New housing on the fast-track for nine local councils
- Crisafulli Government delivers $12.5 million to regional councils to support planning scheme improvements for local housing supply.
- The funding announcement follows the axing of stamp duty on new builds for eligible first home buyers.
- Announcement forms part of the Crisafulli Government's promise to deliver more Queenslanders their dream of home ownership.
The Crisafulli Government is delivering on its commitment to boost housing affordability and supply by approving funding for nine Queensland councils to speed up development approvals and cut red tape.
The $12.5 million Scheme Supply Fund will help councils deliver planning scheme improvements which can result in faster assessment timeframes, reducing development applications and applications requiring specialist review.
The nine Queensland councils that have been granted $100,000 each are Aurukun Shire Council, Barcoo Shire Council, Burdekin Shire Council, Croydon Shire Council, Lockhart River Aboriginal Shire Council, Longreach Regional Council, Mornington Shire Council, Murweh Shire Council and South Burnett Regional Council.
The Crisafulli Government has reset the partnership with regional governments to work together and delivery more housing where it's needed, while the former Labor government steamrolled councils and local communities with bad planning decisions driven from Brisbane.
This announcement is another building block on the Crisafulli Government's plan to help Queenslanders achieve their dream of home ownership – after a decade of Labor inaction - including scrapping stamp duty on new builds for first home buyers, unlocking church and charity-owned land for more community housing and empowering first homeowners to rent out rooms without facing financial penalty.
Deputy Premier and Minister for State Development, Infrastructure and Planning, Jarrod Bleijie said the program is a key part of the government's commitment to addressing housing supply challenges across the state.
"We have no time to waste as we work towards our target of building one million homes in the next 20 years," Deputy Premier Bleijie said.
"This fund will help councils bring forward projects that deliver real solutions for their communities' housing needs.
"This collaborative approach will help unlock more homes faster and provide Queenslanders with the housing options they need.
"The former Labor Government was responsible for the Queensland housing crisis after a decade of declining housing approvals. "Queenslanders voted for a fresh start and the LNP's bold 20-year housing plan to build the homes for Queensland's Future.
"This is part of our commitment to work closely and respectfully partner with councils to ensure local planning schemes are responsive to their local housing needs."
