Dramatic state takeover of SEQ council as housing crisis ramps up

A South East Queensland mayor says the state’s move to take over her council’s housing supply strategy was unexpected.

Redland City Mayor Karen Williams was caught totally unawares by the state government’s takeover of her council’s housing supply strategy.

The Courier-Mail reported on Thursday the government would assume control due to Redland City Council’s inaction as a housing crisis grips the state.

Deputy Premier, Local Government and Planning Minister Steven Miles has previously warned the council about its inability to provide housing supply and diversity to accommodate the state’s surging population.

In a statement on Thursday evening, Redlands Mayor Karen Williams said Mr Miles’s move had been unexpected.

“The State Government signed off on our City Plan in 2018 and our current Redlands Housing Strategy takes us to 2031,” Cr Williams said.

“I spoke with the Deputy Premier just yesterday afternoon about housing and he indicated his willingness to work collaboratively with council.

“He did not advise of his upcoming letter or his decision to undertake a housing strategy for us.”

Cr Williams said the Redlands community would accept housing growth when it came with the needed infrastructure such as roads, hospitals and schools.

Redlands Mayor Karen Williams

“A housing strategy without a plan for infrastructure is not a plan,” she said.

Cr Williams said Mr Miles’s move made it clear to the community that the state was responsible for planning.

“For almost a decade I have been calling on the State Government to deliver a community education campaign on planning and growth so that the region understands how planning operates and who is responsible,” she said.

Mr Miles’s frustration with Redlands has been exacerbated in recent months as the state plunges further into a housing crisis, with tens of thousands of Queenslanders unable to secure a home.

Mr Miles said the South East Queensland council’s languishing housing strategy was last updated in 2011 and relies on 2006 population data.

“Meaning it does not take into account significant population and housing challenges in the past decade,” he said on Thursday afternoon.

“For example, the current strategy identified a dwelling target of 66,200 by 2031, however, as of 2021, there is already a total of 65,200 dwellings in the Redlands area.

“Redlands has been asked repeatedly to update its housing strategy but has declined to do so.

“The people of Redlands – now and into the future – need affordable homes urgently.”

Queensland Deputy Premier Steven Miles. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Dan Peled

In a letter sent to the Redland City Council on Thursday, Mr Miles said he would be exercising powers under the planning act to “urgently undertake the strategy and consider what amendments are needed to the City Plan to facilitate the range of housing needs identified by the strategy”.

“The purpose of the strategy is to investigate housing supply and diversity in the Redland area and provide the evidence base for my consideration of any amendments required to the City Plan,” he said.

“Now more than ever, it’s vital that all local governments have well positioned planning schemes to support housing choice. This includes removing regulatory impediments that prevent a variety of housing.”

Mr Miles stressed he had repeatedly attempted to communicate with Redlands to update its strategy and was committed to working with councils to follow community expectations and objectives.

“However, as this has been communicated on a number of occasions, I am now taking this extraordinary step to get this done,” Mr Miles said.

“The Queensland government will also consider the need for additional infrastructure including roads, sewerage and water, schools and community facilities that would support more housing in the region.”