The Department of State Development, Infrastructure, Local Government and Planning is to develop a housing supply and diversity strategy for Redland City following the Council’s inability to update its City Plan over a number of years.
Minister for Local Government and Planning, Steven Miles said Redland City Council’s current City Plan did not provide sufficient housing supply or diversity to address population growth.
“The current housing strategy for the city is dated 2011 and is based on 2006 population data, meaning it does not take into account significant population and housing challenges in the past decade,” Dr Miles said.
“For example, the current strategy identifies a dwelling target of 66,200 by 2031. However, as of 2021, there was already a total of 65,200 dwellings in the Redland area.”
He said the Council had been asked repeatedly to update its housing strategy but had declined to do so.
“The people of Redland — now and into the future — need affordable homes urgently,” Dr Miles said.
In a letter sent to Redland City Council, the Minister said he would be exercising powers under the Planning Act to “urgently undertake the strategy and consider what amendments are needed to the City Plan to facilitate the range of housing needs identified by the strategy”.
“The purpose of the strategy is to investigate housing supply and diversity in the Redland area and provide the evidence base for my consideration of any amendments required to the City Plan,” Dr Miles said.
“Now more than ever, it’s vital that all Local Governments have well-positioned planning schemes to support housing choice. This includes removing regulatory impediments that prevent a variety of housing.”
He said Departmental officials had worked with the Redland City Council on the need for a new housing strategy reflective of the current and future trends, and continued to work with the Council in attempts to resolve the lack of housing choice and diversity in the Redland area.
