A $4.1 million boost will help fast-track a social and affordable housing project on a former landfill site.
The money, from the state government’s Residential Activation Fund (RAF), is set to deliver essential infrastructure such as water, sewers and stormwater for the initiative at 62 Lake Macdonald Drive in Cooroy.
The vacant site was used for night soil, landfill and bottle disposal until around the 1950s.
Noosa Mayor Frank Wilkie said stage one of the project would see 25 homes built on land that could support potentially another 60 dwellings, subject to further community consultation.
“This much-needed funding fast tracks essential infrastructure required to deliver truly affordable homes for those most in need in our community,” he said.
Want more free local news? Follow Sunshine Coast News on Facebook, LinkedIn and Instagram, and sign up for our FREE daily news email.
The $2 billion RAF received 178 submissions: 64 from South-East Queensland and 114 from regional, rural and remote Queensland.
Deputy Premier Jarrod Bleijie said the state budget for 2025-26 was delivering up to $1 billion for round one of the RAF, doubled from the original $500 million, in response to the overwhelming support and availability of shovel-ready projects.
“This investment will give more Queenslanders a place to call home,” he said.
“The delivery of $4.1 million of essential infrastructure for the Cooroy project creates jobs, unlocks housing and ensures that Queensland continues to manage population growth, address housing affordability and protect the lifestyle of local communities.”
Related story: Councillors vote to earmark land as potential housing site
Cr Wilkie said in January that the council was ensuring the site was in good shape for housing.
“We’re acting on our social and environmental responsibility by immediately removing contaminants from this site, so its true value and the use to the community can be fully realised,” he said.
