More houses and more jobs in FNQ expansion plan
Queensland government to fast track more modular homes to service communities across far north of the state.
THE Queensland Government is expanding housing manufacturing capacity in Cairns to deliver more homes, faster, across Far North Queensland.
The expansion of QBuild’s Portsmith manufacturing facility aims to increase annual production by 40 per cent from July 1, helping accelerate housing delivery in remote and regional communities.
The boost comes as the Crisafulli Government accelerates housing delivery across Far North Queensland through planning reforms, infrastructure investment and major growth area activation.
The recent approval of the Mount Peter Priority Development Area scheme and $2.4 billion agreement for enabling infrastructure is helping unlock one of the region’s most significant future housing corridors, while the Residential Activation Fund continues to roll out and support the delivery of even more homes.
Together with reforms to reduce red tape and streamline approvals, the government’s focus is on providing certainty for local builders, supporting regional jobs and delivering more homes for Queenslanders.
The Cairns facility is already playing a critical role delivering modular homes across the north, with 30 homes completed since manufacturing began in 2024.
The expansion will also support more apprenticeship and training opportunities in the Far North, helping build the regional workforce needed to deliver Queensland’s record infrastructure pipeline.
The Crisafulli Government’s support for Modern Methods of Construction (MMC) or factory-built homes is helping overcome some of the biggest challenges facing regional housing delivery, including severe weather disruptions, freight delays and workforce shortages.
By building homes offsite and at scale, construction can continue during wet season conditions, with completed modules transported and installed when communities are safely accessible.
That means faster delivery, reduced delays and more Queenslanders having a place to call home.
Sam O’Connor, minister for housing and public works, said the Cairns facility was becoming a key regional hub for housing delivery across the north.
“Expanding our manufacturing facility in the Far North helps us overcome the private market’s current limited capacity in this region to deliver factory-built homes,” O’Connor said.
“Being based in Cairns makes sense because it reduces the transport time to get these modules into the communities where they will become homes for our most vulnerable and our frontline workers like teachers, nurses and police.
“Every dollar we save is more funds we can put into delivering the homes our state desperately needs, particularly in First Nations communities.
“This facility is also helping to train the next generation of tradies in the Far North because we need a strong regional workforce to deliver Queensland’s record housing pipeline.
“Whether it’s expanding housing manufacturing capacity here in Cairns or unlocking tens of thousands of homes in the Mount Peter PDA, our number one priority is to deliver more housing supply across this fast-growing region.”
