Published Today at 09:30 AM

Deputy Premier, Minister for State Development, Infrastructure and Planning and Minister for Industrial Relations
The Honourable Jarrod Bleijie

Nation-leading initiative unlocks surplus Townsville land for housing

  • Crisafulli Government launches nation-leading Land Activation Program to fast-track homes and address Labor’s Housing Crisis.  
  • The first Land Activation Program site in the Townsville region is set to deliver up to 150 homes. 
  • The former Labor Government's failed Ground Lease Model proposed spending $1.7 billion of taxpayers' money for just 715 dwellings. 
  • The Land Activation Program is part of Crisafulli Government’s commitment to give more Queenslanders a place to call home and deliver one million new homes by 2044. 

The Crisafulli Government’s nation-leading Land Activation Program has come to Townsville, unlocking local under-utilised government-owned land to deliver a place to call home for more Queenslanders.   

The 4.5-hectare site next to Townsville Pimlico TAFE is the first within the region to join the landmark initiative and will deliver up to 150 homes. 

Potential Townsville-based proponents are now encouraged to register their interest in the site, with demolition works already underway to prepare the site for market release in mid-2026.  

The landmark Land Activation Program is the helping fix Labor’s Housing Crisis by identifying, unlocking, and fast-tracking the release of underutilised government land to the private sector to deliver more homes for Queenslanders. 

The former Labor Government oversaw the lowest home ownership rate in the country during its decade of decline, which also included a 29 per cent reduction in housing lot approvals, and record-low rental vacancy rates that led to a skyrocketing social housing waitlist.  

The Crisafulli Government’s Land Activation Program is a key pillar of the Securing Our Housing Foundations Plan, which will deliver one million new homes by 2044.  

Deputy Premier and Minister for State Development, Infrastructure and Planning Jarrod Bleijie said the Crisafulli Government was delivering more North Queenslanders a place to call home.  

“We’re backing Townsville by supporting local construction, strengthening neighbourhoods, and ensuring more Queenslanders have a place to call home,” Deputy Premier Bleijie said.  

“The Land Activation Program is about speed, certainty and delivery, cutting red tape, accelerating approvals and bringing development-ready land to market. 

“During Labor’s decade of decline, Queensland had the lowest home ownership rate in Australia, new home approvals dropped 36 percent and housing lot approvals dropped 29 percent. 

“The people of Townsville need homes now. It topped the list as Australia’s fastest growing regional area in the year to September 2025 and Labor left the region with a major housing shortfall.  

“The reality is there’s land that had been left to just sit there with no planned use by Labor while Queenslanders struggled to put a roof over their heads.  

“Under Labor, the dream of stable housing felt out of reach, but the Crisafulli Government is finally delivering programs and initiatives that restore confidence and ensuring Townsville continues to thrive. 

“The Land Activation Program is a key part of the Crisafulli Government’s target to deliver one million homes by 2044, and we’re determined to address the challenges Queenslanders faced under Labor.” 

Member for Mundingburra Janelle Poole said the Land Activation Program was about giving more Townsville families the security of having a place to call home. 

“For too long under Labor, locals felt left behind when trying to find a home, but I’m proud to be part of a government that takes the meaningful steps toward meeting real community needs,” Ms Poole said. 

“By investing locally, we’re helping to ensure more residents can put down roots and build their future right here in Townsville.” 

Member for Townsville Adam Baillie said finding a place to call home was a key priority for locals.   

“This is the sort of development and investment people in Townsville have been calling for to address the long-standing, housing crisis facing many across this city,” Mr Baillie said.  

“Every day, I am approached by people looking for affordable housing, looking to get their first home, so being able to deliver up to 150 new homes in the centre of Townsville is a big win for the community.” 

Member for Thuringowa Natalie Marr welcomed the initiative to provide more housing opportunities in Townsville. 

“The Land Activation Program is a win for the growing number of families who are looking to make their home in our community,” Ms Marr said. 

The announcement follows yesterday’s state-wide launch of the Land Activation Program, including the release of a long-vacant 6.4-hectare site in Banyo (Brisbane). Other sites will be rolled out across the state as the Government identifies new opportunities.  

Local industry members are also being encouraged to proactively nominate underutilised government land suitable for immediate take-up of housing for EDQ to investigate via https://www.edq.qld.gov.au/land-activation-program .   

ENDS 

MEDIA CONTACT: Kate Haddan 0437 334 769