Developer tells MPS to demand action on Homebuilder plan Get off your backsides
A TOWNSVILLE developer has called on the city’s government MPS to “get off their backsides” and demand their government resolve a “stalemate” over the Homebuilder scheme.
But Mundingburra MP and State Government minister Coralee O’rourke said it was hoped to finalise implementation measures “in coming days”.
The Federal Government announced the $25,000 HomeBuilder grant four weeks ago, saying they would be available once agreements to manage them were reached with state governments.
Other states including Tasmania, South Australia, the Northern Territory, Western Australia and Victoria have signed up but Queensland and NSW are yet to agree.
Parkside Development director Peter Tapiolas said the city’s building industry had been inundated with prospective home buyers wanting to take advantage of the grants who could now miss out because of timing constraints. To be eligible, con
struction needs to start within three months the contract date.
“With 30 days having passed since the launch of the grant, we are seeing many aspiring home owners’ contracts falling over because their finance applications cannot be progressed,” Mr Tapiolas said.
“Due to extended periods that finance institutions are taking to approve loans, which could be anywhere from six to 10 weeks, there is a real danger that many may miss out.
“I call on the three sitting local Townsville MPS to get off their backsides and demand that the State Government imof mediately sign up to the $25,000 Federal Government grant.”
Ms O’rourke said it was pleasing to hear about the positive impacts COVID-19 economic recovery measures were starting to have.
“Like NSW, Queensland is currently working closely with the Federal Government to finalise implementation measures for the Homebuilder scheme,” she said. “We hope to resolve the outstanding issues in coming days.”
Ms O’rourke said people were able to find out more information and register for updates about the Homebuilder scheme on the State Government’s website at www.qld.gov.au/housing/buying- owning- home/ financialh e l p - c o n c e s s i o n s / homebuilder.
Mr Tapiolas said Townsville’s building industry had been in the doldrums for a decade and had seen the grants, in combination with state incentives, as a game changer.
He said Townsville’s three government MPS should be jumping on a plane to Brisbane and thumping the Premier’s desk to ensure the agreement was signed.