Hitting Home: Councillors urged to unlock housing supply amid crisis

One South East Queensland council has been told to lift its game in relation to housing supply as another defends its decision to reject a rezoning application amid a crippling housing shortage.

AN Ipswich developer has called for greater co-operation between council and the private sector after being left frustrated by a recommended planning rejection amid Queensland’s crippling housing shortage.

But the Ipswich City Council has defended the looming decision to knock back the rezoning proposal of 180 residential lots in Deebing Heights due to a number environmental and ecological concerns.

A report recommending the rejection comes as Planning Minister Steven Miles urged the Redlands City Council to overhaul its outdated housing policy and explore land supply options.

Mr Miles told The Courier-Mail the urgent direction hadn’t been issued to any other council, expressing frustration at the current strategy in Redlands being based on 2006 population data.

“In the face of complex housing challenges, local housing strategies are a critical tool that local governments can use to support affordable housing and deliver a sufficient supply of housing,” he said.

Deputy Premier Steven Miles pleaded with Redland City Council to improve housing policy. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Dan Peled

“In the absence of a citywide housing strategy there is no clear line of sight between council initiatives such as suburban renewal projects, city plan amendments and neighbourhood plans and council’s targets for diverse and affordable housing.”

“To be useful, housing strategies need to be realistic and based on up-to-date population data.”

The grievance related to land supply and housing policies will be raised at a roundtable meeting on Friday hosted by Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk ahead of next month’s Queensland housing summit.

Axelom Capital principal Jason McDonald, who is behind the proposal in Ipswich, said the conflict extended to councils and developers, urging local governments to remove barriers to unlock supply.

“There’s an opportunity for all levels to work much more collaboratively together,” he said.

Jason McDonald, Axelom Capital principal for a development project in Deebing Downs, near Ipswich. Picture: Liam Kidston

“Instead of butting heads, if we could all get around a table and co-operate, I’m of the view that we’d deliver much more beneficial outcomes for the community.”

But Ipswich Mayor Teresa Harding said council was “bound by a planning scheme that is a legally binding instrument for considering applications”.

She said the report was prepared by independent planning officers and stressed the development proposal was located inside land zoned for environmental conservation, which is intended as a buffer between urban and rural zones.

Annual dwelling approvals in Ipswich have increased by 31 per cent compared to total approvals recorded in 2019/20.

“Council is already delivering significant housing stock for the greater Southeast Queensland market, but needs critical investment from the state government on infrastructure such as roads, water, and public transport now to unlock their potential,” Ms Harding said.