Article: Southeast Queensland growth may outstrip planning

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Southeast Queensland growth may outstrip planning

Southeast Queensland growth may outstrip planning
Article from: The Courier-Mail

Craig Johnstone

June 11, 2008 12:00am

THE Bligh Government's $107 billion infrastructure program for southeast Queensland might not be enough to accommodate future growth in the region, the state's peak development organisation says.

The Urban Development Institute of Australia's Queensland branch also insisted some land currently set aside for rural production or green open space needed to be released for new development.

But UDIA state chief executive Brian Stewart said the development industry was also concerned about the "effective maintenance" of the region's green space.

The Courier-Mail reported that the State Government had moved to take the brakes off urban sprawl by flagging the expansion of southeast Queensland's so-called urban footprint, which is meant to keep rampant development in check.

Despite widespread criticism of the move, Premier Anna Bligh said the review would address the problem of housing affordability.

"Getting the balance right between where we will develop and where we will not is important to ensuring that young people can own their own home and that houses in the southeast corner do not escalate (so much) in price that it puts them beyond the reach of young families," Ms Bligh said.

She defended the decision to keep any expansion of the urban footprint secret until the release of a draft new regional plan, expected by the end of the year, saying the move was meant to stop land speculation.

Mr Stewart said the UDIA was pleased the review of the regional plan had been brought forward because land supply was one of the big issues affecting housing affordability.

He said the Government, developers and councils were "all on the same page".

"We want the best planning for the future that we possibly can," he said.

But he said it was time to ask questions about whether the Government's $107 billion plan to build roads, water assets and other public infrastructure to cope with the region's rapid growth would be enough.

"It's a lot of money but we are only at the point of catch-up," he said.