Maranoa Regional Council investigating building new housing on empty blocks in Surat

Maranoa Regional Council has confirmed plans to negotiate with the state government for more land to build houses on in Surat, a town completely landlocked by a state-owned trade route.

The Maranoa Regional Council has begun investigating plans to build new housing on empty council-owned blocks of land, namely lots 104 and 114 William St, Surat.

The Maranoa Regional Council has confirmed plans to investigate building more dwellings on empty council-owned land to combat the housing crisis in Surat.

At council’s August 23 Ordinary meeting, councillors agreed to table a report investigating the potential to add more houses or flats to the council’s existing repertoire of residences by building on unused land.

Councillor Johanne Hancock raised the idea, claiming that having the report ready before the planned external funding for housing arrives will speed up the process so they are “shovel-ready”.

The two empty blocks being considered for new housing are lots 104 and 114 on William St, Surat, however Ms Hancock explained there was also an empty parcel of land on the corner of Cordelia and Alexander streets that is owned by the state government and would allow for town expansion.

“There’s water that goes down through there so they would be having a look at what might be required for earthworks to put a house on that,” Ms Hancock said.

Recently subdivided lot 114 (formally part of 116) William Street, Surat is now being considered for new housing. Picture: Google Maps.

Lot 104 William Street, Surat is now being considered for new housing. Picture: Google Maps.

“My whole intention behind this is to get it ready for funding when it becomes available so we have a shovel-ready project that we can put housing on.

“Surat is locked by a stock route right around it, it’s state-owned, so we have got nowhere to go outwards.

“There is a perfect block of land opposite the tyre service that has always been on the radar to be able to open up Surat that way.

“I want to investigate, what do we need to do to start thinking about opening up these blocks of land because we’ve got nowhere.

Aerial view of the empty block of state government-owned land opposite the tyre dealer on the corner of Cordelia and Alexander Streets in Surat. Picture: Google Maps.

“The only way to grow our town is to work with the state government to be able to obtain some of that stock route and to just start that process going as well so we can get on the front foot for some development opportunities for the Surat community.”

Deputy mayor Geoff McMullen agreed with looking to free up state government-owned land now for future housing development.

The empty block of state government-owned land on the corner of Cordelia and Alexander Streets in Surat. Picture: Google Maps.

“There’s nowhere else to go, if it’s only allocated for stock route, we should really be pushing the government to release it to council for housing,” Mr McMullen said.

Councillors unanimously voted 9-0 to investigate building more housing on empty council blocks and negotiate with the state government for more land, with a report to be ready in two months.