Moreton Bay Waives Fees to Boost Affordable Housing

Moreton Bay Regional Council has moved to waive development fees in a bid to boost private development of social and affordable housing. 

Moreton Bay mayor Peter Flannery said they were the first council to take this step as part of Queensland’s $2-billion housing investment fund, to incentives private-sector construction of affordable housing. 

“We want the developers to know that Moreton Bay has a swag of incentives for them and we want them to know that this region is ready to do business now,” he said.

“We’re coming out of the gates first and sending a strong message to the private sector that we are willing to work with them, we’ve already slashed the usual red tape, and we’re willing to sweeten the deal further by saving them literally hundreds of thousands of dollars on construction.

“In the current market where materials are expensive and labour is hard to find, we want them to know Moreton Bay is the best place for their bottomline.”

Flannery said he would prioritise investment in affordable housing as the population booms across the region north of Brisbane. 

“There are no tricks, no gimmicks, no hidden costs here for developers. The facility will just need to be managed by a community housing provider, but the building can remain privately owned by the developer,” he said.

“In this way we are holistically addressing accommodation and shelter needs in our region, and it’s something we take very seriously.”

UDIA Queensland Moreton Bay president Keith Cairns said he welcomed the initiative, which would alleviate under-investment in affordable housing. 

“There is a critical need for all forms of additional housing in the region to assist in alleviating the severe housing crisis throughout south-east Queensland,” Mr Cairns said.

“Moreton Bay’s proactive policy is a great example of how all levels of government can step up to address the nation’s housing crisis.”

Flannery said the Moreton Bay region was experiencing an acceleration in the number of homeless people, which increased 57 per cent between 2011 and 2016, well above the Queensland average of 9 per cent. 

“The lack of social and affordable housing in our region is putting more and more people at risk of homelessness, already more than 1200 locals are already considered homeless,” Flannery said. 

The Attraction of Affordable Social Housing policy has no limit on fee cuts for affordable housing projects in specific areas. These areas include Caboolture, Morayfield, Redcliffe, Deception Bay, Burpengary, Lawnton, Strathpine, Albany Creek, and Arana Hills.

Projects can be mixed-use developments, but the remission is only applicable to affordable social housing elements.