Southern Downs councillor’s bid to stem region’s housing crisis

Southern Downs Regional Council has made a bold request to the state government in a bid to find a solution to the region’s growing housing crisis.

A regional council is looking to resurrect a recreational sports ground with the help of Queensland government funding in the hopes it could provide a solution to a growing housing and homelessness crisis.

Southern Downs councillor Joel Richters has remained steadfast in his commitment to find secure housing solutions amid the region’s growing housing crisis.

The future of the facility was again mentioned during the June council meeting, with Mr Richters calling on his fellow councillors for support.

Mr Richters put forward a motion a letter be written to the Sport and Recreation Minister, Treasurer and Housing Minister to consider transferring ownership of the Leslie Dam facility to Southern Downs Regional Council.

“I think we need to exhaust every option to find a solution to housing,” Mr Richters said.

Feedback Mr Richters received from a poll created to gauge the community’s thoughts on whether council should take over the site showed 68 per cent of responses were in favour with 32 per cent against.

@joelrichtersqld Please do the poll. #housing #crisis #accommodation #australia #queensland #southerndowns #warwick #lesliedam ♬ Inspirational - neozilla

“I think this shows there’s a desire in the community to see us do something about the housing crisis and I think we demonstrate that by exhausting all options in writing to the state government,” he said.

The request would also ask the state government to consider funding any necessary upgrades to the facility.

It was first revealed during a council meeting in April the recreational facility was offered to Southern Downs Regional Council for their consideration in 2021, but no formal decision was made.

THE DIRE REALITY OF QUEENSLAND, SOUTHERN DOWNS HOUSING CRISIS

The state government’s response to the housing crisis since the 2022 summit has been labelled as ‘woeful’ by Queensland’s Real Estate Institute.

REIQ chief executive Antonia Mercorella told the Courier-Mail the completion of new social housing was at an lowest, revealing more than 40,000 Queenslanders are on waiting lists.

Ms Mercorella also took aim at the Queensland Council of Social Service’s support of the government’s $3bn Homes for Queenslanders plan and questioned how the plan would be delivered under current market conditions.

“It’s not surprising to hear government-funded organisations praising this plan given the millions in funding they receive, but it’s an interesting change of tune when you consider how little has been delivered since the housing summit was called for,” she said.

In the Southern Downs vacancy rates and rental affordability is abysmal, with a Stanthorpe charity feeling the financial strain of the increasing number of families accessing its services.

Vinnies Stanthorpe conference president Ros Day told Warwick Daily News in April the situation had become “dire”.

“In the past fortnight we’ve had 35 people (ask for help) and it’s cost me $2430,” she said.

“In June (of 2023) our weekly average was $640 (for food vouchers) and as of this March (2024) it was $1240.”

Suburbtrends data revealed the staggering yearly decline in affordability and availability for the Southern Downs, with the region recording a vacancy rate of 1 per cent or less.

Camp Leslie recreational site has sat dormant since YMCA Brisbane's lease ended in October 2020. Photo: Google Maps

FUTURE OF DORMANT RECREATION CENTRE DIVIDES COUNCIL

Opinions were divided at the roundtable with a number of councillors raising concerns about the facilities financial liability long term.

Councillor Ross Bartley said he was worried if council were to take over the facility it would ultimately end up “placing a noose around the neck of ratepayers”.

“I’m living in hope the state government don’t give it to us because I believe we would be having to deal with probably a huge financial impost into the future,” he said.

While deputy mayor Sheryl Windle said she could see some potential pitfalls, she was in support of the motion.

“In 2019 it was used to accommodate more than 200 Stanthorpe residents during the bushfires, it was a place of refuge for those people and it was important we had it there,” she said.

“I think it needs to be highlighted (in the letter) because we don’t have many options for evacuation centres and that place offered exactly what we needed.”

Councillor Cynthia McDonald said the facility had potential to be a viable option for other recreational purposes, but would take a significant investment to bring it up to standard.

“I’m horrified this facility has sat dormant for the past four years while we’ve had people who are homeless and to me that’s a waste of a facility,” she said.

Mayor Melissa Hamilton reiterated to the room that no formal decision was being asked of by council and should the state government be open to the request, then a proper decision should be made.

It was universally agreed by council there was no desire to use ratepayer’s money to purchase the facility from the state government.

Speaking directly to Warwick Daily News, Mr Richters said the housing and homeless crisis in the Southern Downs was only worsening.

“There’s more and more people taking risks, sleeping in parks and reserves around the region,” he said.

Mr Richters said the sad reality was a number of those affected by the housing crisis come from working class backgrounds, but were unable to find secure housing for their family.

“The reality is it’s the only (type of facility) we have in the region that has the ability to provide short-term social housing,” he said.

Although council wouldn’t reveal any exact costs, it was confirmed internal costings had been calculated as to the amount of funding the state government would need to provide.

“The facility looks generally ready to go on the surface, but there are some bigger ticket items that do need to be addressed,” he said.

“In saying that though it won’t require millions of dollars to be spent on it.”

“Realistically I’m hoping that the minister and state government will come back to council with a reasonable counter offer.”

Originally published as Southern Downs councillor’s bid to stem region’s housing crisis