This article is from the Australian Property Journal archive
AHEAD of this week’s state emergency housing summit, the Queensland government has approved a swathe of amendments to the Gold Coast City Plan that will pave the way for hundreds of new housing lots, as the glitter strip faces a supply shortage and an ongoing influx of new residents from the southern states.
Planning Minister Steven Miles said the 20 changes to the City Plan proposed by Council, including the Upper Coomera investigation area, would deliver around 730 additional dwellings in the Gold Coast.
“The Gold Coast City Council’s proposed amendment package is large and complex and includes a number of changes in response to submissions received during the four rounds of public consultation.
“Getting the City Plan right is crucial to cater for population growth, ensuring the Gold Coast remains a liveable place for the community.”
Property Council research last month estimated about 220,000 people “definitely” or “probably” plan to move from NSW and Victoria to Queensland over the next five years. That follows more than 50,000 people moving to the sunshine state last year from other states as Australians sought seachanges and treechanges amid lockdowns.
Earlier this year, Gold Coast apartment supply fell to just 411 – the lowest on record, according to Urbis – and while new developments being released to the market lifted the figure to 875 in June quarter, this still represents only five and a half months of supply, Colliers and Urbis estimate.
Miles said, “Now more than ever, it is important that our planning schemes are regulating development that delivers essential needs of the community needs like affordable housing”.
Gold Coast-based Palaszczuk Government Minister Meaghan Scanlon said unlocking hundreds of additional dwellings would bolster housing supply for families in the city. About 600 social homes are being delivered by the state government on the Coast.
“This just demonstrates that it’s not just one sector or level of government that can address housing, rather we need a collaborative effort to make sure there’s more housing for families on our coast,” Minister Scanlon said.
She said certainty in the city plan makes sure needed infrastructure can be delivered, such as major M1 upgrades, the Coomera Connector, a new hospital on the northern Gold Coast and light rail.
The Planning Department preliminarily assessed 13 further amendments and advised they would continue to engage with Council to refine those proposals before council progresses future changes to the planning scheme.
Housing summit
The Queensland government’s housing summit will be held from Thursday and bring together industry bodies such as the Property Council of Australia, Master Builders, REIQ and the Planning Institute of Australian, non-government providers and private sector interests to explore solutions to the worsening housing and rental shortage, fast-tracking social housing and collaboration on housing by all levels of government and the private sector.
It follows revelations that an email from agents Ray White West End encouraged landlords to consider raising rents by more than 20%.
Meanwhile, Miles this week said the Palaszczuk government will launch an investigation into the effects of short-term letting – through platforms such as Airbnb and Stayz – on housing supply.
