Work underway on the new Injinoo subdivision earlier this year. Photo: Northern Peninsula Area Regional Council.
Almost 3200 much-needed new homes have been “unlocked” across Far North Queensland over the past 18 months, according to the State Government.
The Queensland Government doubled round two of the Residential Activation Fund (RAF) from $500 million to $1 billion in the recent budget following an “overwhelming response” by councils and industry, paving the way for the installation of essential infrastructure such as roads, water, power and sewerage.
Across the state, more than 100,000 homes have been “unlocked” to help nudge up concerningly low vacancy rates and ease the housing crisis.
The state-wide vacancy rate dropped slightly to 0.9 per cent in the March quarter, down from 1 per cent in the previous three quarters, according to the latest Real Estate Institute of Queensland (REIQ) Residential Vacancy Rate Report.
Cook in the Far North recorded a zero vacancy rate – the lowest in the state. The REIQ deems a healthy vacancy rate between 2.6 and 3.5 per cent.
The Cook region on Cape York has the lowest residential vacancy rate in the state, according to the REIQ. Photo: Cape York Weekly/Luke Mortimer.
The government describes the RAF as a key pillar to drive up housing supply and provide access to more land for growing communities.
The fund has a focus on remote and regional housing and has resulted in projects being taken on by Far North local governments such as Aurukun Shire Council, Cook Shire Council, Northern Peninsula Area Regional Council (NPARC), Pormpuraaw Aboriginal Shire Council and Torres Shire Council.
It comes as the Local Government Association of Queensland (LGAQ), which includes all of the state’s mayors, has been pushing for federal funding to reduce chronic levels of overcrowding in Indigenous communities “having devastating flow-on impacts to health and education”.
NPARC revealed in May that work had started on 114 lots for new homes across the region, beginning with the Injinoo Housing Subdivision by local workers.
Since the RAF’s launch, there has been about $107 million worth of investment, with the next round of RAF investments rolling out progressively state-wide.
Deputy Premier and State Development, Infrastructure and Planning Minister Jarrod Bleijie said the RAF showed the government was committed to building for the future and giving residents a place to call home.
“For too long, the dream of having a place of your own was denied to too many Queenslanders in Far North Queensland,” he said.
“We’re playing our part to help make that dream a reality again.”
Mr Bleijie said the state had faced record-low rental vacancy rates, a skyrocketing social housing waitlist and the lowest home ownership rate in the country.
However, he said thousands of homes had already been unlocked in the Far North and to “watch this space for more as we continue”.
Mr Bleijie said one of the best ways to tackle the housing crisis was to unlock land and “break down barriers that have been holding back councils and the industry, and in turn the keys to Queenslanders’ front doors”.
“Availability equals affordability and by ensuring supply is unlocked, while also delivering a record number of social and affordable homes and support for first home buyers, we’re delivering a place to call home for more Queenslanders, and the fresh start we promised them,” he said.
The government’s overarching Securing Our Housing Foundations Plan aims for one million new homes to be built in Queensland by 2044, including a record 53,500 social and community homes.
Original Article published by Luke Mortimer on Region Tropical North Queensland.
