New Premier reveals SEQ housing diversity sub-targets for councils

New Queensland Premier, Steven Miles, has released the finalised ShapingSEQ 2023 plan, which he says underpins more affordable and well-located homes throughout South-East Queensland.

The release follows months of consultation with SEQ communities, local governments and industry around strategies to deliver more affordable, well-located homes as the region prepares for an additional 2.2 million residents by 2046.

Importantly, included in the finalised plan is the commitment to 20% social and affordable (both market and non-market) housing for new homes by 2046, said Mr Miles.

“Queensland’s golden decade of growth means that we need more homes than ever before,” said the new Premier.

“ShapingSEQ is our response to the national housing supply challenge, ensuring we deliver more homes while preserving our region’s great lifestyle.

“It’s a blueprint for building nearly 900,000 more homes in the right places. 

“It’s not just about more homes but making sure that it’s what South East Queenslanders want, strategically located to meet their needs, reduce costs and increase affordability.

“Growth will enable our region to build the infrastructure our communities need and increase housing supply and affordability, while protecting what we love about Queensland.”

He said that, for the first time, the plan includes dwelling diversity sub-targets “for local governments to deliver the right mix of housing”.

“In addition, the Queensland Government seeks to set clear targets for both social housing and affordable housing.

“It’s a bold plan and the implementation requires commitment from everyone to deliver more of the South East Queensland we love.”

ShapingSEQ 2023 also has a focus on ensuring an adequate supply of industrial and employment land to support jobs closer to where people live over the next decade.

This will minimise travel times and prioritise infrastructure investment that supports growing up rather than out to protect our precious natural environment, said Mr Miles.

It includes a strong commitment to protecting the region’s environment and lifestyle including greening and cooling initiatives, tree canopy targets and protection of koala habitat.

It is the first update to the State’s key planning policy document for SEQ since 2017.

To coincide with the release of ShapingSEQ 2023, the Queensland Government has also released the South East Queensland Infrastructure Supplement (SEQIS).

The Government has also announced it will establish a new Project Management Office to keep ShapingSEQ on track and keep joint accountability at the forefront of the supply challenge for new homes.

This new investment in implementation will enable monitoring of real supply and ensures the Queensland Government can hold all parties accountable in maintaining a sufficient pipeline of development ready land to place downward pressure on rising house prices, said Mr Miles.

ShapingSEQ 2023 initiatives:

• A commitment to 20% social and affordable housing for new homes by 2046;

• Dwelling diversity targets for each local government area to support the delivery of the right mix of housing that responds to their unique growth profile;

• Maintaining a minimum four years of approved supply and a minimum of 15 years of supply of land that has been appropriately zoned and planned to be serviced.

• Approximately 5,000 hectares added to the urban footprint for residential and employment purposes including larger areas such as Rochedale in Brisbane, Stapylton in Gold Coast, Thagoona in Ipswich, Elimbah, Burpengary East and Narangba in Moreton Bay, Southern Thornlands in Redland, Glen Eagle in Scenic Rim, Yandina on the Sunshine Coast and Westbrook, Wellcamp, Meringandan, West Toowoomba and Gowrie Junction in Toowoomba.

• A regional approach to industrial land planning to offset anticipated shortages over the next 10-15 years;

• Identifying new potential future growth areas including Highfields and Wellcamp in Toowoomba, Staplyton in Gold Coast and Buccan in Logan;

• A commitment to ongoing collaborative action through establishing a renewed governance structure supported by an independent advisory panel with subject matter experts, peak industry bodies, community groups and advocacy groups

• Strategies to address cooling and greening of urban areas through setting tree canopy cover targets and a priority action for heat hazard mitigation.

• For the first time, inclusion of an SEQ Infrastructure Supplement which identifies priority infrastructure projects to support future growth, including significant road and rail projects that enable rapid mass transport between home and work.

Additions to the urban footprint for residential and employment purposes include larger areas such as Rochedale in Brisbane, Stapylton in Gold Coast, Thagoona in Ipswich, Elimbah, Burpengary East and Narangba in Moreton Bay, Southern Thornlands in Redland, Glen Eagle in Scenic Rim, Yandina on the Sunshine Coast and Westbrook, Wellcamp, Meringandan, West Toowoomba and Gowrie Junction in Toowoomba.

New potential areas for future growth have also been identified including Highfields and Wellcamp in Toowoomba, Staplyton in Gold Coast and Buccan in Logan.

For the full report visit qld.gov.au/shapingseq.