Council calls on LGAQ and Council of Mayors to help in fight for protection of local planning schemes

Noosa Council has taken its concerns over the state’s plan to override local councils and their planning schemes in the delivery of affordable housing to peak advocacy groups the Local Government Association of Queensland (LGAQ) and Council of Mayors (SEQ). 

Council is concerned bypassing local planning controls to deliver affordable housing will change the face of local areas and not adequately guarantee long-term affordability.

Council has provided a submission to the state objecting to the changes that enable developers to bypass councils and have the minister approve applications that include proposals with a minimum 15% affordable housing component.

“We have serious concerns over vague definitions of affordable housing and how these allow developers to bypass councils’ development assessment powers, and we’re pleased the LGAQ and Council of Mayors are responding to the issue,” Mayor Frank Wilkie said.

“We support the provision of more social and community housing in the draft, but the new definition of affordable housing looks to deliver just more units onto the open market without any guarantee they will remain affordable over the long-term. This is a matter that affects all Queensland councils.

“The amendments the state has now announced to the Planning Regulation 2017, Minister’s Guidelines and Rules (MGR) and the Development Assessment Rules (DA Rules) creates a state-facilitated pathway to deliver affordable housing.

“Unfortunately, it does so by permitting development declared by the Minister to completely bypass councils as assessors for any development that has an affordable housing component – no matter how small.

“The state introduced the Housing Availability and Affordability (Planning and Other Legislation) Amendment Bill 2023 last year, but at the time the mechanisms by which they planned to deliver their affordable housing goals weren’t outlined, until mid-April 2024,” Mayor Wilkie said.

“Whilst the provisions do indicate some engagement with local government the reforms only require that the state ‘may’ consider local planning schemes and overlays such as Noosa’s heritage and biodiversity overlays when deciding to approve a development, which is very worrying.

“This could see a proliferation of developments in areas completely at odds with local planning schemes and the development controls that have long shaped our shire.”

Council’s Development and Regulation Director Richard MacGillivray said the state’s definition of affordable housing was also very vague.

“There are concerns that the provisions do not provide sufficient assurance that the affordable housing component will be maintained over the long-term.

“The process includes a shortened public consultation period, however there are no appeal rights for communities to object to a development the state approves on the basis it will deliver affordable housing.

“The whole process needs much more rigour to give local communities assurance the state’s plan to roll out more affordable housing will not erode the character and amenity of Queensland towns and villages and lead to poor long-term development outcomes,” Mayor Wilkie added.