Homes for Queenslanders: first look, fast track for Toowoomba social housing

Link to photos: https://tinyurl.com/2p9t52zy

• First look at Miles Government and Vinnies’ 27-unit social housing project in Toowoomba
• Project to go through government’s fast-track approvals process: Ministerial Infrastructure Designation (MID)
• Part of Miles Government’s Homes for Queenslanders plan, including 53,500 more social homes

Artist impressions and plans for the Miles Government and Vinnies’ 27-home project in Toowoomba have been released for community consultation, as the project looks to go through fast-track approvals.

The project is proposed to include 19 one-bedroom units, six two-bedroom units, and two four-bedroom townhouses.

Alongside the partnership, Vinnies has lodged a MID for the project.

The project is the second social housing project to progress through the MID process in Toowoomba, following the approval of a 23-unit social housing development in partnership with the Salvation Army.

The MID process provides an alternative to local council development applications and is managed by the Department of Housing, Local Government, Planning and Public Works, with input from other government agencies.

Consultation is now open on the project, with the Planning Minister to make a final decision after reviewing the assessment undertaken by the Department and community consultation feedback.

It comes as the government recently completed 19 new homes in Newtown, and the sod was turned on a 23-home project in the Toowoomba CBD in partnership with the Salvation Army.

Quotes attributable to Planning Minister Meaghan Scanlon:

“This project, alongside the almost 1,000 social homes we have under construction, shows that we’re delivering our Homes for Queenslanders plan.  

“We’re partnering with faith-based organisations to boost our social housing Big Build and deliver more homes, faster.

“Through the MID process, we’re able to streamline the approvals needed for large social and affordable developments across the state, to get shovels in the ground faster.

“That’s unlike the LNP who are still blocking 8,000 Queenslanders from getting their own home by standing in the way of Help to Buy legislation.”

Further information:

You can make a submission online at www.statedevelopment.qld.gov.au/mid-consultations or by email to infrastructuredesignation@dsdilgp.qld.gov.au 

For assistance or further information about the MID process, you can visit www.planning.statedevelopment.qld.gov.au/planning-framework/infrastructure-planning/ministerial-infrastructure-designations,  email infrastructuredesignation@dsdilgp.qld.gov.au or call 1300 967 433.

ENDS

Media contact: Francis Dela Cruz - 0420 592 078