Cameron Caldwell blasts state government over social housing, City Plan response

Council planning chair Cameron Caldwell has launched an extraordinary spray against the state government on the eve of its housing summit, blasting its failure to approve some City Plan changes. READ WHAT HE SAID

THE Gold Coast’s planning chief has launched an extraordinary spray against the state government on the eve of its long-awaited housing summit.

Deputy Premier and Planning Minister Steven Miles on Tuesday announced he had approved 20 amendments to the Gold Coast City Plan, paving the way for just over 700 new dwellings to be built. A further 13 amendments are yet to be approved.

Council Planning chair Cameron Caldwell said the state government had “left the Gold Coast behind” by approving only a fraction of new home opportunities allowed for in the plan and failing to provide enough social housing.

“The Gold Coast has been left behind by the state government both in the delivery of social housing as well as timely approval of changes to the City Plan,” Cr Caldwell said.

“We asked them to approve more than 7000 new home opportunities and they gave us 700 in one street.

“This is a problem that is entirely the creation of the state government.

“We have presented them with a solution that has been developed by the Gold Coast community to provide an uplift in housing opportunities together with good design elements and that hasn’t been given the welcome that it should have.

“The state government didn’t approve a total of 7337 potential new dwellings in affordable and well located suburbs.”

Council Planning Chair Cameron Caldwell. Picture: Glenn Hampson.

Cr Caldwell said amendments which had not been approved would clear the way for:

• 556 additional dwellings in Runaway Bay

• 996 in Biggera Waters

• 3245 in Labrador

• 2540 in Southport West

He further accused the state of failing to build enough social housing on the Gold Coast, saying the amount available would need to be doubled to match what was provided in Brisbane.

“The state government has fallen well behind what the Gold Coast community deserve in providing our most vulnerable residents with social housing,” Cr Caldwell said.

“We would need approximately 5000 new social housing dwellings to be at the same rate per capita as is provided in Brisbane.

“To give that some context, that would effectively mean that they would need to double the current number of social housing properties in order to meet that similar rate.”

Cr Caldwell will represent council at the housing summit in Brisbane on Thursday which was called by Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk. He said he would forcefully make the case for the Gold Coast at the summit.

“I intend to make sure that the message from Gold Coast residents is heard loud and clear by George St,” he said.

Deputy Premier and Planning Minister Steven Miles. Picture: NewsWire / Sarah Marshall

Mr Miles last month told the Bulletin the City Plan was “large and complex” and raised concerns that some of the amendments sought may have “unintended consequences”.

It is understood state officials fear rules governing setbacks, site coverage and heights in some suburbs mean densities would be too low, impacting on the city’s ability to cater for expected population growth.

Speaking on Tuesday, Mr Miles said his department was continuing to work with council on the amendments that had not yet been approved.

“As Planning Minister, I’ve approved the majority of the changes Gold Coast City Council have put forward,” Mr Miles said.

“The planners in my Department will continue to work with council to revise their remaining changes.

“Part of the approvals includes the Upper Coomera investigation area, which will deliver around 730 additional dwellings in the Gold Coast.

“This will go a long way to delivering more housing supply and diversity, but it alone won’t meet the required housing supply and diversity needed.”

A spokesperson for the Department of Communities, Housing and Digital Economy said 287 new social housing units had been delivered in the last five years, with more in the pipeline.

“We are investing $2.9 billion in social and affordable housing – the largest concentrated investment in Queensland’s history,” the spokesperson said.

“This investment includes commencing 2,765 social homes under our QuickStarts Qld program, including 260 new homes commenced on the Gold Coast by 30 June 2025, through a planned investment of $70.4 million, supporting more than 225 full-time equivalent jobs.

“This is in addition to the 290 new social homes that are already commenced on the Gold Coast under the First Action Plan of the Queensland Housing Strategy 2017–2027.

“Since 2017-18, and as at 30 September 2022, 287 new homes have been delivered in the Gold Coast region.

“Additionally, as at 30 September 2022, contracts have been awarded under QuickStarts Qld for the commencement of 128 new homes in the Gold Coast region.”

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