It is a flush of funding touted as a game-changer for Queensland’s housing supply crunch.
And its inaugural allocation is poised to unlock 20,000 new homes in a crucible of population growth just south of Brisbane.
Logan—a city of more than 375,000 people and counting in the Brisbane-Gold Coast growth corridor—has become the beneficiary of the first share of the state’s $2-billion Residential Activation Fund.
The $135.98-million injection is earmarked for the construction of a critical wastewater treatment plant without which, it is claimed, the Logan City Council would have to stop approving new housing in the near future.
Utility provider Logan Water—responsible for water and wastewater services in the local government area 28km from the Brisbane CBD—has warned “without this new plant, development in much of the city would grind to a halt by 2028”.
With capacity to service upwards of 60,000 homes once fully operational after 2032, the $334.53 million Chambers Flat Wastewater Treatment Plant will underpin the continued expansion of key development precincts including Yarrabilba, Park Ridge and Logan Village.
Construction is slated to begin in 2026, with the first residential connections expected by 2028, aligning with the project’s intent to “unlock the next phase of growth” by enabling an estimated 20,000-plus new homes to be built.
The plant will also feature advanced effluent treatment to safeguard the Logan River and meet long-term environmental objectives.
The Queensland Government’s Residential Activation Fund (RAF) is part of a broader strategy aimed at the delivery of a million homes across the state by 2044.
The fund is focused on alleviating roadblocks for infill and greenfield developments. Applications for the initial round, targeting critical infrastructure such as water supply, sewerage, stormwater, and roads, drew 178 submissions.
Deputy Premier Jarrod Bleijie said the commitment to funding shovel-ready projects such as the Chambers Flat Wastewater Treatment Plant would be a “game-changer” for fast-growing areas such as Logan, where the population is expected to exceed 667,000 residents by 2046.
Logan City Mayor Jon Raven said the investment was critical to support future growth.
“Our city is the fastest-growing in the state but, with our wastewater infrastructure at capacity, we would have had to soon stop approving new housing,” he said. “Thanks to this funding … we can build the critical wastewater infrastructure needed to keep approving houses and meet the demands of the housing crisis.”
Property Council Queensland executive director Jess Caire said research had shown the cost of providing infrastructure was one of the main impediments towards new housing development.
“There is clearly huge demand for this funding with applications for the first round of the RAF oversubscribed,” she said.
