- 2,750-home project on the Gold Coast first to be greenlit through new fast-approvals pathway
- 45 home project at Wakerley also progressing
- 12 projects in the pipeline, which if declared, will deliver around 4,945 homes total, including more than 25 per cent affordable
A project that will deliver up to 2,750 homes in Robina is the first to be given the green light to go through the Miles Government's new fast-track approvals process.
Planning Minister Meaghan Scanlon has declared the Walker Group's build-to-sell proposal for Robina a State Facilitated Development (SFD), alongside a 45-home project at Wakerley.
The SFD pathway, established as part of the government's Homes for Queenslanders plan, expedites approvals for projects that align with the government's focus on affordable and well-located housing.
Through this process, once declared by the Minister, applications can be assessed within a minimum of 75 business days. Projects are required to get shovels in the ground within two years of approval.
The declared projects at Robina and Wakerley are among 12 sites currently being considered for pilot projects under the SFD pathway.
In total, the 12 projects are expected to unlock nearly 5,000 homes, with more than a quarter to be affordable homes for Queenslanders.
Among the other proposals are a 525-home development in Indooroopilly and a 305-unit project at Milton, offering studio, 1, 2, and 3-bedroom units 2.5km from the Brisbane CBD.
The others are in Redland Bay, Forest Lake, Toowoomba, Lutwyche, Pallara, Tewantin, Noosa Heads and Woolloongabba, where a 435-home project over is planned near the Buranda public transport hub.
It joins a raft of initiatives under Homes for Queenslanders to deliver more homes, , including the $350 million Incentivising Infill Development Fund.
As stated by Housing Minister Meaghan Scanlon:
"Remove the barriers, speed up approvals and you'll fuel housing construction – that's what industry told us, so that's what we did.
"The first two projects include a very significant development on the Gold Coast and a project on faith-based land at Wakerley.
"If all declared, the pilot projects alone will unlock more than 4,945 homes in places that are well-located to the transport, schools, jobs and services that people need.
"This process isn't a free pass, though. Buildings are required to be substantially underway within two years.
"I'm about more housing so my generation can afford to get into the market and that means moving faster.
"While LNP MPs are railing against homes being build in their own backyards, we're delivering the homes Queensland needs."
