The Deputy Premier has ordered a panel to give advice to local governments about what they can do to boost land supply amid the housing crisis.
Steven Miles says the program has been extended from just the South East to the entire state.
“Addressing housing supply and affordability should be the number one priority of local government right now,” he says.
“Some councils have out of date housing strategies that need to be updated given the population growth we have seen.
“The housing shortage isn’t just in the South East. People are moving to the regions too and we need to support all our council’s to increase housing supply.”
Bundaberg Regional Council’s group manager of development Michael Ellery says forward planning means council is in a positive position to address the lack of housing.
“We have thousands of hectares of land that is zoned for urban and rural residential development,” Mr Ellery says.
“On top of this there is currently a stock of over 2834 lots which have been approved by council and ready for development.
“Of those approved lots, 30 per cent also have operational works approvals, which essentially means there is nothing to stop the developer, from a council perspective, from building those developments and bringing more lots to the market.”
However, council admits restraints in the construction sector are slowing progress.
“These are issues which are outside of the realms of a local government to solve but we are doing what we can to ensure our region is ready for when other levels of government and industry come together to solve these much bigger national issues,” Mr Ellery says.
“Council will continue to do all it can to facilitate land and housing availability.
“We’re incentivising the construction of higher density developments which in turn can help to deliver more affordable housing options like units.”
Sue Tasker from Angels Community Group is welcoming the news saying any help is a step in the right direction.
But she adds more immediate relief is needed with dozens of locals living in tents.
“We need transition at the moment we need to get people off the streets. These houses are going to take time to build, but we need somewhere these people can stay safe so they’re not just sleeping in a park or a car with their kids,” she says.
Image: AAP
