The Local Government Association of Queensland (LGAQ) has called on the State Government to help support the building sector to activate almost 100,000 already approved residential lots across Queensland.
LGAQ Chief Executive Officer, Alison Smith said Councils have been doing the right thing and progressing development approval applications in a timely way, but almost 100,000 development approvals are lying dormant due to rising construction costs and labour shortages.
“Councils and communities and the development sector obviously want to see more homes built and these development approvals activated in order to help alleviate the current housing crisis,” Ms Smith said.
“We are calling on the State Government to help with policy levers that can help developers start building through the creation of a new catalytic housing fund.”
The CEO said data from March 2023 show there was 85,777 hectares of available land suitable for residential development in Queensland and 29,086 hectares across southeast Queensland, which would open up 589,150 homes across the state, including 386,693 in southeast Queensland.
“These figures are proof councils are doing their job to facilitate land for housing, but the other obstacles need to be removed to activate construction and get more people into more homes,” she said.
Ms Smith said Queensland councils had sounded the alarm on the housing crisis in October 2021, and since then have produced a six-point action plan as well as a suite of almost 40 proposals designed to help address housing issues.
The LGAQ will be joining the Premier’s Housing Roundtable today.