Moreton Bay offers land to combat homelessness crisis

Local homelessness providers have approved City of Moreton Bay’s move to offer Council owned land or potential activation as social, affordable and/or crisis housing.

Three parcels of land across Moreton Bay are being offered up to community housing specialists to address unprecedented acceleration in local homelessness.

City of Moreton Bay have identified three parcels of Council land at 33 Oakey Flat Road, Morayfield and 72 and 74 Cox Street, Caboolture, for potential activation as social, affordable and/or crisis housing.

The vacant land, equalling a just under half-an-acre, will be subject to planning scheme requirements with an expression of interest due to be released before the end of the year.

Mayor Peter Flannery said this initial land offering will deliver a peppercorn lease, under a 50-year exclusive use arrangement, to registered not-for-profit community housing providers or specialist homelessness services to develop the sites.

he vacant land at 33 Oakey Flat Road, Morayfield. Picture: Contributed

Local volunteer group and homelessness support provider, Caboolture Community Action applauded Council’s commitment in this space.

“Recently, we have seen a substantial increase in the need for more support services including food relief, housing assistance and referrals,” President Sharin Geeves said.

“Any extra initiatives that help residents in need are very welcome and I hope that community and housing providers get behind this opportunity.”

Mr Flannery said statistically, Moreton Bay faced an unprecedented acceleration in homelessness compared to other southeast neighbours.

“It’s the first time we’ve done anything like this, and while providing social, affordable, and crisis housing may not be within Council’s usual remit, we are the ones being left to deal with the resulting regulatory issues and at times public safety and amenity concerns,” Mr Flannery said.

“The situation is dire, and the stark reality of homelessness these days is it could be anyone from parents with young children, grandmothers or even professionals.

City of Moreton Bay Mayor Peter Flannery said the local homeless situation is dire. Picture: File

“I’ve seen it with my own eyes as I’ve travelled around the city and it often takes just one little thing to push people out of a home and on to the streets, so it really is something that could happen to any of us, our families, or friends.

“That’s why in July, we announced that we would audit our current land holdings to determine if there were any locations that could work for the purpose of community housing.

“Changing City of Moreton Bay’s Community Leasing Policy means we can lease council-owned land, that is not needed right now, for the purpose of community housing that can put a roof over the heads of locals doing it tough.

“We’re hoping this opportunity will see specialist providers interested enough to work with us to develop, maintain and manage these sites for the specific purpose of crisis, social or affordable housing.

The vacant land at 72 and 74 Cox Street, Caboolture. Picture: Contributed

“I’m proud of our Council, who have taken a daring step and are thinking outside the box to make a tangible difference to residents, but we’ll just need to wait and see if there are any organisations out there that would be interested in being part of this initiative.”

Division 3 Councillor Adam Hain said the social housing system had not kept pace with the pressure that’s being put on it, and that pressure was increasing locally.

“I’ve seen the awful impact homelessness has had on residents in my area and it is something that, as community leaders, we should all be working on together to make a difference,” Mr Hain said.

“City of Moreton Bay hopes that providers and current residents will get behind our bold and proactive plan to alleviate the issue of homelessness in our area.”