Media Release by The Hon Tanya Pibersek MP

Mayors secure Federal funding to improve housing affordability across SEQ

Joint Media Release with:

  • Campbell Newman, Councillor and Council of Mayors (SEQ) Chairman
  • Ron Clarke, Gold Coast City Council Mayor

The South East Queensland Council of Mayors’ efforts to improve housing affordability for SEQ residents will move forward faster with $1.78 million in funding from the Federal Government’s Housing Affordability Fund.

Minister for Housing, Tanya Plibersek announced the funding for the ‘Liveable Compact Cities Project’ at a Housing Industry Association Awards Luncheon on the Gold Coast today.

Ms Plibersek said the Liveable Compact Cities Project will develop best practice policy guidelines to inform the policy of state and local government in South East Queensland on medium density development.

“This is one of the great challenges for local governments across Australia – how to deliver the infill developments in a way that is supported by the community and is consistent and efficient for industry,” Ms Plibersek said.

Council of Mayors (SEQ) Chairman Councillor Campbell Newman said he welcomed the funding.

“The Liveable Compact Cities Project will help SEQ Councils plan for 374,000 new infill dwellings required under the SEQ Regional Plan by 2031, still ensuring that SEQ is a liveable, sustainable and prosperous region,” Cr Newman said.

“Across Brisbane, we believe we can deliver the Regional Plan target of 138,000 infill dwellings along well established transport corridors while 93 per cent of the city will not have to deal with high densities.

“The project aims to improve the planning process for almost 15,000 homes in the first year following completion of the project and up to 75,000 homes in the following five years – a big contribution to housing supply at a local level.”

The Liveable Compact Cities Project will build on three other initiatives that the Council of Mayors (SEQ) and the Housing Affordability Fund are already engaged in to reduce the compliance costs of residential housing approvals through electronic lodgement, faster risk based assessment processes and more consistent housing code.

Gold Coast City Council Mayor Ron Clarke said the Liveable Compact Cities Project would help remove barriers and streamline processes for preferred development outcomes.

“This project will help the Gold Coast plan for 97,000 new infill dwellings required by 2031,” Cr Clarke said.

“This planning will be done in a way that protects the Gold Coast’s liveability, concentrating on key nodes and corridors of medium density development that are supported by better public transport and access to shops and community services.

“The project is also timely given that most councils are developing new planning schemes in line with the State’s Sustainable Planning Act.”