There are about 100,000 approved lots in Queensland, 60,000 of them in the South East corner of the state.
That’s according to the former long-serving Mayor of the Sunshine Coast and President of the Local Government Association Mark Jamieson.
“When we had a close look at it, we found that from the 77 councils of Queensland, there were 100,000 approved lots, and 60% of those were in South East Queensland, that weren’t being developed,” Mr Jamieson said.
“Now you ask yourself the question, ‘Well, why aren’t they being developed?”
“Perhaps it’s the financial risk that developers feel. Perhaps it’s the cost that developers feel of having to install all of the services that are going to be required – roads and so on. And in some cases, it might be they’re just holding out for a better deal from the state or local councils.”
Home and Land Acquisitions Manager for Creation Homes, Queensland, Shaun Parsons said approved land is available, but getting those lots developed is the real challenge.
“The demand is still quite high, and developers and civil contractors can only build land so quickly,” Mr Parsons said.
“When you have developers whose land registration dates are 12 to 18 months out, that hinders a lot of buyers.”
“No buyer is going to bother speaking with a builder if their land is not registering for 18 months, because that price they’re talking to them about now won’t be the price in 18 months.
“It’s all just civil contractors, you can’t build land any quicker.”
“You’ve got cost factors for them as well. The cost for concrete pipes continually goes up. The cost for petrol to run all their machinery, that goes up.
“It’s a perpetual cycle of cost versus delivery.”
One place where Jamieson said there is a real battle to find approved blocks is in his old stomping ground the Sunshine Coast.
“Most of the developable land has been developed,” he said. “Certainly the land you describe as the easy land to develop, although there are always people looking to put housing onto flood plains or on the side of mountain that are either very expensive or very dangerous.”
But he has a solution – the Beerwah East Identified Growth Area.
The 5,200 hectares are located between the Bruce Highway, Steve Irwin Way and Roys Road, which makes it close to major road and rail infrastructure.
It could provide 7000 homes and 50,000 residents but more than a decade after it was first suggested by council, successive state governments have refused to back the plan.
“It’s owned by the state government, and despite Sunshine Coast Council’s encouragement for that to be the next major area for home construction, right on the rail corridor linking Brisbane to Maroochydore, they’re (the state government) dragging their feet.”
“I just don’t think the state is good at doing those sorts of developments.”
“They’re probably better served to do a deal with a major developer, have the developer do a long term development plan.”
“That would be the best way for them to bring it about.”
Minister for State Development, Infrastructure and Planning Jarrod Bleijie said the Crisafulli Government is reviewing regional plans to align them with housing and infrastructure needs, in partnership with local governments.
“We will ensure new homes aren’t delayed by working with councils to streamline approvals, build the water and sewerage connections, street lighting, roads and parks in new housing developments.”
