Redland City Council will offer discounted development application fees and infrastructure charges to community housing providers under a new policy set to take effect in November.
Councillors voted at last Wednesday’s general meeting to adopt the strategy and progress a range of other measures aimed at supporting the delivery of more affordable and diverse housing across the city.
Under the policy implemented for community housing providers, council will also waive its pre-lodgement service fee and offer an expedited decision-making period for code assessable applications that satisfy certain criteria. The policy is expected to commence in early November.
Councillors also voted in favour of endorsing a major amendment that will support dual occupancies on lots of 700 square metres (down from 800 square metres) in the city’s low density residential zones.
Officers wrote in their report that there were about 13,000 land parcels between 700-799 square metres located within the LDR zone on the mainland and Coochiemudlo Island.
The proposed amendment will be submitted to Planning Minister Steven Miles.
Deputy mayor Julie Talty said council would also continue advocating for the minister to progress a State Interest Review for a major amendment to the medium density residential code.
The package was submitted for review in January 2022 but was put on hold in April this year as the state government prepared the Redland housing strategy.
“The major amendment was prepared to achieve higher quality design outcomes for multiple dwelling housing, such as apartments and townhouses, on Redlands Coast,” Cr Talty said.
“Although the provision of affordable and social housing is not the responsibility of local government, we feel we can still make a difference.”
Council will also continue investigating opportunities to allow caravans and motorhomes to be made available as temporary residential accommodation.
