167 new homes fast tracked across North West Queensland

• Further $28 million in funding announced as part of Round 2 to fast track an additional 167 new homes across North West Queensland. 
• Announcement follows completion of Gliderport Road project in Mount Isa, part of Round 1 of the Residential Activation Fund.
• Residential Activation Fund has unlocked more than 162,000 places to call home for Queenslanders in less than 18 months.
• The Crisafulli Government is delivering a place to call home for more Queenslanders, after a decade of decline under Labor saw Queenslanders locked out of the housing market as vacancy rates plummeted to record-lows.   

The Crisafulli Government is delivering a place to call home for more Queenslanders and continuing to unlock housing supply quickly across the State, with the next round of the Residential Activation Fund further fast tracking 167 new homes across North West Queensland. 

The Crisafulli Government has announced it will invest more than $28 million in three projects that will deliver the critical trunk infrastructure needed to unlock land for residential development, helping deliver a place to call home for more Queenslanders. 

Nearly $10 million will be invested to deliver major road, stormwater and sewer upgrades to unlock 63 homes in Burke Shire Council. 

In Cloncurry Shire Council, a $2.1 million roadworks, stormwater, sewer, and water infrastructure project will unlock 22 homes in the Brisbane Street Estate. This project received funding for planning as part of Residential Activation Fund Round 1 and will now move into construction under Round 2. 

Finally, $16.4 million will be invested in new roads, stormwater, water, and sewer infrastructure to unlock 82 homes in the Richmond Residential Estate in Richmond Shire Council.  

The announcement comes as the $5 million Gliderport Road project in Mount Isa reached completion, just five months after construction commenced on the road upgrade, which has unlocked more than 40 homes as part of Round 1 of the landmark program. 

The Crisafulli Government is building Queensland's future and delivering better services through a stronger economy, with the Residential Activation Fund a key pillar of our plan to unlock housing supply by investing in enabling infrastructure that brings forward new residential development across Queensland.  

The award-winning Residential Activation Fund program has now unlocked capacity for more than 162,000 homes statewide, helping deliver a place to call home for more Queenslanders. 

The Residential Activation Fund is just one of the Crisafulli Government’s range of initiatives delivering a place to call home for more Queenslanders, including:  

• More than $2 billion in joint Federal and State funding to unlock 51,000 homes, including 20,000 for first home buyers.  
• Releasing underutilised State land for housing under the landmark Land Activation Program. 
• Relief for first homeowners with $30,000 First Home Owner Grants continuing and locked into the Budget. 
• Supporting first home buyers by removing stamp duty on new builds. 
• Introducing a nation-leading Boost to Buy shared equity scheme to help reduce the deposit gap, with half of the up to 2,000 places reserved for regional Queenslanders. 
• Increasing rental availability by lifting subletting restrictions for homebuyers receiving grants and concessions. 
• Delivering 1 million homes, including a record pipeline of 53,500 social and community homes by 2044.  

Deputy Premier and Minister for State Development, Infrastructure and Planning Jarrod Bleijie said the investment was a clear demonstration of the Crisafulli Government’s commitment to building Queensland’s future with a place to call home for more Queenslanders. 

“The Crisafulli Government’s Residential Activation Fund is pulling every lever to increase housing supply, because you can’t build homes without the roads, water and sewerage infrastructure to support them," Deputy Premier Bleijie said. 

“After a decade of decline under Labor, we’re getting on with the job of delivering the infrastructure needed to unlock new housing opportunities across the State. 

“These three projects will unlock 167 places to call home for Queenslanders while supporting growing communities across North West Queensland, and demonstrate what’s possible when government partners with councils, landowners and developers to remove barriers to housing. 

“In less than 18 months, the Crisafulli Government has already unlocked more than 162,000 new places to call home through the Residential Activation Fund after Labor’s decade of decline, which saw housing lot approvals slump by 29 per cent, leading to record-low rental vacancy rates, a skyrocketing social housing waitlist and the lowest home ownership rate in the country.  

“Availability equals affordability and by ensuring supply is unlocked, while also delivering a record number of social and affordable homes and support for first homebuyers, we’re delivering a place to call home for more Queenslanders, and the fresh start we promised them.” 

Member for Gregory Sean Dillon said the additional funding from the Residential Activation Fund would continue to support the growing region.  

“After a decade of Labor failing to plan for our region’s growth, the Crisafulli Government is investing in the infrastructure needed to unlock more homes and support growing communities,” Mr Dillon said 

“These critical upgrades will be the backbone for further development in the region, ensuring there are more places to call home for Queenslanders.  

“This is exactly what the Residential Activation Fund is designed to do and what the community has been calling out for – we are getting on with removing infrastructure barriers to deliver better communities and get more Queenslanders into their own home. 

“This is about making sure people who want to live and work in North West and Western Queensland have somewhere to call home, while giving our regional communities the foundations they need to grow and prosper.” 

Mount Isa City Council Mayor Peta MacRae said the milestone marked a significant step forward for the region. 

“Healy Heights is part of Mount Isa’s growth story and the construction of Gliderport Road is critical to ensuring we have the services in place to support a thriving community,” Mayor MacRae said. 

“This project will fast-track land supply by providing the infrastructure needed for the future Gliderport Development. 

“With this infrastructure in place, Council will be assisted to alleviate future housing demand and ensure more families can call Mount Isa home sooner.” 

Cloncurry Shire Council Mayor Greg Campbell said making sure the region had the housing supply to support that growth was incredibly important. 

“This project is a great example of the importance of continuing to invest in the infrastructure that turns land into housing. After being funded in Round 1, it is fantastic to now see this project progressing to construction in Round 2 and delivering tangible benefits for our community," Mayor Campbell said. 

“More homes means more opportunities for families, workers and businesses to be part of Cloncurry’s future.” 

Richmond Shire Council Mayor John Wharton said Richmond needed more housing to support the community and the workers and families who were helping drive the region forward. 

“The $16.4 million investment in the Richmond Residential Estate will deliver the roads, stormwater, water and sewer infrastructure needed to unlock 82 new homes,” Mayor Wharton said. 

“That is a significant boost to our local housing supply and will help take pressure off the market by making more land available for new homes. 

“Investing in enabling infrastructure is critical for regional Queensland. This project will help Richmond grow sustainably and ensure we have the housing capacity to support our community into the future.” 

Burke Shire Council Mayor Ernie Camp said unlocking more land for housing was critical to ensuring the community can continue to grow, and this project would make a real difference. 

“This $9.9 million investment will deliver the roads, drainage, sewer and stormwater infrastructure needed to unlock 63 new homes, helping create more housing options for local families and people looking to make Burke Shire their home,” Mayor Camp said. 

“For regional communities like ours, having the right infrastructure in place is essential to unlocking housing supply and supporting our long-term growth. This project will help ensure our region is ready to accommodate that growth.” 

ENDS 

MEDIA CONTACT: Kate Haddan, 0437 334 769