Queensland’s peak property body, the Property Council of Australia, has warned more Queenslanders risk housing stress if the Beattie Government fails to meet the industry’s demands when it releases its housing affordability strategy this week.
Property Council Queensland Executive Director, Robert Walker, said the Property Council had sent a loud and clear message to the State Government that tinkering at the margins was not an option.
Mr Walker said if the Government was serious about tackling the serious social and economic issue it should
put its money where its mouth is and as a bare minimum, any strategy:
- Must release more land both inside and outside the urban growth boundary;
- Must bring forward the review of the South East Queensland Regional Plan, originally set down for 2010;
- Must change the development assessment process to ensure applications are assessed promptly;
- Must establish an independent review of council infrastructure charges;
- Must establish a separate government body whose sole responsibility will be to oversee the successful establishment of transit oriented developments; and
- Must urgently provide an alternate funding mechanism for the provision of local infrastructure, spreading the cost burden across the community and not first home buyers.
“In its negotiations with the Beattie Government, the Property Council has been adamant that tinkering at the margins will see the current affordability crisis spiral out of control,” Mr Walker said.
“The Beattie Government must show true leadership on the issue, which until now, seems to have slipped off their radar, plunging thousands of Queenslanders into housing stress and creating a generation of Queenslanders who may never experience home ownership.
“What the industry needs, and what Queenslanders demand, is a government willing to step up to the plate and tackle the issues the industry has for years warned would create a crisis in affordability.
“Turning a blind eye to the issues of land release, the failing development assessment system and spiralling local government and infrastructure charges has led us to this point.
“Whether the Government is serious about tackling the worsening affordability sweeping the State will come down to this week’s announcement.”
Media contact:
Robert Walker, Executive Director, 0417 072 197
Michelle Wellington, Media Manager, 0447 172 197
