The Property Council has raised concerns over comments made by Lord Mayor Campbell that the powers of the Urban Land Development Authority (ULDA) would be wound back under a LNP State Government.
Property Council of Australia Queensland division executive director, Kathy Mac Dermott said, the ULDA has demonstrated community outcomes can be achieved when planning approvals are quick and infrastructure charges low.
“The reality is that a number of councils are not delivering their planning and development assessment functions in a timely manner,” she said.
“Added to this, many are making housing unaffordable because of high infrastructure charges and a lack of sound infrastructure planning.”
However Ms Mac Dermott claimed the ULDA cut through the quagmire.
She said the Property Council supports a medium-term approach to mainstream a number of the powers the ULDA to councils with a demonstrated capacity to deliver.
“We also believe the State must chart a course to evolve the ULDA into an entity primarily focused on ensuring adequate land supply in designated growth areas by 2015,” Ms Mac Dermott said.
According to Ms Mac Dermott, Lord Mayor Campbell Newman represented a large and well resourced local government.
“He has ensured his council has had a focus on delivering housing and importantly employment-focused development,” she said.
“However, other councils have shirked their responsibilities in this space and the Property Council is nervous about the prospect of winding back the ULDA and giving councils with such a track record more power.”
According to Ms Mac Dermott, CR Newman must send a message to councils that any additional powers that may come their way under a change of state government will coincide with much higher levels of delivery and accountability.
“The Lord Mayor must recognise that Queensland has lost its competitiveness with other states and councils have played their part in creating this problem,” she claimed.
“Until councils are meeting the benchmarks set by the ULDA the body remains vital to delivering affordable housing across the State.”
Do you agree with Ms Mac Dermott?
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I do agree with her in part. I believe there is a part for the ulda to play in developing both large and small projects that deliver affordable housing outcomes across Queensland.
I believe there is a major role to be played by a similar authority to the ulda or an off shut of it in the development of Smaller projects that are less then 10 hect. in area. The development of specific projects within established urban areas with affordable housing prospects and existing infrastructure should be given priority by the ulda. The development of satellite suburbs where no employment opportunities exist is futile. Maybe Campbell Newman can see another alternative to the ulda that operates at the local level. Campbell Newman as Premier of Queensland will review the overall process of land availability and affordable housing and make a determination if the ulda
In it’s current form is the right mechanism to achieve the desirable outcomes for Queensland.