Townsville City Council new home development approvals high as market normalises post-Covid

New data has revealed Townsville’s new home approvals are still higher than before the Covid-19 pandemic began.

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NEW data has revealed Townsville’s new home approvals are still higher than before the Covid-19 pandemic began.

Residential lot approvals skyrocketed in quarter four last year as North Queenslanders capitalised on the Home Builder Grants designed to drive the economy after the country’s first coronavirus wave. In quarter four of 2020, more than 340 approvals went through Townsville City Council. But in the first quarter of 2021, residential lot approvals dropped to 133 and 112 in quarter two.

Councillor Liam Mooney. Picture: Supplied

In comparison, there were 87 approvals for new homes in the first quarter of 2020, before the region was heavily impacted by Covid-19. The council’s report into the latest figures says the most telling report will be for quarter three.

While the number of housing approvals has dropped off, a new trend could be emerging.

“If this trend continues throughout 2022, we may witness a stronger result in comparison with 2019 and early 2020,” the council report said.

“This would show that even without incentives driving the market, the stronger demand for new residential lots remains evident. This would be an encouraging result that may show strengthening of the local economy.”

Councillor Liam Mooney said the numbers had dropped off but not as much as the planning team was expected.

“People are still interested to develop here … without any real incentives,” he said.

He added that anecdotally, the figures could be attributed to people moving out of the cities amid the coronavirus pandemic.

“Finally people are exploring Australia and regional places like North Queensland … and Central Queensland,” Cr Mooney said.

“It’s fantastic, it’s great to see people are seeing the stuff that I see in Townsville.”

Cr Mooney said it could also have a lot to do with the confidence in Townsville, with many major events like the State of Origin helping put the city on the map.

The report also found material change of use and reconfiguration of lot applications had increased.

“Material Change of Use applications has shown an increase in lodgements to 35 applications for quarter two of 2021 opposed to an average of 22 applications per quarter for the previous three quarters,” the report said. “Reconfiguration of a Lot applications has shown a similar increase in lodgements to 23 applications for quarter two of 2020 as opposed to an average of 16 application per quarter for the previous three quarters.”

Jobs: Secure work, high paying apprenticeships on offer

GLENCORE is on the hunt for 40 new apprentices to kickstart their careers in the North West with spots available in Cloncurry and Mount Isa.

Resources Minister Scott Stewart is encouraging Queenslanders to put their hands up with successful applicants to start work in January next year.

The Townsville MP said the resource sector offered well-paid, secure jobs and an exciting future.

“As a former high school principal, I am always thrilled to meet former students who are building a career in the resources sector,” Mr Stewart said.

“Queenslanders who gain these opportunities will be part of a world-leading resources sector that is central to our ongoing economic recovery.

Glencore’s Lady Loretta mine in Mount Isa

“Apprenticeships offer an opportunity to gain valuable experience in fields that are in demand nationally – like refrigeration and electrical trades.”

The new recruits, who will live locally in Mount Isa and Cloncurry, will join an existing cohort of 266 apprentices and 115 graduates currently building their careers with Glencore.

Glencore’s Regional Human Resource Lead Jodie Hope said 67 first-year apprentices and 51 graduates started their careers across Glencore sites this year, many of them from regional communities where the company operates.

“Glencore employs 8,590 people across the state at our operations generating $8 billion in total economic value,” Ms Hope said.

“We’re proud that we have been able to continue hiring and providing exciting and well-paid jobs to support Queensland’s economic recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Many of our Australian leaders began their careers as apprentices or graduates and have progressed their careers to senior management in our organisation.”

Training and Skills Development Minister Di Farmer said apprenticeships like these could change lives.

“We know that if you get the right people the right training, they’re much more likely to go on to have a successful and fulfilling career,” Minister Farmer said.

“That’s why the Palaszczuk Government is investing more than $1 billion in training and skills this year alone.

“I commend Glencore for their commitment to creating excellent training opportunities in

North-West Queensland, and for working with TAFE to ensure both the onsite and offsite training is to a very high standard.

Mechanical - Heavy Diesel Fitting student and Glencore first year apprentice Aleisha McCallum contests the Glencore Annual Skills Competition at CQUniversity's Emerald Campus.

“And we know Glencore apprentices do well – just last week, one of their employees Bonnie Anderson was named the regional Apprentice of the Year in the Queensland Training Awards.”

Glencore’s Queensland Metals apprentice program offers opportunities in the electrical, auto electrical, diesel fitting, fitter welder, radio technician, boilermaker, mechanic, fitter turner and refrigeration trades.

Apprentices rotate across Glencore’s operations statewide and 96 per cent of the company’s apprentices complete their training, compared to the general industry rate of 56 per cent.

Mr Stewart said careers in the resources sector offer mobility across sites as well as long-term security, because the world will need Australia’s resources for decades to come.

“That’s particularly the case in the North-West Minerals Province as the Palaszczuk Government continues to work with industry in identifying and developing new economy minerals vital for 21st century technology like batteries and renewable energy,” he said.

Applications for the Glencore apprenticeships are open until August 8.

Originally published as Townsville City Council new home development approvals high as market normalises post-Covid