Plans Revealed for Worker Apartments on Sunshine Coast

Brisbane Housing Company has unveiled plans for an affordable housing development for essential workers on the Sunshine Coast. 

The project, submitted as a Ministerial Infrastructure Designation (MID), would deliver a 90-unit residential apartment block at Birtinya and is currently open for consultation.

A Tier 1 community housing provider, Brisbane Housing Company (BH) said the project would provide critical housing supply for local essential workers, particularly those at the nearby Birtinya Health Hub that includes  the Sunshine Coast University Hospital, as well as the planned Birtinya Town Centre. 

BHC’s plan for the currently vacant 2863sq m site comprise 12 studios, and 66 one and 12 two-bedroom units at the 16 Bright Place address.

Communal spaces would be provided at ground and podium levels of the eight-storey block.

BHC said that “the vision is to establish a modern, high-quality development” and is in response to the “current market conditions and identified shortage of safe, secure, and affordable housing supply across the Sunshine Coast region”.

“The project will provide secure, affordable and well-located apartments in the emerging suburb of Birtinya, located in walking distance to the Sunshine Coast University Hospital, local retail, community and recreational facilities, as well as planned high-frequency public transport,” the MID application said.

The report has been compiled by RPS Group and Ellivo Architects has designed the building, which would be on the waterfront at Lake Kawana.

Rents would be calculated at a discount to market rents in the area, which according to RealEstate.com.au have a median of $590 per week in the suburb.