Labor Housing Minister Meaghan Scanlon fast-tracks housing projects in Nerang, Southport
A defiant Meaghan Scanlon says she’s unapologetic for her controversial interventions into the Gold Coast housing market. FIND OUT WHY
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A defiant Meaghan Scanlon says she’s unapologetic for her controversial interventions into the Gold Coast housing market.
The Gold Coast-based Housing Minister earlier this year overruled a council decision and approved the redevelopment on the Arundel Hills Country Club site which would allow 650 homes on the 67ha site.
She also gave the green light to the $1.2bn Breakwater Robina project which will create 2750 dwellings with 15 per cent to be “affordable”.
Speaking on Saturday alongside Premier Steven Miles, Ms Scanlon defended her decisions.
“I’m unapologetically using the powers I have to unlock affordable housing in this state,” she said.
“In relation to that proposal, I’ve said multiple times to that councillor and to every council, we will consider any change to their planning scheme that unlocks housing.”
Real Estate Institute of Queensland (REIQ) Gold Coast boss Andrew Henderson slammed her comments.
“The Minister appears more concerned about retaining her position than the wider community,” he said.
“To rush through a number of projects right before caretaker mode does not appear to be in the public interest.”
SCANLON INTERVENES - AGAIN - TO FAST-TRACK HOUSING PROJECTS
A pair of housing projects which will deliver more than 220 social housing units have been fast-tracked and given ministerial approval.
The incumbent Labor government has used its Ministerial Infrastructure Designation (MID) to approve the projects – a 17-storey, 159-unit high-rise project on Southport’s Nerang Street, and a 60-unit affordable housing complex on Nerang’s New St.
It has also appointed Icon Construction as the builder for the Southport project.
Housing Minister Meaghan Scanlon, who has recently intervened twice to approve controversial developments at Arundel - at 650-home project that had already been rejected in a former form by council - and Robina, said the Gold Coast needed more accommodation.
“We need more homes, and only our Homes for Queenslanders plan can meet that challenge,” she said.
“A Miles Labor Government has shown that it can and will build and unlock more social, affordable and well-located homes (and this) announcement is just the tip of the iceberg.
“We cannot risk to go backwards now under David Crisafulli and the LNP.
“The LNP are no strangers to opposing more homes in the communities they’re supposed to represent, but David Crisafulli’s actions should send a shiver down the spine of every Queenslander.”
The Nerang street project was announced earlier this year.
The two fast-track interventions come after Gold Coast city council planning chair Mark Hammel heavily criticised Ms Scanlon for intervening in what he considered a smallfry Arundel project saying she should be focusing the resources of her department on unlocking the capacity for 32,000 units along the Broadbeach-Burleigh light rail line being built.
The MID provides an alternative pathway to local council development applications and is managed by the Department of Housing, Local Government, Planning and Public Works.
The five-storey Nerang project is being delivered with the St Vincent de Paul Society Queensland.
Premier Steven Miles said more houses would be approved if Labor was re-elected.
“Queenslanders have already seen us deliver on our plan, with $1bn in social and affordable housing under construction and in the pipeline,” he said.
“That’s while initiatives like our fast-track approvals process already unlocking thousands of homes, faster.
“Queensland needs one million more homes – especially affordable and well-located ones – or risk not having homes for young people, frontline workers, families and older Queenslanders.”
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Originally published as Labor Housing Minister Meaghan Scanlon fast-tracks housing projects in Nerang, Southport
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