Driving Change - Council launches Local Housing Action Plan
Published on 26 April 2024
Rockhampton Regional Council will help drive real change across the housing sector through a new roadmap developed to support more homes, better coordination, and collaboration across the region.
Rockhampton’s new Local Housing Action Plan (LHAP), developed by Council in partnership with the Local Government Association of Queensland with funding from the Queensland Government, outlines 27 practical and tangible actions that will address housing barriers and shortfalls.
These initiatives aim to tackle obstacles, pave the way for an enhanced housing supply in the social, affordable, and private sectors within the region and support job creation for the future.
Key measures from the plan include:
- Calls for targets for both social and private housing development across the region;
- Improved communication and coordination between government and stakeholders through a new local housing coordination working group;
- Identification and consideration of new and innovative housing solutions;
- Provision of Council land in Parkhurst for new social housing development;
- Identification of potential new housing developments in the Rockhampton CBD, Parkhurst, Mount Morgan and through the Priority Development Area (PDA) at CQUniversity with the ability to create over 3500 new dwellings; and
- Call for State and Federal Government for regional funding programs that support enabling and catalyst infrastructure, housing development and planning.
In addition to the Local Housing Action Plan, Council approved a new Social Housing Development Incentive Policy to encourage and help guide housing development in this space.
The new Social Housing Development Incentive Policy will introduce a 50 per cent concession of infrastructure charges for eligible social housing developments.
The policy is a further action identified in the LHAP which was raised during consultation with the sector and local Community Housing Providers.
The 50 per cent concession will give community housing providers greater confidence when planning and delivering social housing initiatives and clearly demonstrates Council’s commitment to helping meet demand for social housing across the region.
Rockhampton Regional Council Mayor, Cr Tony Williams, said the new housing plan and social housing incentive policy was a positive step forward for the region.
“Everybody recognises that housing is a real challenge across our region and across the state,” Mayor Williams said.
“We want to work with the State and Federal Governments, the housing sector, and local residents to increase the number of homes available and make sure that we are getting our fair share of the investments being made in this space.
“This is not something that is going to be solved overnight, but there are real commitments from the State and Federal Governments to invest in housing and I want to make sure that the Rockhampton Region and regional Queensland are part of that conversation.
“Locally, the Rockhampton Local Housing Action Plan is a roadmap to deliver more housing, better coordination, and collaboration and to ensure Council is doing its bit to drive real change in this space.”
Deputy Mayor and Communities Portfolio Lead, Cr Drew Wickerson, said the Local Housing Action Plan was a substantial piece of work that demonstrated the constructive way in which the State Government and local government was working with local communities to take real and tangible actions.
“We know that all levels of government need to be working to deliver housing outcomes and focused on areas where they can do the most good,” Cr Wickerson said.
“Council has a role in coordinating and facilitating local action by bringing government together with the housing sector, developers and investors to secure local outcomes.
“We can also demonstrate our commitment to supporting housing outcomes through initiatives like the Social Housing Development Incentive Policy which will give community housing providers greater confidence and support in planning and delivery their projects.”
Rockhampton’s Local Housing Action Plan can be downloaded here.(PDF, 2MB)
About Local Housing Action Plans (LHAP):
Under the Queensland Housing and Homelessness Action Plan 2021-2025, the Queensland Government is funding councils to develop Local Housing Action Plans (LHAPs) that identify ways of addressing the specific housing needs of their communities. The release of Homes for Queenslanders plan on 6 February 2024, further supports this with a vision for a fair and sustainable housing system that ensures better housing outcomes both now and for future generations.
Following the significant rainfall and flooding in 2022, the Queensland Government worked with the Gympie Regional Council to prepare the first LHAP.
In March 2022, the Queensland government partnered with the Western Queensland Alliance of Councils (WQAC) to fast-track LHAPs for its 22 member councils.
In March 2023, the government extended its LHAP funding to prepare LHAPs for a further 38 councils through a partnership with the Local Government Association of Queensland (LGAQ).