TRC working with development industry to meet lot demand
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The Toowoomba Region is experiencing a significant surge in land sales for new home building that is being driven by the uptake of state and federal government home building grants.
Toowoomba Regional Council (TRC) is working with the development industry to meet the demand for new home lots.
It’s a sentiment that is supported by Mr Stephen Bowers, Project Director of The Avenues of Highfields housing development, north of Toowoomba.
Mr Bowers said Council was doing a good job in the development engineering area with its available resources.
Mr Bowers said he had sold 70 lots in six weeks, which was faster than lots were being produced.
“Enquiries from northern New South Wales, Sydney, Brisbane, Hervey Bay and the Toowoomba Region all reinforce that this is a good story for Toowoomba,” Mr Bowers said.
TRC Planning and Development Committee chair Cr Megan O’Hara Sullivan said Council was processing applications that would see new lots available for sale in coming weeks.
Cr O’Hara Sullivan said Council had received an increase in development applications for operational (engineering) works.
“This has been prompted by demand for the federal government’s $25,000 HomeBuilder grant, which requires contracts to be signed by December 31 this year (construction must start within three months of the contract date),” Cr O’Hara Sullivan said.
“An additional incentive for first home owners is the Queensland Government’s First Home Owners’ grant ($15,000 for eligible applicants, with an additional $5000 regional home building boost grant for applicants, subject to conditions).
“The combined incentive is creating significant demand for residential housing lots across the region.
“Consequently, Council is giving resource priority to meet the demand for lot approvals generated by these financial incentives.
“Council will be plan sealing more than 150 lots in the next month, with an additional 350 sealed lots anticipated before December, thereby meeting anticipated demand.
“Council’s intent is to expedite the approvals to ensure the market is serviced with a sufficient supply of residential lots.
“Toowoomba remains an attractive area for new housing development given our enviable lifestyle attributes and relative affordability compared with similar markets.”