The social housing dilemma

RATEPAYER-owned land could soon become sites for new social housing developments, as part of a plan being explored by the Toowoomba Regional Council.

Councillors have been presented with a number of council-owned sites across the city that could fit the bill, in a bid to tap into the $2.9b in government funding to create more affordable housing.

The TRC is reportedly exploring options to help meet a serious shortfall in social housing across the wider region that has increased over the years without becoming a developer itself.

As many as 1300 people are currently on the waitlist for public housing in Toowoomba, including more than 500 children.

“We’re looking at local government’s role, so we’re not going to do development ourselves, but there is money in the budget for affordable housing, so how do we get into that bucket of money?” planning and development chair Councillor Megan O’Hara Sullivan said.

“We did a tour down in Brisbane at what Brisbane Housing Company is doing, and we were looking at what levers we could pull.

“The staff have identified lots of land holdings and looked at all the different options.”

But Ms O’Hara Sullivan, who has spearheaded the effort, said the aim was not to create traditional housing options.

Instead, the social housing would be included as part of a mixed use development to promote the council’s push for more liveable and connected communities.

“It’s not just about social housing, it’s about a mix of options to have some available for affordable housing,” Ms O’Hara Sullivan said.

“It’s a better option for everyone to have that mixed use development.

“We had a big session on the benefits and disadvantages in terms of access in relation to open space and connectivity to shopping precincts and transport.”