IN A HUGE win for low-income earners and those struggling to find affordable housing a new housing project run in conjunction between Sunshine Coast Regional Council and the Queensland State Government will see 22 new affordable homes built on 11 sites across Marcoola.
The project will include self-contained one, two and three-bedroom modular homes to cater for low-income singles, couples and small family households, with a focus on key workers.
The modular homes will be factory-built and will include private decks and outdoor areas.
The collaboration with Council is part of the state’s ‘Homes for Queenslanders’ plan to deliver one million more homes.
Division 8 Councillor Taylor Bunnag said that Council was very aware of the housing crisis.
“The housing crisis is a situation that is difficult to quickly rectify and the provision of 22 households in beautiful Marcoola, although small in number, is a significant commitment by Council in moving towards addressing this issue.
“Without this investment, key workers who are critical to our economy and work in a range of health, social assistance, retail and hospitality sectors, will increasingly find it difficult to secure housing.
“With significant growth in these industries forecasted, the need for more affordable housing for this workforce is necessary to keep locals on the Sunshine Coast.”
These sentiments were backed up by Mayor Rosanna Natoli.
“Access to affordable housing creates the foundations for our community members to build stable and productive lives. It is also critical to attract the skills we need on the Sunshine Coast to continue to prosper.”
“Sunshine Coast Council is so pleased to see this project come to fruition after more than two years of work, from identifying the land, working on the concept and applying for funding.”
Mayor Natoli stated that the project was possible through collaborating with the Queensland Government.
“It’s a great example of how working together can make our community even stronger!”
Housing Minister Meaghan Scanlon said that homes would be modular and built by both the public builder QBuild and Queensland businesses.
“They take less time to build than conventional construction, and because they’re built inside a factory, aren’t hampered by weather delays during construction.
“That’s why our Homes for Queenslanders plan is pulling every lever possible, whether that’s supporting community housing projects through our Housing Investment Fund, buying former retirement villages, accommodation parks and hotels, or rolling out more modular homes.”
It was also announced that Coast2Bay Housing Group would be managing the homes with CEO Andrew Elvin excited by the announcement.
“Coast2Bay Housing Group is the largest community housing provider in this region, and we look forward to supporting the new tenants to thrive in the community.
“We applaud the Sunshine Coast Council for seeking innovative approaches to housing and by utilising vacant land and a modular prefabrication approach, the homes can be delivered in a shorter time frame compared to traditional construction methods.
“Ultimately, this provides more rapid outcomes for those in need of affordable homes.”
For more information on the project please visit – www.coast2bay.com.au