A proposed agrihood-style community for Far North Queensland
Emerald Waters is a proposed master-planned residential community in Mareeba, Far North Queensland, being designed using an established agrihood model — one that integrates housing, retained agricultural land, open space, and shared infrastructure.
The intent is to explore how a carefully planned community can support housing diversity, food production, environmental stewardship, and long-term regional resilience, while remaining appropriate to the local climate, landscape, and planning context.
What is being proposed
Emerald Waters is at an early planning stage and is being developed as a site-specific application of an agrihood model, adapted for a dry-tropical regional setting.
The concept under investigation includes:
A mix of housing types and lot sizes
Retained and regenerated agricultural land
Shared green spaces and community infrastructure
A governance framework to manage common assets
Infrastructure systems designed for resilience and efficiency
Final outcomes will be shaped through technical studies, council processes, and community consultation.
An agrihood approach
An agrihood is a form of master-planned community that places working farmland and food systems at the centre of the neighbourhood, rather than treating them as residual land uses.
Internationally, agrihoods have been used to:
Protect productive agricultural land
Improve access to locally grown food
Strengthen community connection
Support environmentally responsible development outcomes
Emerald Waters is proposed as a local interpretation of this model, informed by regional conditions and Australian planning requirements.
Location and context
The site under consideration is located in the Mareeba area, within close proximity to existing services, transport links, and established residential areas.
The location has been identified as suitable for investigation due to:
Its relationship to the existing urban footprint
Access to water and agricultural land
Climatic suitability for food production
Proximity to town services and employment
Site planning and yield outcomes will ultimately be determined through the development assessment process.
Housing and community
The concept being explored includes a range of housing options, potentially including:
Smaller residential lots
Medium-density housing forms
Larger rural-residential lots
Options for downsizers and intergenerational living
The objective is to support housing choice while maintaining a cohesive community structure and protecting shared open space and agricultural land.
No final housing mix has been determined.
Agriculture, open space and land stewardship
A central feature of the proposal is the retention and active management of agricultural land, supported by:
Regenerative land management principles
Productive growing areas
Open space and landscape corridors
Opportunities for community participation
The agricultural component is intended to complement, not dominate, the residential function of the development.
Infrastructure and sustainability
Emerald Waters is being planned with an emphasis on long-term resilience, including investigation into:
Water security and storage
On-site wastewater treatment and reuse
Energy efficiency and renewable energy integration
Climate-appropriate building responses
All infrastructure concepts remain subject to technical design, approvals, and feasibility testing.
Governance and management
The proposal includes consideration of a clear governance framework to manage shared assets such as:
Common land and open space
Water and wastewater infrastructure
Agricultural areas
Community facilities
The intent is to provide certainty, accountability, and long-term stewardship while minimising any burden on local government.
Community consultation
Community input is an important part of the planning process.
Feedback gathered through consultation will help inform:
Housing mix and design principles
Community expectations and concerns
Governance and rules for shared spaces
Infrastructure priorities
Details on consultation activities and how to participate will be made available as the project progresses.
Project status
Emerald Waters is currently in the early planning and investigation phase.
Key activities underway or planned include:
Technical and site investigations
Ongoing discussions with council and consultants
Community consultation
Preparation of a development application
No final approvals or outcomes have been determined.