Warning shot after developer pulls out

A developer’s decision to pull out of Waraba has led Mayor Peter Flannery to tell the State Government to “start getting serious about the housing crisis”.

AV Jennings last night said it was terminating an option at Waraba (formerly Caboolture West) due to “expected costs not aligning with their forecasts”.

Moreton Bay City Council is hopeful the land for AV Jennings’ Rocksberg project will be “quickly snapped up”.

But Mayor Flannery said it was a “timely reminder to the State Government” whose current response is “quite frankly inadequate”.

“There is no doubt that infrastructure and development costs have increased - we’re seeing that across the board,” he said.

“However, we will not meet State Government mandated housing targets if a pipeline of catalytic infrastructure is not prioritised now.

“City of Moreton Bay has done the planning, we know what we need to manage impending growth. We have 12 growth fronts, but all are in underdeveloped areas.

“The fact of the matter is land can’t be turned into housing without infrastructure. Developers need certainty. They can’t just sit on paddocks and wait for their day in the sun!”

Mayor Flannery said council need State support to meet mandated growth targets and wants the State and Federal Governments to “expedite funding for key infrastructure now”.

“We really need the Bruce Highway Western Alternative (BHWA) and Buchanan Road projects to come online to facilitate housing,” he said.

“The State has been talking about the BHWA for years but it’s just another case of infrastructure lagging behind privately-funded development.

“The Federal Budget claimed to have a solution to ease infrastructure bottlenecks and better connect essential services to homes such as roads, water and power, and called for an increase in housing supply.

“But not a dollar has been even offered to City of Moreton Bay for this purpose.”

“With Councils only receiving 3 per cent of tax revenue - it is up to the State and Federal Governments to make a real contribution to infrastructure that will unlock City of Moreton Bay’s huge growth area, so housing targets can be met.

The Mayor warned: “As South East Queensland’s fastest growing city, we expect better and will hold the State to account when their budget comes down in June.”