Logan, Moreton to benefit from 27 state parcels of land for housing

Two local councils will benefit from a groundbreaking project to turn under-utilised blocks of government land into housing estates in a bid to solve the state’s housing shortage.

Housing in Logan will get a boost from a parcel of state government land. Picture: LOED

The state’s new Housing Minister is overseeing a groundbreaking project to turn under-utilised blocks of government land into housing estates in a bid to solve the state’s housing shortage.

Two pieces of state-owned land in Logan and Moreton region were earmarked as part of the housing strategy as Minister Meaghan Scanlon stepped up plans to sort out the state’s housing crisis.

Ms Scanlon announced the land allocations yesterday along with 25 other prospective parcels at the Gold Coast, Brisbane, Bundaberg, Fraser Coast, Maranoa, Noosa and Townsville.

Redland city, which has been chastised by the deputy premier Steven Miles for failing to draft a suitable housing strategy, missed out on the land handout.

Logan accommodation statistics from 2019. Picture: LOED

A State Department spokesman said the bayside city was excluded because there were no identified parcels of land fitting the housing criteria in the area.

However, 1 hectare blocks of state government land in Logan and the Moreton region have been earmarked for the housing venture.

Exact locations for projects in Logan and Moreton have yet to be announced but Mr Miles said details would be released as soon as the government worked out what type of development and infrastructure was needed for each site.

One of the sites revealed, a former TAFE college at Parkside, Yeronga, will be used for 281 social and affordable homes, townhouses and retirement units.

Moreton Bay Regional Council will be given a parcel of 1ha land. Picture: Courier-Mail

“We will now do more work on that shortlist of 27 to evaluate exactly what kind of developments would be appropriate and what other supports and infrastructure would be needed to allow us to provide homes on those properties,” Mr Miles said.

“Given the current housing pressures, we’re looking at whether these 27 sites can allow us to deliver developments like Parkside at Yeronga.

“Our state development agency Economic Development Queensland can look at those sites and see if they are places where we should facilitate development.

“It might be that we develop them ourselves, with a higher level of social and affordable housing, but if they are partnered with the private sector we’d want to see a community housing provider in there as well and a very significant proportion of those dwellings to be allocated for social and affordable housing.”

“There are also 870 parcels of land that have been suggested to us by local government and 13 parcels of land owned by faith-based groups that have suggested they could make those available.”

Economic Development Queensland is leading a public-private consortium to develop the Yeronga project.

Ms Scanlon said the sites were offered during last year’s groundbreaking summit designed to crack a land housing shortage.

In Brisbane, there are 14 parcels of land, four at Gold Coast and three at Fraser Coast.