The Property Council of Australia has expressed its support for the Queensland government’s commitment in addressing the housing crisis with its Homes for Queenslanders plan. The announcement, which outlines a series of incentives to expedite housing delivery, has been met with commendation from the council.
Jess Caire (pictured), the incoming Queensland executive director of the Property Council, applauded the government’s announcement to inject $350 million into infrastructure waivers aimed at catalyzing housing construction across the state. Caire emphasised the significance of this move, citing the escalating costs associated with building homes in Queensland.
“It has never been more expensive to build homes in Queensland and this is a welcome initiative that will assist in fast tracking much needed supply by addressing the single biggest barrier to delivery– cost,” said Caire.
Caire said the findings of research commissioned by the Property Council last year, which emphasised the pivotal role of infrastructure charging relief in facilitating development and accelerating the pace of new housing projects. The announcement resonates with industry feedback, which has consistently advocated for measures to bolster the viability of such projects.
“It is pleasing to see the government has listened to industry’s feedback that more needs to be done to bolster the viability of new housing projects,” said Caire. “We look forward to working with them on the detail to ensure it achieves its intended outcome – rapidly unlocking much needed housing supply for Queenslanders.”
In addition to infrastructure waivers, the Property Council lauded the government’s commitment to collaborating with the industry to pilot projects on government-owned land, incorporating a mix of market and affordable housing options. Caire highlighted the pivotal role of the private sector in meeting Queensland’s housing demands, noting the importance of government-industry collaboration in expediting housing provision.
“Today’s announcement is a welcome one,” said Caire. “We encourage the government to consider further complementary initiatives such as reviewing outdated land tax settings that continue to drive up the cost of housing.”
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