The Queensland Government continues to progress housing developments across the state, with a 2,750-home project in Robina greenlit and the purchase of an apartment complex in Woolloongabba that will be transformed into social housing.
The project in Robina is the first to be given the green light through the State Government’s new fast-track approvals process.
Queensland Minister for Planning, Meaghan Scanlon, has declared the Walker Group’s build-to-sell proposal for Robina a State Facilitated Development (SFD), alongside a 45-home project at Wakerley.
The SFD pathway, established as part of the government’s Homes for Queenslanders plan, expedites approvals for projects that align with the government’s focus on affordable and well-located housing.
Through this process, once declared by the Minister, applications can be assessed within a minimum of 75 business days. Projects are required to get shovels in the ground within two years of approval.
The declared projects at Robina and Wakerley are among 12 sites currently being considered for pilot projects under the SFD pathway.
In total, the twelve projects are expected to unlock nearly 5,000 homes, with more than a quarter to be affordable homes for Queenslanders.
Among the other proposals are a 525-home development in Indooroopilly and a 305-unit project at Milton, offering studio, one, two, and three-bedroom units 2.5km from the Brisbane CBD.
The others are in Redland Bay, Forest Lake, Toowoomba, Lutwyche, Pallara, Tewantin, Noosa Heads and Woolloongabba, where a 435-home project over is planned near the Buranda public transport hub.
Minister Scanlon said, “Remove the barriers, speed up approvals and you’ll fuel housing construction – that’s what industry told us, so that’s what we did.
“The first two projects include a very significant development on the Gold Coast and a project on faith-based land at Wakerley.
“If all declared, the pilot projects alone will unlock more than 4,945 homes in places that are well-located to the transport, schools, jobs and services that people need.
“This process isn’t a free pass, though. Buildings are required to be substantially underway within two years.
“I’m about more housing so my generation can afford to get into the market and that means moving faster.”
After the Federal Government decided it would not use its quarantine site in Pinkenba’s airport and industrial area for a possible housing solution, the Miles Government has reallocated $10 million it had put on the table for more housing.
That funding has been used to help purchase an apartment complex in Woolloongabba when it was put on the market by the owner.
Located close to the south Brisbane health precinct and other services, it will be upgraded to provide 20, two-bedroom homes for seniors, families and people with disability.
The first tenants are forecast to begin moving in over coming months following minor works.
It’s one of a number of properties purchased to give people a home sooner, including former hotels in South Brisbane and Spring Hill and former retirement villages and aged care homes in Logan, Clayfield, Toowoomba and Rothwell.
Just recently, the government used its Housing Investment Fund to also buy 85 units in Gladstone in partnership with Roseberry Community Services for social and affordable housing.
Queensland Premier, Steven Miles, said that housing is one of the biggest issues around the state, and across the country.
“I have a plan to address these pressures, while also planning for the future,” Premier Miles said.
“Across the state, we have more than $1 billion in social and affordable housing projects underway, but we’re also buying vacant hotels, motels and retirement villages to get people house sooner.”
