Meaghan Scanlon takes aim at Sam O’Connor for stopping affordable housing at Arundel
Labor has slammed the appointment of Sam O’Connor as housing minister saying it is a ‘bizarre’ appointment because he campaigned to stop affordable housing.
Gold Coast
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Labor has slammed the appointment of Sam O’Connor as housing minister saying it is a “bizarre” appointment because he campaigned to stop affordable housing at Arundel Hills.
Gaven MP Meaghan Scanlon, the former Housing, Planning and Local Government Minister, has taken aim at Mr O’Connor after he welcomed his LNP government’s decision to repeal her temporary local planning instrument (TLPI) on the abandoned golf course site.
An updated officer report will include a notice from Deputy Premier and Planning Minister Jarrod Bleijie supporting the city’s request to remove the TLPI introduced by Ms Scanlon when a Minister before the State poll in October.
“One of the first acts of this LNP Government is to axe affordable housing,” Ms Scanlon told the Bulletin.
“This sends a shocking message to anyone who wants to invest in housing supply in Queensland.
“It’s bizarre that David Crisafulli has appointed a bloke who campaigned against affordable housing in his own community to be his housing minister.”
Developer 3 Group Consortium had planned to build almost 800 homes, above the 650 minimum set by Ms Scanlon, with at least 20 per cent to be “affordable”.
The young MPs clashed last month before the election at the Central Chamber of Commerce Meet the Candidates function, where they debated the key issues of infrastructure and housing.
Mr O’Connor criticised the Labor government for cost blowouts and delays on major projects, while Ms Scanlon pointed to the former LNP Newman government’s scarce infrastructure legacy and the LNP’s changing position on projects.
Mr O’Connor on Monday defended his first decisions as Housing Minister.
“My first act as Housing and Public Works Minister was to pause Labor’s BPIC (Best Practice Industry Conditions) deals with the CFMEU which were causing houses across Queensland to cost more and to take much longer to build,” he said.
“Everyone except Labor and the CFMEU have welcomed this suspension and they’ve said it will boost productivity across our building and construction sector.
“The only bizarre thing in this situation was former Minister Scanlon’s determination to go to war with her own local council through the chaotic process we’re now cleaning up.
“We listen to and respect councils and communities and we’re determined to work with them to achieve what the former government couldn’t and give more Queenslanders a place to call home.”
Members of the Arundel Hills Community Association have welcomed the LNP government’s announcement saying it is a “victory” for residents living on the golf course. They plan to attend the council meeting.
Wildlife Preservation Society Gold Coast president Sally Spain has called on the new state government to acquire the Arundel site as “Central Parkland”.
“It is as worthy of preservation as (was) the large southern land holding, the Eco-parkland at Currumbin, acquired for community by the former Labor state government,” she said.
“Acquisition would save ratepayers and residents from the possibility of large costs for protracted legal proceedings.”
Environmental campaigner Ceris Ash on Mr O’Connor’s Facebook page has raised concerns that the Arundel project will now be decided by the courts.
“Isn’t it (the development application) in the Planning and Environmental courts anyway. Council can say no – court can still say yes,” Ms Ash wrote.
City planning chair Mark Hammel confirmed the appeal was “still alive” because it was part of the original application.
“At this stage the next mention of this item is not until March next year,” he said.
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