Council looks at ways to tackle housing affordability crisis

Redland City Council is considering a range of options to help address the housing affordability crisis sweeping the country.

Mayor Karen Williams said several actions had been identified as a basis for developing a policy that would encourage the delivery of affordable housing on Redlands Coast.

“Council is responding to the unfolding national housing crisis and there are areas where we feel we can make a big difference,” Cr Williams said.

“In particular, Council can support and expediate the work of Community Housing Providers by streamlining development assessments and also identifying potential land that could be used for affordable rental housing by these providers.

“We can also investigate other accommodation options on Redlands Coast that could provide a safe place for some of the most impacted and vulnerable members of the community who are finding it extremely difficult to find housing in the current climate.

“Some of these options may only be temporary as more permanent options are developed and delivered to market.”

At Council’s general meeting in April 2023, in addition to making representations to the State Government to inform its review of the SEQ Regional Plan, Cr Williams said that Council resolved to investigate potential options to support the delivery of affordable housing in the Redlands.

At its July general meeting, Council resolved to:

Commence a major amendment to support dual occupancies on lots 700sqm or greater in the Low Density Residential zone (excluding precincts) Write to the Planning Minister requesting that the Major Amendment – Medium Density Residential Zone code review (to support freehold titling of townhouse developments in the Low-Medium Density Residential and Medium Density Residential zones) be progressed without further delay Establish a temporary policy allowing for caravans and motorhomes to be made available for temporary residential accommodation for a maximum period of two years Review Council landholdings and identify opportunities to deliver affordable rental housing by partnering with a Community Housing Provider (CHP) Establish an affordable housing policy that supports CHPs by providing: development application fee and infrastructure charge discounts; fee waiver for Council’s pre-lodgement service; and an expedited decision-making period for code assessable applications that satisfy certain criteria

It is noted that some of the options supported in principle by Council require further work to be undertaken before they can be implemented, and as such, will be considered in a future report to Council currently planned for October 2023.