Sunshine Coast councillors are set to decide whether to sell a key parcel of council-owned land in Nambour to a community housing provider, in a move aimed at boosting the supply of affordable homes.
A report prepared for council recommends the land at 46-62 Howard Street be sold to Coast2Bay Housing Group Limited, with the matter to be considered at Thursday’s ordinary meeting.
According to the council planner’s report, the proposal forms part of broader efforts to respond to housing pressures across the region.
“In response to the challenges of the current housing crisis on the Sunshine Coast, council has endorsed the Housing and Homelessness Action Plan,” the report states.
“The plan contains a range of actions, the first of which relates to the delivery of affordable housing products. This includes the identification of suitable land and/or buildings.”
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The land, comprising three lots totalling about 2627sqm, has been identified as suitable for a multi-storey residential development that could deliver a mix of affordable and social housing. It is currently used as a car park.
Councillors are being asked to approve an exception under the Local Government Regulation Act to allow the land to be sold directly to Coast2Bay, rather than through a public tender or auction process, which is allowable if the disposal is to a community organisation.
The report recommends the sale proceed at market value, with an independent valuation already undertaken, and with conditions ensuring the site is used for its intended purpose.
“As an independent community housing provider, Coast2Bay are well positioned to pursue the development of social and affordable housing on this site,” the report says.
“Therefore, it is recommended that council dispose of the land to Coast2Bay with a contract stipulation that the site be used for the delivery of social and affordable housing products.
“In addition, council has signed a memorandum of understanding with Coast2Bay to facilitate and support the successful delivery of the housing projects in the region.”
If approved, details of the final sale price would be made public after the transaction is completed.
The proposal follows years of attempts to develop the site for housing, dating back to 2008. Previous plans stalled multiple times due to funding constraints, despite council support.
“Coast2Bay have recently contacted council again seeking a partnership to deliver affordable housing outcomes on the property, this time on the basis that Coast2Bay acquire the land from council in order to pursue the delivery of affordable housing outcomes,” the report says.
“Coast2Bay are committed to delivering the affordable housing outcomes on the site, which will provide a much-needed supply of social and affordable housing in Nambour. The project will also provide tenancy pathway planning opportunities for their existing tenants that are economically active and for those in aged assets that are suited to redevelopment and revitalisation.
“Coast2Bay have advised that the existing scheme consisting of 65 units is largely suitable to pursue state government funding. Minor amendments to the design will be made to bring it in line with height limits defined in the current planning scheme and to increase the level of accessibility for some units, with a target of 50 per cent minimum Liveable Housing Australia Gold standard product.
“The incumbent architect Hollindale Mainwaring will be appointed by Coast2Bay to continue the design development ahead of a code assessable development application being lodged with council in due course.”
The development is expected to primarily target low- to moderate-income households, including key workers and single-parent families, with some dwellings also allocated for social housing.
Priority would be given to people with local connections to the Nambour area.
The report also highlights broader community benefits, including supporting people transitioning out of crisis accommodation and enabling more efficient use of existing housing stock.
Settlement is targeted before the end of the 2025-26 financial year if approved.
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.
