Plans for a 195-unit, six-storey development under a state government scheme designed to fast-track affordable housing would be scrapped, if the LNP wins this month’s state election.
The party issued a media release this week saying the proposal had been “foisted on the community”, in spite of strong local objection and a lack of community and council consultation.
But Housing Minister Meaghan Scanlon has defended the scheme, saying “while LNP MPs are railing against homes being built in their own backyards, we’re delivering the homes Queensland needs”.
Last week the state government made the declaration that two state-facilitated development projects, at Noosa Heads and Tewantin, would be progressing to the next stage of the approvals process.
The Noosa Heads proposal is for a 195-unit complex with commercial and retail space, onsite parking and communal facilities at 2, 6, 8, 10 Lanyana Way, while the proposal at Tewantin includes 40 units over three to four storeys at 87-89 Poinciana Avenue and 10 Sidoni Street.
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The move to progress the projects drew criticism from Noosa mayor Frank Wilkie and Member for Noosa Sandy Bolton, with Cr Wilkie saying “this blatantly disrespects Noosa’s planning scheme”.
Deputy LNP leader and Member for Kawana Jarrod Bleijie, who is also the Shadow Minister for Planning and Infrastructure, said the government had failed to consult with Noosa Council and the local community on the proposed developments.
“The Premier and Labor have left Noosa residents in the dark and taken it upon themselves to push ahead with a 195-unit development in Noosa Junction and a further 40-unit development in Tewantin without any discussion with council and completely disregarding the community,” Mr Bleijie said.
LNP candidate for Noosa Clare Stewart said the LNP was committed to working with councils, not dictating to them.
“The LNP has met with Noosa Council and provided certainty an LNP government will ensure that any developments are compliant within the local planning scheme,” Ms Stewart said.
Ms Bolton welcomed the commitment from the LNP but said the party originally supported the legislation that made the state-facilitated development pathway possible, which is why
independent MPs were required to hold parties to account.
“This announcement demonstrates more than ever why we need to remain independent,” she said.
Ms Scanlon, speaking after the first two projects went through the fast-track development pathway, at Robina and Wakerley, last month, said Labor was determined to ease the housing crisis.
“Remove the barriers, speed up approvals and you’ll fuel housing construction – that’s what industry told us, so that’s what we did,” Ms Scanlon said.
“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.”
The aerial imagery in this story is from Australian location intelligence company Nearmap. The company provides government organisations, architectural, construction and engineering firms, and other companies, with easy, instant access to high-resolution aerial imagery, city-scale 3D content, artificial intelligence data sets, and geospatial tools to assist with urban planning, monitoring and development projects in Australia, New Zealand and North America.
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