The Queensland Government has used money from its $1 billion Housing Investment Fund to buy 85 beach cabins and convert them into social and affordable housing for struggling families.
Housing Minister Megan Scanlon said the Miles Government had helped buy Barney Beach Accommodation in Gladstone to meet long-term housing needs – as part of a plan to deliver an additional one million homes including 53,500 to meet social housing needs.
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Property owned by the family of Olympic swimming champion Ariarne Titmus
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The beach cabins are located 80 metres from Gladstone’s only beach, and some of the cabins have “amazing harbour views” according to the booking sites they are listed on.
“We make no apologies for using the Housing Investment Fund to deliver more homes faster during construction,” Ms Scanlon said.
“Our Homes for Queenslanders plan is taking full advantage of all the possibilities available, whether that’s buying up former retirement villages, residential parks and hotels; or building model homes and supporting the Federal Government’s Help to Buy scheme.”
The Friend St project, in partnership with affordable housing developer Roseberry Community Services, will see 20 social housing units and 65 affordable homes delivered within 80 metres of Gladstone’s only beach.
Queensland Housing Minister Megan Scanlon is on a mission to get as many homes as possible into the pipeline. Photo: Liam Kidston
“The LNP has made it clear that it will not use the fund to buy homes, which means it does not support projects like this partnership with Rosebery,” Ms Scanlon said.
“Instead of supporting more homes through initiatives like this, the LNP is too busy preventing 8,000 Queenslanders from buying their own homes by blocking Help to Buy legislation.”
The purchase comes as New Proptrack Data It found that rental price growth rose by 3.3 per cent in Brisbane and 4.2 per cent in regional Queensland in the past year, now standing at $620 per week statewide.
Beach cabins are being redesigned to provide safe housing “for those who need it most.”
“By repurposing the existing buildings at Barney Beach, now called Friend Street Village, we are increasing access to affordable homes and creating a place where individuals and families can live safe and fulfilling lives in safe environments,” said Rosebery Queensland General Manager Joe Baringatai.
Glaston MP Glenn Butcher said it was an example of the government doing what was important, by securing 85 homes for the community.
Barney Beach housing in Gladstone will now be used to meet long-term social and affordable housing needs.
View the latest housing price index from PROPTRACK
The move follows the state government’s purchase of a former serviced apartment in Gladstone to create 34 self-contained social homes in partnership with Regional Housing Limited, and the purchase of a former hotel in central Brisbane and a former retirement village with 124 homes in Logan.
Rosebery board chair Erin Robertson said the project would provide “safe and secure homes for those who need them most”.
*The Gladstone Housing Service Centre can be reached on 07 4899 2400 during business hours or the 24/7 Homeless Hotline can be contacted on 1800 474 753.
