A BRINSMEAD homebuilder has slammed a ban on light-coloured roofs for hillside houses, accusing Cairns Regional Council of making beauty a priority over the climate change threat.

The ban defies State Government sustainability guidelines which, from January, will penalise homeowners for having dark-coloured roofs when rating their houses for energy efficiency.

But Mayor Val Schier said residents resented the look of light-coloured roofs on the sides of hills, and builders should use other sustainability measures.

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Sarah-Jane Gourlay, who is set to start building her hillside home at Brinsmead, said she was "horrified" by the choice of roof colours the council would allow.

The exclusively dark colours permitted attract heat, making houses warmer and forcing owners to spend more on greenhouse-polluting power to cool them back down, she says.

"It seems the council is making 'visual pollution' more important than being sustainable," Ms Gourlay said.

"It just doesn't make sense."

The looming State Government policy encourages builders to use heat-reflecting light colours for roofs, and warns homeowners who don’t that their home's energy-efficiency ratings - and values - will suffer when they try to sell.

From January 1, all homeowners will have to complete a compulsory environmental checklist, called a Sustainability Declaration, to inform prospective buyers of the home’s energy requirements and costs.

"It's a black mark against me if I don't have a light-coloured roof," Ms Gourlay said.

"Will council reimburse me for a devaluation of my house due to compliance?"

A Government fact sheet says the declarations will be a "key marketing tool" for agents selling houses, giving buyers an idea of the money they can save on bills by buying greener homes.

L J Hooker Edge Hill principal Ross Moller said it was not known how much impact the declarations would have on property prices, but it could prompt buyers to give more thought to money-saving energy efficiency features.

Council planning and environment general manager Peter Tabulo said the new sustainability checklist "does not trigger or warrant council to review its hillslopes policy on the colour of houses".

"Council's choice of colours on hillslopes is designed to reduce the visual impact of buildings through a palette of colours that generally is in keeping with the natural background," he said.

Cairns Mayor Val Schier said the policy struck a balance between visual and environmental considerations.

"Having dark colours that attract heat can be counteracted by having good insulation and good air flow," Cr Schier said.

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