Opinion: Qld housing crisis outcomes report charts road ahead

Done right, and armed with a bold supply target, a new blueprint could be a powerful force to swiftly, yet sustainably, turbocharge housing supply, writes Jen Williams.

Whether houses or apartments, in Bundaberg or Brisbane, delivered by public, private or not-for-profit, Queensland is going to need more of everything everywhere to ensure its housing supply meets not only current, but also future, demand.

Yesterday saw the release of the highly anticipated Queensland Housing Summit Outcomes Report.

While scant on the detail of how some of the actions will be achieved, pleasingly, it contains a number of big commitments from Government that span short, medium and long-term horizons.

Queensland has recently seen record levels of interstate migration, however this unexpected population increase is not what has led us to this point.

For the past decade, we have been building fewer homes than we need, with less diversity in the type of dwellings delivered … and it’s taking longer and costing more to do so.

The outcomes report goes to the heart of these issues.

Beyond the quick fixes and focus on crisis accommodation, it points towards some bold actions that will help address many of the systemic issues that have contributed to the current drastic under supply of housing across all typologies and geographies.

Importantly, there is a commitment to the establishment of a Housing Delivery Board to drive the agenda, introducing a whole-of-government approach to housing supply and housing support.

For too long, we have seen government departments focused on their own agendas, often to the detriment of achieving the bigger picture.

Government will also strengthen the remit of Economic Development Queensland – a vital tool in speeding up the planning and delivery process – both through bolstered legislation and an increase in on the ground resources.

Done right, and armed with a bold supply target, this approach could be a powerful force to swiftly, yet sustainably, turbocharge housing supply.

Alongside these welcome changes, the outcomes report includes the confirmation of long-awaited actions to facilitate private sector activity, such as through reforming body corporate laws, and declaring new priority development areas.

It also commits to ongoing planning reform and a portal for the lodgement of new ideas.

A few missed easy wins, like doubling down on build to rent, but all-in-all, if implemented in full, the outcomes report provides a comprehensive suite of actions that could indeed lead to the goal of more of everything, everywhere.

Jen Williams is Queensland executive director of the Property Council of Australia