Fast-track development plan to stem housing price spike
The State Government will act to streamline developments in the three key locations, including Redlands.
Redlands Coast
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The State Government will act to streamline housing development in the southeast in a bid to stem soaring housing prices.
State development Minister Steven Miles launched a land task force ahead of singling out Redland, the Sunshine Coast and the Gold Coast as having critical land supply shortages.
An extra 794,000 new homes will be needed in the southeast in the next 20 years with peak body the Urban Development Institute of Australia predicting Redland would need an extra 17,200 houses but only had 2.6 years’ worth of supply.
The market was even tighter at the Sunshine Coast where there was a need for 87,000 extra houses with supply for only 2.4 years and 1.7 years at the Gold Coast, where a further 158,900 houses were needed by 2041.
Logan would need an 89,900 houses.
Mr Miles said the task force would help local councils plan housing to cope with the population boom swamping the southeast.
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Redland was found to have many housing lots waiting to be developed which Mr Miles described as a “challenge” and hoped the task force would help fast-track some projects.
“Queenslanders want to know that when they’re ready to buy their first home, they will be able to do so without being priced out of the market or when they’re ready to retire and downsize, they can do so without the need to move far away,” he said.
The team’s first job will be to identify a pilot site for a new growth area by the end of the month.
Although no mention was made of where, the state’s Shaping SEQ document earmarked Bahrs Scrub, Caboolture West, Flinders, Greater Flagstone, North Lakes, Park Ridge, Southern Redland Bay, Warner and Yarrabilba.
Redland-based developer Fiteni Properties welcomed the task force and said the land shortfall was putting upward pressure on house prices.
Executive development manager Vaughn Bowden said planning delays and difficulties providing infrastructure such as roads and sewers had resulted in the shortage for new homes.
“Housing affordability pressures affect the ability of individuals, couples and families in Redlands to either buy or rent a home,” he said.
“We’re yet to see details about the new state initiative but we understand the focus is to better co-ordinate planning and development and help resolve infrastructure issues.
“It will also resolve obstacles that are holding back the provision of new homes in areas already identified in the regional plan and councils town plan for this purpose.”
Community advocacy group Redlands2030 president Chris Walker said more community input was needed as more land was unlocked for development.
“It’s all good to have more infrastructure such as roads being built but that should not mean developers and the government making all the decisions without asking residents what they need and want,” Mr walker said.
“Residents have already come out against the state government’s Priority Development Areas, which bar community input.
“The government needs to review its housing affordability programs to determine if it is making a difference for home buyers or just lining the pockets of developers.”
Logan couple Jason and Jasmine van Sleeuwan and son Tyson moved to Yarrabilba, where they rented while waiting for their home to be built.
The outer suburb, is part of a state government priority development area, and was where the family could afford a new four-bedroom, two-garage house on a 448 sqm.
“We like it out here because it is just that bit further away from the hustle and bustle
of other places,” Mrs van Sleeuwan said.
“There air is so clean, there’s no smog and there are heaps of other families and kids
in our area for us and Tyson to make new friends.”
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