Bob Ell: Gold Coast developer’s plan to solve housing shortage crisis
Veteran developer Bob Ell is urging state and federal governments to phone for his “fair dinkum” housing crisis plan. READ HIS SOLUTION
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Veteran developer Bob Ell has called on the state and federal governments to phone him and get “fair dinkum” about solving the Gold Coast housing crisis.
The Leda boss, who has been in the development game for more than 50 years, says he could take up to 16,000 houses and units across the Gold Coast and Tweed to the market “tomorrow” if the different levels of government work with him to solve environmental red tape issues delaying his projects at Coomera, Cobaki Lakes and King’s Forrest.
Speaking a day after a new report by leading national real estate firm CBRE revealed the level of housing development currently proposed for the Gold Coast will not come close to solving the city’s accommodation crisis, Mr Ell said he had two words for state and federal ministers: “Call me”.
“Affordability is one thing but what we need is approval from governments and councils.
“As far as the Gold Coast (project) is concerned, the Coomera land is capable of supplying 4000 flats and 2000 houses but we cannot get either the state or federal governments to help us with animal offsets because both feel animals are more important than people,” he said.
“We could supply these houses and be in the market tomorrow and get them out there immediately but where are the governments?
“Is anyone fair dinkum about housing or is it a bloody joke?
“My message is that I am willing and available to talk about housing so please call me. I’m a local Australian boy from the country and I am willing to assist anyone with housing.”
The CBRE report, published this week, revealed the number of dwellings on the Gold Coast increased by 1222 in 2022, while the population grew by more than 14,000 people, or around 6000 households.
And the report warns pressure will continue to grow for both renters and buyers.
Mr Ell and his son Robert have bought a 161ha at George Alexander Way and Cunningham Dr in a multi-sale transaction on April 28 for nearly $200 million in what’s understood to be the Gold Coast’s biggest ever land deal.
The site, known as Coomera Quarter, sits between the Coomera Rivers State School and the heavy rail line, south of Pimpama State Secondary College.
The site is zoned for 4000 dwellings which already have been given the green light by the Gold Coast City Council.
However, it will require several environmental approvals from the state and federal governments to proceed.
Queensland Housing Minister Meaghan Scanlon said she was willing to “work with anyone and listen to practical suggestions about how we can speed up approvals and get more stock into the market sooner”.
“I understand Mr Ell already has previous development approvals from the Gold Coast City Council, and if he complies with those conditions and any relevant approvals under the federal government’s EPBC Act – as is the case across the country – then he shouldn’t have any issue getting shovels in the ground.
“On top of that, Mr Ell has been offered a meeting with state officials, to help facilitate any requirements and proposals he may wish to put forward.”
Mr Ell has begun construction on the first stage of his giant King’s Forrest project, near Kingscliff south of the border, but says the project cannot proceed in full until issues over sewerage, water and electricity are settled with the NSW state government.
Leda is yet to begin construction on Cobaki Lakes, also over the border, that Mr Ell has been working on for more than two decades.
Mr Ell said he staff had made numerous attempts to contact federal Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek’s office to discuss the issue.
Ms Plibersek was contacted for comment. Instead a spokesman for the Department of Environment responded about Kings Forest, saying the project was given federal approval with conditions in 2015.
“The department is working with the developer to ensure it meets its conditions of approval, including fencing to prevent koala deaths,” the spokesman said.
The Gold Coast’s housing market is under pressure on numerous fronts following the pandemic-era population and development boom
A Real Estate Institute of Australia (REIA) roundtable on the city’s housing shortage held in May heard the city’s median house price is now equal with Melbourne and construction of new housing and unit towers is not keeping pace with Gold Coast’s population growth.
A range of solutions, including taxing Airbnb owners and issuing extra levies on investors who own homes but leave them empty sitting and unrented were pitched.
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