REDLANDS MP Rebecca Young says thousands of new homes planned for the Southern Thornlands Priority Development Area (PDA) will give younger generations a chance to stay living and working locally as part of a major housing deal between the State and Federal Governments.
The Southern Thornlands PDA was named among key growth areas set to benefit from a $2.4 billion housing infrastructure agreement announced this week between the Albanese and Crisafulli Governments.
The package is expected to help unlock more than 51,000 homes across Queensland, including more than 20,000 homes reserved for first home buyers.
Speaking to Local Redland Bayside News following the announcement, Mrs Young said supporting infrastructure would be delivered alongside housing development to ensure the Southern Thornlands PDA could grow sustainably.
“Out of today’s announcements, trunk infrastructure is what will be delivered,” Ms Young said.
“To Redland City Council’s credit, they have done extensive sewer planning works and have been able to put a dollar figure on what they’re going to need to ensure that the PDA is successful and their expected requirements as the city grows.
“So, water infrastructure, sewage infrastructure is a part of it, and then we’ve got supporting road networks around the PDA and the greater Redlands as it grows.”
Mrs Young said the Southern Thornlands PDA was expected to deliver almost 8000 homes over the next decade, with about 800 homes included in stage one.
“There’s a really good opportunity in that stage one … for many of those to be first home buyers,” she said.
She said housing affordability pressures had left many younger Redlanders feeling home ownership was out of reach.
“Young home buyers are no longer aspirational here in Redlands,” Mrs Young said.
“These are people who have saved a good deposit, who are aspirational, but as the supply hasn’t met pace with desire to live in Redlands, they’re just being locked out of here.”
Mrs Young said the development would help provide opportunities for local young people to remain in the city long-term.
“We want born and bred Redlanders to stay in Redlands and work here,” she said.
“Nothing would warm my heart more than seeing someone coming out of Victoria Point State High School into university to do a teaching degree and then returning to Redlands to teach here.
“But they’ve got to be able to live here too.”
She said unlocking housing supply quickly, alongside infrastructure investment and planning reform, would help improve affordability.
“We have to get housing out of the ground quickly. We have to get it with supporting infrastructure,” Mrs Young said.
“If developers don’t have holding costs, that automatically will help house prices.
“If they don’t have to fund the shortfall of infrastructure that councils can’t provide for, and if they are building under a regulatory framework that increases productivity, all three of those things will naturally help people get into the market.”
Mrs Young also rejected criticism that Priority Development Areas were often announced without the infrastructure needed to support them.
“We made a commitment when we met with council prior to calling the PDA, that we would be with them every step of the way, and today’s announcement is another proof of that,” she said.
“It’s all got to be hand in hand and it’s the first time that I can remember — and I’ve been here 45 years — where a state government and a council have never been more aligned in the work they’re doing together.”
Mrs Young said her role as Assistant Minister for Housing, Planning and Better Regulation gave Redlands a strong voice within government.
“Everything I do, in first instance, I am the voice for Redlands,” she said.
“It certainly is an advantage for Redlands to have an assistant minister in this space at the table.”
