Joint Statement:

Premier
The Honourable Anna Bligh

Deputy Premier and Minister for Infrastructure and Planning
The Honourable Paul Lucas
04/06/2008

BLIGH GREENFIELD STUDY REVEALS LAND, LOTS OF LAND

Premier Anna Bligh today announced the State Government would fast-track planning for development of 17 greenfield sites in South-East Queensland, as part of its plan to tackle housing affordability.

Ms Bligh said while the Government was limited in its ability to influence housing prices, she was determined to do everything possible to tackle the issue of affordability.

"I want the Australian dream to be alive and well here in Queensland, particularly for young people wanting to own their first home. Yesterday we announced significant changes to stamp duty to make buying a home in Queensland cheaper and today, we are tackling the issue of land supply. Last year as Treasurer and Infrastructure Minister I commissioned a review of the Greenfield areas within the Urban Footprint that could be market-ready sooner.

"I want to see land being turned into new homes for Queenslanders as quickly as humanly possible and this investigation looked at 42 greenfield areas - containing more than 40,000ha of undeveloped land. As a result - the Government will remove any regulatory hurdles slowing the development process on 12 sites:

• Maroochydore, Meridian Plains, on the Sunshine Coast;
• Market Drive and North Lakes in Moreton Bay;
• Upper Kedron and Rochedale in Brisbane;
• Coomera and Helensvale on the Gold Coast;
• Springfield and Redbank Plains in Ipswich; and
• Kinross Road and South-East Thornlands in Redlands.

"This will make it possible for the industry to begin the development process of these sites by Christmas.

"In addition, there are five sites where we believe integrated communities of 15,000 people or more can be delivered and we will work with councils to prepare land developer-ready within 12 months:

• Palm View and Caloundra South on the Sunshine Coast;
• Flagstone in Logan;
• Oxle y Wedge in Brisbane; and
• Ripley Valley in Ipswich

"That's a total of 17 new Greenfield sites that will be developer-ready by this time next year.

"This is about cutting red tape and bottlenecks that are delaying the development process.

"These bottlenecks are occurring at all levels of government - including within State Government agencies - and its not good enough.

"An implementation team will be established with the Department of Infrastructure and Planning charged with the task of cutting through and removing these hurdles.

"The development industry has been calling on us to make more land in the Urban Footprint available sooner - here it is," she said.

Deputy Premier and Minister for Infrastructure and Planning Paul Lucas said the fast tracking of Greenfield sites will be guided by an Action Plan released today.

"Housing affordability is a challenge that demands action not just at all levels of Governme nt but also from the development industry," said Mr Lucas.

"The industry wants more land released and the Bligh Government has responded with a plan that will provide additional housing choice for the public and contain costs by increasing competition between developers.

"But governments can't do it all alone and we can only bring these sites forward if the necessary infrastructure is in place.

"Yesterday we announced the $107 billion South East Queensland Infrastructure Plan and Program, which demonstrates our commitment to building for Queensland's future.

"Now we need to work with the industry to deliver these sites ahead of time.

"They will also need to demonstrate how they plan to deliver the transport options, road upgrades, water and energy needs for these areas.

"These sites must all be developed as well-planned and integrated communities and the State Government will need to ensure growth is spread across the regions.

"Although the review shows plenty of greenfield land available for housing it must be emphasised the South East Queensland Regional Plan aims to cater for 45 percent of the expected population growth through infill and redevelopment."

"This review is another one of the State Government's strategies to address housing affordability in addition to setting up the Urban Land Development Authority and implementing reforms to the state's planning and development systems."

Queensland Conservation Council's release by Simon Baltais sums up our position also.

Premier ignoring message from last local elections

The Premier's intention to fast track more development - supposedly in the name of housing affordability- is further eroding community trust in her government, according to Queensland Conservation (QCC)

'The planning process is in place, not to stop development but to ensure that development is the right and most appropriate development. Today's decision to fast track development under the misconception it will fix the housing affordability problem is just plain wrong,' said Baltais

Unsustainable population growth is driving the housing affordability problem and yet the state government is encouraging more growth. In doing so they are causing the continued loss of urban bushland, farmland and open spaces to accommodate more roofs and bitumen. Effectively, everyone loses.

If you want to solve the housing affordability issue look towards stabilsation of SEQ growth. What is planned is like throwing fuel onto the fire, it will only make matters worse in SEQ.

‘Community concerns about unsustainable growth, were made loud and clear during the recent local government elections,' said Baltai