Work is due to start next week on Queensland’s biggest social and affordable housing project, providing 490 homes in Cairns.

The Woree complex will include 245 social, 223 affordable and 22 specialist disability apartments.

FCC Construction Australia will be joined by local modular housing supplier Modscape to help deliver the accommodation, with most of the materials and labour planned to be Australian sourced.

Community Housing Limited (CHL) and Tetris Capital are joining forces to deliver and manage the homes.

“To build more homes, faster we’re partnering with community housing providers and rolling out hundreds more modular homes. This project in Cairns does both,” Housing Minister Meaghan Scanlon said.

“Our Homes for Queenslanders plan is delivering – whether it’s building or buying more social homes, working with community housing, helping first homeowners, supporting renters and those sleeping rough.”

The Woree project is being funded through the State Government’s Housing Investment Fund, as well as lending from Housing Australia, the Northern Australia Infrastructure Facility (NAIF) and ANZ, in addition to a capital grant from the National Housing Infrastructure Facility.

The precinct features modern, low-maintenance and energy-efficient one and two-bedroom homes for people over 55 and those with disability.

Construction is anticipated to be completed by the end of 2026.