Speed it up

Neither government nor the private sector themselves are the solution for housing

The best results come when people and organisations join forces and deliver what neither can individually. Society is fundamentally a puzzle which works when the pieces fit together for the collective good and it relies on everyone doing their part.

When it comes to solving the Gold Coast’s housing crisis, it has been clear for some time that the state government has not got the answer on this issue.

Then again, neither does the Opposition or the private sector, which is struggling to keep up with the mountain of work it has.

The biggest issue is of course at the lower end of the market, where social housing is scarce.

The worst thing which could happen to the city in the long run would for it to become the exclusive domain of the top end of the market, with those not as cashed-up being forced out of the market.

So how does that happy medium where the right mix of housing is achievable get reached?

It will take a union between government and the private sector.

This isn’t a new suggestion.

Leading developer Soheil Abedian, who has been building here for 41 years and delivered the Q1 among many other landmark projects, last year urged the state government to outsource fixing the city housing crisis to private developers, saying they can do it faster than politicians “could ever dream”.

He also argued the solution to many of society’s ills is to have rich and poor alike in the same buildings to create more social cohesion and ensure locals weren’t priced out of the city.

He’s now been joined by leading construction entrepreneur Tamika Smith who argues governments need to engage the private sector and stop adding to building costs if they are to have any hope of meeting ambitious housing targets.

Ms Smith, who spearheaded efforts to build a new home for murdered Gold Coast mum Kelly Wilkinson’s children, said governments needed to incentivise the private sector to deliver housing rather than trying to do it themselves.

The onus is now on governments and the private sector to reach an accord.