The Toowoomba Chamber welcomed the announcement from the State Government to address the urgency around the multiple housing issues the people of Queensland are facing.
As you are no doubt aware, many sectors of the business community came together in 2021 and outlined how the current housing crisis is a deterrent to business attraction, is a disincentive to attracting a workforce, and impacts on the ability of businesses to deliver their service affects the image of the city and inhibits business growth and success. They delivered their stories of increased homelessness, lack of land supply, the lowest rental availability on record, affordability challenges, a decrease in service delivery and the inability to house workers in the region. Since then, it is considered that the housing crisis has worsened.
Housing Directly Affects Business
Significantly, solutions nominated by our business leaders at this forum such as repurposing existing buildings are now being identified and openly discussed by Queensland’s business leaders. More importantly key institutions like the Urban Development Institute of Australia are now echoing our view that all land within the Regional Plan, intended for residential uses, to be rezoned by the relevant local authority.
We acknowledge that Toowoomba Regional Council have decided that they do not agree with our view that their proposed regulatory changes will have no meaningful impact on addressing the short-term housing supply crisis.
We also acknowledge that Toowoomba Regional Council has included other policy levers to address the housing crisis such as fee reductions and other incentives.
Have you received an incentive? What was your experience?
The Toowoomba Chamber will continue to make representations to the State government on this important issue. It is clear to me, that the housing crisis is now, front and centre on current government thinking and policy. This view is built on the commitment by the State government to the housing summit, the decision by the Deputy Premier to expand the remit of the Housing Supply Expert Panel to the entire state, and the Queensland government announcement to step in and proactively assist Redland City Council to address their critical housing supply challenges in their region.
We will continue to urge the State government to immediately focus on the Toowoomba Region housing emergency. We need houses for existing residents and accommodation for workers. Without it, homelessness will continue to rise, and the pipeline of incredible projects earmarked for the region, futureproofing it, will be in jeopardy.
Do you think the State Government should step in?
Tell us more by emailing the Toowoomba Chamber admin@tcoc
