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The real estate market in Brisbane and other surrounding areas in Queensland are expected to see more affordable housing as the state government focuses on delivering reforms for the planning system.
At the Queensland Planning Forum in Brisbane on March 13, Deputy Premier Jeff Seeney said the government has more in store for changes to the planning system over the coming year, resulting in more housing and employment opportunities.
"We have already introduced significant reforms in the planning space, such as the new State Planning Policy and one-stop-shop State Assessment and Referral Agency, but I think the best is still to come," said Mr Seeney.
"Clearer, less complicated planning laws will help to kick-start the construction industry, boosting jobs and delivering more affordable housing for Queenslanders."
Mr Seeney explained that changes to the planning system will also assist councils and give them the capability to efficiently carry out assessment applications.
As median house values in Brisbane have risen significantly over the past 12 months, these planning reforms will contribute towards making homes more affordable in the capital and surrounding areas of the state.
Funding in regional towns to support planning
A number of resource towns in Queensland have seen improvements to infrastructure and land supply under the government's Regional and Resource Towns Action Plan. A total of $10 million has been allocated by the government in order to achieve 136 actions around regional areas in the state. Out of this figure, approximately 40 per cent have been completed so far, while the remainder will be rolled out over the next one or two years.
The plan, which was introduced in March 2013, aims to tackle the challenges of housing availability, affordability and diversity, while also correcting the imbalance in available land supply for building.
"The Newman government is working with councils to deliver better planning and better infrastructure in the hope to ultimately deliver more affordable housing for residents," said Mr Seeney in a March 17 statement.
Many areas of Queensland have already begun to benefit from actions through the Regional and Resource Towns Action Plan, helping to provide residents with more affordable homes and improved facilities.
One such area is Roma in the Surat Basin, which has seen a residential development project deliver 300 homes including apartments, townhouses and traditional detached properties.
With more planning reforms on the way, both resource towns and metropolitan areas in Queensland are set to reap the benefits of an improved system.
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