Southern Downs Regional Council’s Local Housing Action Plan to address immediate and long-term housing crisis challenges

A joint initiative by Southern Downs Regional Council and the state government will address the immediate concerns of the community in regards to the housing crisis.

Southern Downs Regional Council will work with the Queensland government and the Local Government Association of Queensland on a joint initiative to respond to a range of immediate, emerging and long-term housing challenges in the region.

Through the joint scheme, dubbed the Southern Downs Local Housing Action Plan (LHAP), the project provides an overview of key community and housing characteristics, as well as emerging issues related to housing in the region.

“The LHAP identifies an initial targeted set of priority actions to respond to housing needs in the Southern Downs,” council chief executive Dave Burges said.

“Emerging issues, opportunities, key challenges and potential responses have been flagged following the review of various data sources, anecdotal feedback and preceding consultations with council and relevant stakeholders.”

Local Housing Action Plan addresses housing needs in Southern Downs (Photo: SDRC)

In 2019, council engaged the services of Foresight Partners to prepare a Housing Needs Assessment Report to inform the preparation of a new Southern Downs town planning scheme.

The primary purpose of the study was to determine the adequacy of existing zoning allocations in the current planning scheme to accommodate projected growth to 2041 in the five key urban areas of Warwick, Stanthorpe, Allora, Killarney, and Wallangarra, as well as accommodate the planned growth and dwelling targets of the Shaping Southern Downs plan.

The SDRC projects the region’s population will grow to 41,747 by 2046, with key housing implications based by shifting demographics noted below:

• A trend of an ageing population is particularly pronounced in the region, despite the influx of new residents during the pandemic. The region’s older demographic will most likely see the housing needs of the region evolve, leading to increased demand for accessible and age-friendly housing options.

• Ensuring a sufficient and suitable housing supply is crucial for maintaining diversity in the region’s demographic and age profiles. Without an available housing stock, the region may face challenges in attracting new residents, leading to a continued ageing population and significant economic, labour force, and productivity implications.

• As a complimentary measure, the plan seeks to identify opportunities, consider an agreed response, develop targeted actions on key priorities and enable ongoing review of effort to adapt and respond to changing needs throughout the region.

“This proactive and forward-thinking strategic plan provides an overview of available information as a basis for discussion and decision making,” Mr Burges said.

“It should not be viewed in isolation but considered as part of a broad response to supporting housing needs across Queensland.

“Council is playing its role in working with local stakeholders, community housing providers and the Queensland government to maximise opportunities and meet the region’s housing needs.”

The Local Housing Action Plan aligns with council’s existing Land Optimisation Strategy 2023 that aims to optimise available land to meet community housing needs and free-up council controlled land for sensible development.

You can look at the plan here. 

Originally published as Southern Downs Regional Council’s Local Housing Action Plan to address immediate and long-term housing crisis challenges