Revealed: the Gold Coast’s cheapest properties in new social housing estate

Here’s where you will find the Gold Coast’s cheapest new homes after the approval of City Plan changes.

The city’s newest suburb will bolster social housing with hundreds of the Gold Coast’s cheaper properties becoming available on the market for families.

Planning Minister Steven Miles has confirmed part of the approvals, for council’s City Plan, includes the Upper Coomera investigation area which will deliver around 730 additional dwellings.

The Bulletin in a report on Monday revealed Mr Miles, the Deputy Premier, had ticked off on 20 amendments to the City Plan, opening up more housing in the city’s fast growing north.

Deputy Premier Steven Miles — ticks off on housing plans. Picture: Lachie Millard.

Gaven MP and Environment Minister Meaghan Scanlon on Tuesday said the unlocking hundreds of additional dwellings would bolster housing supply for families in the city.

Ms Scanlon estimated “close to 600 social homes” would be delivered by the Palaszczuk Government on the Coast.

“This just demonstrates that it’s not just one sector or level of government that can address housing, rather we need a collaborative effort to make sure there’s more housing for families on our Coast,” Ms Scanlon said.

“Giving certainty in the City Plan makes sure that we can also deliver the infrastructure our growing city needs, like major M1 upgrades, the Coomera Connector, a new hospital on the northern Gold Coast and light rail as well as more good jobs.”

Aerial view of residential housing around the Coomera River on the Gold Coast. (AAP Image/Dave Hunt).

Mr Miles has not given a timeline for resolving other changes sought by council but planners continue to work towards solutions on the City Plan amendments.

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

Sources suggest some urban design changes to the “medium density residential” and “high density residential” zones along and “light rail urban renewal area overlay” have not yet been approved.

Gold Coast City Council planning chair Cameron Caldwell looks at proposed changes to the City Plan.

The light rail overlay relates to planning mapping and how close parts of suburbs to the tram route allows developers to seek unlimited high rise and more coverage of towers on sites.

The requests from council after four rounds of community consultation included proposed restrictions to the bulk, scale, form, design and intensity of developments.

While the Government supports improving urban design, sources suggest the State wants to ensure changes do not have unintended consequences on housing supply and project feasibility.

EARLIER:

The Gold Coast is set to get a huge boost in housing stock, creating a new suburb, with the state government poised to approve parts of council’s long awaited City Plan changes.

The Bulletin can reveal at least 20 items on the Gold Coast City Plan have been ticked off by Planning Minister Steven Miles, the Deputy Premier.

It follows marathon community consultation by the council. Angry residents voiced concern about population growth targets and densities in coastal suburbs, triggering months of assessment by the government.

Mayor Tom Tate announcing proposed changes to the City Plan. Picture: Mike Batterham.

Specific changes will include opening up the Upper Coomera investigation area, which will result in more than 700 additional dwellings

A council insider said: “At least two thirds of the package looks like being approved.”

“Mayor Tom Tate is looking forward to seeing the recommendations after the City conducted long sessions of community consultation.”

The Government has acknowledged the planning scheme needed to be amended to provide more affordable housing, which will be in the fast-growing north.

Sources suggest the government has not yet ticked off on more tricky amendments, including setbacks for supertower projects, with residents wanting more space between buildings.

It is not known whether the immediate changes will also cover light rail zoning.

Protesting residents at Main Beach sought parts of their suburb to be removed from mapping, triggering unlimited building heights near the tram route.

Bonney MP Sam O'Connor addresses a Labrador meeting about the City Plan.

The government and the council are likely to be locked in debate on the further amendments, which followed four rounds of public consultation.

A report in May warned the government had ­rejected changes to the City Plan because of concerns about ­densities around light rail.

An email from a senior government planner to a council manager explained why the government has not ticked off on amendments to the plan.

Community groups feared developers were ­lobbying the government to water down specific amendments reducing building heights and stopping supertowers on the tram line.

But peak development ­bodies fired back, warning the amount of housing for the increasing population – the Coast has to accommodate an extra 400,000 people by 2041 – will only get more scarce and come at higher prices.

Gold Coast City Council planning chair Cameron Caldwell looks at proposed changes to the City Plan.

The email from the government planner to the council asked for more information on:

– Low-medium density residential zoning changes for the future light rail corridor.

– Urban design policy changes and light rail urban renewal area overlay code changes.

– Targeted Growth Areas policy changes, which affect suburbs wanting less growth.

– Alternative plans for some suburbs and the extent of the impact of those changes.

Council sources suggested planning chair Cameron Caldwell, after hosting numerous town hall meetings, had been briefed on the latest announcement and would welcome the progress of update two and three of the review.

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