Land Audit paves the way for 600-plus new Gold Coast homes

• At least 650 new dwellings set to be developed across two Gold Coast sites identified through the Queensland Land Audit
• Prime land at Lumina within the Gold Coast Health and Knowledge Precinct will unlock opportunities to provide housing for key workers 
• New housing precinct also in the pipeline for Southport

Two sites identified in the Palaszczuk Government’s land audit will be transformed to deliver hundreds of new homes in one of Queensland’s fastest-growing regions. 

Economic Development Queensland (EDQ) will soon take 17,330 m² of shovel-ready land at Lumina within the thriving Gold Coast Health and Knowledge Precinct to market.

The government will be putting the call out for thoes interested in developing the site to deliver build-to-rent units and/or purpose-built student accommodation that delivers affordable housing.

Depending on the final mix of housing types, it is expected this opportunity would deliver about 500 units, providing accommodation to more than 1000 people. 

The second project is a new housing precinct in the Southport Priority Development Area that will be divided into three stages.

Planning is underway for the first stage - a supportive housing development called the “West Tower” that will include up to 150 dwellings. Occupants would have access to on-site health and employment services and have the support to transition from social-assisted living to independent living.

EDQ, the master developer of the Scarborough Street site, acquired from the Department of Transport and Main Roads, and has started works to prepare the site for subdivision.  

It will work in partnership with the Department of Housing which will deliver the supportive housing West Tower.

The Lumina and Southport land parcels are among 17 shortlisted Queensland Government-owned sites that EDQ has been investigating, with the first project identified through the land audit at Northshore Hamilton now in the market.

Work is also continuing with councils and community and faith-based organisations to identify underutilised land that could potentially be used for housing.

Quotes attributable to Acting Premier Steven Miles:

“Unprecedented housing pressures are being felt across the nation and Queensland is no exception.

“The Palaszczuk Government is committed to unlocking more land to increase housing supply because every Queenslander should have a place to call home.

“This land audit was one of the key outcomes from the Housing Summit, and it’s a great example of finding creative solutions to housing challenges.

“Thirty thousand people are already working, living, and studying in the Gold Coast Health and Knowledge Precinct.

“We are seizing this opportunity at Lumina to deliver more options for our essential workers and students to live near where they work.

“Once complete, the Southport West Tower project will deliver up to Community consultation is currently underway and I’d encourage anyone with concerns to have their say.150 supportive dwellings with the opportunity for further housing developments down the track.”

Quotes attributable to Minister for Housing Meaghan Scanlon:

“I’ve listened to housing and homelessness services on the Gold Coast who have told me about the demand not just for social housing but wraparound support, which is why we’re moving forward with a supportive housing development.

“The Southport site will bring with it the potential to provide on-site supports for people who need additional help to live independently. 

“Lumina is situated in the heart of our health and university precinct, and with it comes the opportunity to provide the type of homes frontline workers and students need that’s close to where they work or study.

“We could of course do more if the LNP would stop blocking social housing investment which could deliver 30,000 homes across the country.”

ENDS

Media Contact: Francis Dela Cruz - 0420 592 078