This article is from the Australian Property Journal archive
NEW powers for the Planning Minister, new land use zones and new development assessment pathways are part of legislation that has been introduce by the Queensland government in a bid to unlock housing and land supply across the sunshine state, which has also confirmed the first 600 social homes to be delivered as part of federal Labor’s $2 billion Social Housing Accelerator.
The Housing Availability and Affordability (Planning and Other Legislation Amendment) Bill 2023, introduced to Parliament yesterday, amends the Planning Act 2016.
The changes include giving the Planning Minister power to acquire land or create easements to deliver critical infrastructure needed to unlock development.
Also on the bill are a new assessment pathway for development that is a state priority, such as infill and affordable housing; and a new land use zone called the Urban Investigation Zone, enabling councils to better manage development in growth areas.
Several other processes will be streamlined, including urban encroachment provisions and the Minister’s direction powers for local planning schemes.
“As the fastest growing state, we need to be able to pull new levers in the planning and development system to deliver more homes, faster,” said Deputy Premier Steven Miles.
“To address housing supply constraints, the new laws will give the state powers to manage fragmented land holdings, approve affordable developments and take control of easements for water, power and sewerage.”
The legislative reforms come as the Queensland government prepares to deliver the final ShapingSEQ 2023 Update to support delivering 900,000 new homes in the south east Queensland by 2046 to accommodate 2.2 million new residents.
The proposed changes also form part of Queensland’s response to the planning reforms agreed to at National Cabinet and in the National Planning Reform Blueprint, and aim to help the state reach its share of the National Housing Accord target of 1.2 million new homes over five years.
Housing Minister Meaghan Scanlon said, “Nobody can tackle the housing challenges alone, and that’s why we have been listening to stakeholders on what changes we can make to deliver more housing in the private market.
“These proposed changes will add to our Big Housing Build to get more homes up off the ground for Queenslanders.”
The state government also yesterday confirmed it would deliver 600 social homes with more than $398 million from the federal government’s $2 billion Social Housing Accelerator package that was announced mid-year, as federal Labor bargained with the Greens in a bid to push the $10 billion Housing Australia Future Fund through the Senate.
“Every Australian deserves the security of a roof over their head – our $2 billion Social Housing Accelerator is real dollars, driving real change and building more homes across the nation,” Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said.
“This will build hundreds of homes across Queensland, while we will continue to work with the Palaszczuk Government to deliver even more homes.”
Eighty per cent of homes will be delivered outside of Brisbane with many in regional, rural and remote parts of the state.
The Palaszczuk government’s existing $5 billion investment in social and affordable housing aims to deliver 13,500 homes.
