These would require further development applications which would require public notice and the opportunity for the community to make submissions to Council regarding such uses and appeal rights if such uses were approved.

It is expected that traffic coming from the north, including areas such as Redlynch, Brinsmead, Cairns, and the Northern Beaches, will not have a significant impact on peak hour movements. This is because the traffic will be travelling in the opposite direction to existing traffic during the morning and evening peak periods. Additionally, any traffic from the north that is attracted to the development will not add to the existing peak hour traffic.

Traffic from the south (Redlynch Valley and Crystal Cascades) may be travelling to alternate similar uses at Smithfield, Stratford, Aeroglen and the City.  

Employment or doing business within this development may reduce traffic on Redlynch Intake Road that passes Redlynch State College and St Andrews Schools.

Redlynch Intake Road is currently a designated B-double route for the transport of quarry products from the Boral Quarry. 

No. The existing entry to the Equestrian facilities was upgraded in 2021 to provide a “Protected Right” turning lane for traffic turning right into the site. The existing intersection provides priority for through traffic.  The existing intersection has ample queuing capacity for right turn movements entering the site. The site access road will have ample queueing capacity for right turn movements exiting the site.

The proposed development may result in increased turning movements into and out of the site however it is not expected these will coincide with peak traffic travelling north in the mornings and south in the evening. An additional left turn turning lane will be provided for traffic from the south entering the site.  The intersection will maintain priority for through traffic and there is no warrant for installation of signals.

Development of the land for the proposed uses will result in increased building on the site. These are likely to be single story buildings lower than the existing covered arena building at the front of the site.

The Subdivision plan for which a Preliminary Approval is being sought includes landscaping along the Redlynch Intake Road frontage (like what is currently along the Quarry frontage).  Trees that reach 4-6m will be planted to achieve a visual screening of the buildings in the foreground but will still allow views to the forested hillslopes to the west.

Currently Currunda Creek is fully contained within private land and is not accessible to the community as it is private property.

The Subdivision plan for which a Preliminary Approval is being sought includes Currunda Creek as a Drainage Reserve under the control of Council.  Should this application be approved, Currunda Creek will be fully accessible to the community.

Extensive flood modelling has been carried out by specialist consultants to determine the extent of earthworks that can be done without resulting in increased flood levels and velocities external to the site.

There will be some filling (approx. 500mm or less) of 2.0ha on the north side of Currunda Creek to ensure acceptable flood immunity for the development however this will be compensated with additional capacity to be provided within a dedicated drainage reserve which covers Currunda Creek and overbank areas.

The project site was chosen to avoid all areas of remaining vegetation (Mapped Remnant Vegetation) in the western precinct and the riparian vegetation lining Currunda Creek. 

The proposed creek crossing will target the removal of exotic and invasive species and avoid existing native species.

It is expected the isolated shade trees planted for equestrian shading purposes will be removed, along with regrowth vegetation to south of the creek which consists predominantly of exotic pest species (African Tulip, Lucania, Guava and guinea grass).

The forested hillslopes to the west are outside of the project zone and will not be impacted.

There is a current unmet need within the Redlynch community and to the north of Cairns for employment in place and near home, additional services including storage and other light industry may generate more than 120 permanent jobs.  Overall, 230 jobs directly and indirectly ongoing jobs (not considering construction jobs).

The land has limited production potential due to degradation and depleted topsoil layer and limited lawful access to water for irrigation purposes to support intense rural production activities.  Rural activity is at the northeastern end of the Valley on the Freshwater Creek flood plain.

Reinstatement of historic intense rural production on the land would likely result in significant amenity impacts on the more recently established urban residential and rural lifestyle uses established since the cessation of agricultural production (cane farming) over the last 30 years.

The proponent applied to Cairns Regional Council at the end of March 2024. 

Public Notice period has been extended and will now end on 12 July 2024.

The second community drop-in session will be held onsite at 626R Redlynch Intake Road on Saturday 15^th June between 10am and 3pm.  Members of the public are invited to 626R Redlynch Intake Road to speak with Applicant’s representatives, all invitees must be aware they are entering private property, entry is conditional on displaying reasonable and respectful behaviour.

Members of the community can make submission to the Council regarding this development application during the formal Public Notification period which has been extended to 12 July 2024.  Click here to go to Council’s website: https://www.cairns.qld.gov.au/

No – The land will remain in the Rural Zone

No  – Low Impact  Industry use only – No manufacturing or processing use No Concrete Batching Plant, No Asphalt Plant , No Tyre dump

No  – Clearing or mapped Vegetation or Riparia Vegetation will occur  – Removal of exotic and pest species will occur as part of Waterway Rehabilitation Pan

No – The uses proposed are low impact and may result in low levels of emissions, noise and run off. A Water Quality Management Plan will be a condition of approval. This will include interception devices of each lot such as oil separators, Gross Pollutant traps and sediment traps and artificial wetlands prior to discharge.

No – The Mapped Remnant Vegetation around Currunda Creek is an effective barrier to expansion to the west as no clearing would be permitted to access existing cleared areas on the Balance Lot 21

No – the proposal includes for a 10m wide dense planted visual buffer along the whole Redlynch Intake Road (similar to quarry screening). The landscaping plan will include for moderate height planting (4-6M) to preserve views to the forested hillslopes and ridgeline while screening out the buildings in the foreground.

Currunda Creek will be transferred to Public Ownership and a Waterway Rehabilitation Plan will be a condition of approval. This will allow removal of exotic/peat species, replanting of native species, reestablishment of biological corridors and bank stabilisation.

The community will be able to access the rehabilitated waterway corridor through Lot 22 as a Community Asset.