In an outcome of the Queensland Housing Summit held in October, the state government will be undertaking a three-month audit of state government-owned land and buildings to identify opportunities for residential development.
Making the announcement today, deputy premier and minister for state development Steven Miles said seven sites were already shortlisted from “hundreds of potential sites” audited to identify new housing opportunities in South East Queensland.
The audited sites include state government-owned land and buildings, as well as sites leased to local councils that could potentially be used for accommodation.
The seven sites shortlisted for further investigations are located in Southport, Varsity Lakes, Fortitude Valley, Wynnum, Bundaberg, Mango Hill and Albion, the minister said.
The audit is continuing and expected to be completed in three months.
Minister Miles said undertaking to audit was part of the state’s Planning framework to increase opportunities for unlocking land in greenfield and infill areas.
The announcement by the deputy premier was just one of the key outcomes of the Queensland State Summit, held earlier this year.
Other major initiatives of the Queensland Housing Summit Outcomes Report for the State Development Department include:
The creation of a specialist cross-government Housing Delivery Board that will set targets and deliver results;
An expansion of the role of the government’s land use planning and property development agency, Economic Development Queensland (EDQ); and
Planning for a post-Olympic housing stock boost achieved through the use of Olympic village infrastructure.
“These initiatives will complement those already underway including the $200 million infrastructure investment for growth areas and Priority Development Areas, the reduction in rental restrictions on granny flats and faster approvals for emergency housing in disaster-affected communities,” Minister Miles said.
Queensland Housing Summit Outcomes Report
Almost 200 people attended the Queensland State Summit in October, which brought together all levels of government alongside the construction industry and the real-estate industry along with planners, developers, community services organisations, homelessness advocates and community housing providers.
Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk released an Outcomes Report from the Summit today, which indicates the government’s program of action to address the challenges of housing shortage in the state.
Premier Palaszczuk called the summit “a historic step forward to address housing challenges being experienced, not just in Queensland and Australia, but right across the world.”
The Outcomes Report sets out a program of actions backed by $56 million in new funding from the state government to deliver housing for the Queensland community.
The investment aims to support vulnerable people, people experiencing severe rental stress, the homeless and those in need of immediate housing response. Further funding is allocated for community engagement and awareness campaign on growth and housing diversity and cost of living relief, including emergency relief and food relief.
The South East Queensland Regional Plan ShapingSEQ, will also be reviewed to ensure responsiveness and enhance the framework for engaging with councils to accelerate the delivery of more housing. The state is also working with community and faith-based organisations to similarly identify properties that can be used for vulnerable Queenslanders.
Another imminent step, Premier Palaszczuk said, was the opening of a Modular Homes Factory in Eagle Farm, where QBuild is using modern methods of construction to create prefabricated homes.
“We will continue to work with all levels of governments, industry, the private sector, our invaluable community housing providers and housing and homelessness community organisations to deliver this responsive and extensive program of work,” the Premier said.
To read the Queensland Housing Summit Outcomes Report, visit here.
The post QLD government audits sites for new housing development appeared first on Quarry.