The Local Government Association of Queensland has welcomed the State Government’s support for an infrastructure planning review.
This comes as part of the government’s response to the Queensland Productivity Commission’s inquiry into the productivity of the construction industry.
The State Government’s in principle agreement for a review into infrastructure planning and its commitments to ensure any actions taken as part of the review do not “constrain or exacerbate financial sustainability challenges for councils”, could lay the foundations for more utilities, roads and other infrastructure essential to kickstarting more housing construction.
The recommendation follows LGAQ research in 2024 that found the trunk infrastructure funding “gap” needed to be addressed to open up more housing for Queenslanders.
It also follows the State Government’s $2 billion Residential Activation Fund which supports local councils and communities to deliver critical infrastructure to support growth.
LGAQ President, Mayor Matt Burnett, welcomed the State Government’s commitment.
“Councils are determined to be part of the solution when it comes to housing, and we’re backing this with action through our zonings and approvals,” Burnett said.
“Across Queensland, councils have already created opportunities for developers to build hundreds of thousands of new homes, with even more in the pipeline.
“It’s pleasing that infrastructure planning is now firmly on the agenda and we look forward to working with the State Government on this matter.”
Burnett said the $2 billion Residential Activation Fund had been a gamechanger in supporting councils and industry to unlock land for new homes.
“Our research clearly demonstrated the growing infrastructure funding gap and we welcomed the Residential Activation Fund commitment as a key initiative to address this.
“However, we’ll continue to make the case for further changes to establish a more equitable trunk infrastructure funding and charging framework to ensure councils can keep up with the cost of delivering the infrastructure needed to support homes.”
LGAQ analysis of figures from Local Government Infrastructure Plans across 35 councils and the Queensland Government Statisticians Office shows that Queensland councils have already:
- Zoned enough broadhectare land for over almost 590,000 new homes
- Zoned for more than 1,000,000 infill dwellings
- Approved over 100,000 new residential lots
- Approved an estimated 180,000 apartments and townhouses
“We all know there is a huge challenge to get more rooves over heads and these figures show councils are doing their fair share of facilitating construction,” Burnett said.
“We’re pleased to have a willing partner in the State and Federal governments when it comes to building the homes Queenslanders and future generations need.”
The LGAQ looks forward to working through the government’s response in more detail in coming days and engaging with relevant agencies.
