After a long process to overcome ongoing problems surrounding native title and land release, the proposed land development was initially shelved in early 2011 after extensive sewerage upgrades were deemed essential for future infrastructure.

Sewerage works are expected to be completed towards the end of this year and Mount Isa deputy mayor Brett Peterson said building could commence earlier than the original forecast of 2014.

Despite news from real estate agents in Mount Isa that the housing market had slowed considerably since the Glencore Xstrata merge, Cr Peterson said he was confident the city needed the Gliderport estate, encompassing 517 properties, a full line supermarket and a childcare centre.

Project manager for contracted residential development company Heritage Pacific, Darren Jonsson, said despite the market downturn, the project would definitely go ahead.

Mr Jonsson said current concerns for the future of Mount Isa were a "blip on the radar".

"We take a long term view, we have spent five years researching Mount Isa and we are extremely committed to it," he said.

Final negotiations between the Mount Isa City Council and contracted residential development company Heritage Pacific are expected to be finalised this month.

The Gliderport development will be an 11,500 acre project behind Healy Heights and will take a total of eight years to develop from the start date.

Mr Jonsson said the Gliderport would lead the way for modern facilities in Mount Isa, revealing the news of a National Broadband introduction.

"...Gliderport will be the catalyst for new NBN networks to bring into the city," he said.

The Gliderport estate will offer 517 dwellings, including 467 detached houses, a block of 20 townhouses and a block of 30 townhouses,

priced between $400,000 and $570,000.

In March this year the council signed a $90 million contract in relation to sewerage.

Native title and land release ongoing issues.

Within the council 2009/2010 announcement, money had been allocated to complete the purchase of the Gliderport land.

In May 2011 the proposed 370 lot residential development at the Gliderport has been put on ice until the council is able to upgrade the sewerage system to handle the extra strain.

In October 2011, former Mayor John Molony said he hoped to see Gliderport connected to sewerage by July 2013.

"By 2013 we expect to be able to service the Gliderport development," he said.

THE Mount Isa City Council's Gliderport

scheme is progressing with 30 expressions of

interest in the development, according to

Mount Isa City Council Mayor Tony McGrady.

Touted as an "affordable housing" solution

for the city's extreme housing shortage,

the council's 63.7 hectares would yield 400

affordable homes for the city, along with

parks and gardens.

Councillor McGrady said "affordable"

translated into "around the $400,000 mark".

"We have spoken to some of the real estate

agents around town, and they class that as

affordable," he said.

The council gave an extension to those

submitting final plans for tender for

Gliderport, of Monday, September 3, Cr

McGrady said.

"Some developers had asked for an extension

of time, some had already submitted

detailed proposals, so we have given everyone

an extension," Cr McGrady said.

The council was delighted with the

response and all applicants had been given a

consistent message.

"We told them we wanted affordable

housing, houses or town houses, with parks

and open spaces, a local shopping centre and

a child care facility," Cr McGrady said.

"If any further information was needed

they were referred to the city engineer."

At the fly-in, fly-out (FIFO) forum in the

city at the end of July, Cr McGrady said the

forum participants would encourage the

Queensland Housing Department to work

with councils and developers to control what

housing was offered in some areas, and to

build homes to be bought by newcomers who

intended to stay.

"The question we ask is, should the

Department of Housing be more flexible for

workers [in mining towns] and build homes

for them, and not just for the unemployed?"

Commenting on the number of vacant

Housing Department houses in the city yesterday,

he stressed the conditions for eligibility

for social housing were not appropriate

for a mining city such as Mount Isa.

"The Housing Department houses are

there to serve a need, but the conditions are

so stringent it is almost impossible to get a

house if you are working.

"What we were suggesting at the FIFO

forum was there was a role for the public sector

for workers in remote mining communities

and the private sector also has a role to

play, with developments like Gliderport."

The mining industry had also contributed,

building houses for staff in Healy Heights and

Sunset, Cr McGrady said.