Article: SEQ on track to meet population demands: Minister

[ozbob]

From the Brisbanetimes click here!

SEQ on track to meet population demands: Minister

SEQ on track to meet population demands: Minister
TONY MOORE
January 14, 2010 - 5:49AM

Infrastructure Minister Stirling Hinchliffe says Brisbane City Council will meet its population growth projections, which require 156,000 new dwellings.

Infrastructure Minister Stirling Hinchliffe says Brisbane City Council will meet its population growth projections, which require 156,000 new dwellings. Photo: Rob Homer

The State Government has remained adamant that Queensland was on track to meet population growth demands, with more than 7000 new dwellings approved every year in Brisbane.

The Government's view is at odds with those of Queensland's developers who said more land needed to be freed up for development into new units and houses.

Queensland Property Council executive officer Steve Greenwood this week told brisbanetimes.com.au Brisbane was only approving just 4000 new lots in the infill areas "even in the boom times".

Brisbane City Council could not provide any statistics yesterday. However, Infrastructure Minister Stirling Hinchliffe said information provided to the State Government showed Brisbane was approving 7000 lots each year.

That meant Brisbane City Council would meet its population growth projections, which requires 156,000 new dwellings - or about 7800 houses, apartments and units each year - by 2031.

"Since the commencement of the Regional Plan in 2005, a trend has emerged where there were more than 7000 dwellings approved per annum in Brisbane with more approvals being for dwellings that are of a multiple dwelling or duplex nature," Mr Hinchliffe said.

"If this trend was maintained over the life of the Regional Plan, more dwellings would be provided in Brisbane than the current estimates required to provide for projected population growth."

However, local councils would have to report each year on their progress to meet the targets set by the Regional Plan, with the first report due in the second half this year.

brisbanetimes.com.au yesterday asked Brisbane, Ipswich, Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast and Moreton Bay councils for progress figures in new dwelling approvals.

Apart from Moreton Bay Regional Council, few details were revealed.

Meanwhile, Mr Hinchliffe said it was wrong to suggest that all new lots would be transformed into apartments or 20-storey apartment towers.

"People see higher density only as high-rise towers," he said.

"Higher density can be achieved in a range of ways.

"In some places residential towers might be appropriate, in other places different forms of higher density may be appropriate and throughout our city there will be places were increased densities will not be appropriate.

"Apartments are not the only housing solution required to accommodate a majority of the growth projected."

[Nightwriter]

   These people are insane.

Loudly announcing that the number of dwellings will keep up with demand - but no word about the supporting infrastructure (water, public transport etc) that is required!!!

[#Metro]

Developers pay infrastructure charges directly to council for this purpose, and the same thing from the transaction fees and taxes levied upon those who move into new dwellings to council (rates) and state government.

Now whether they are used wisely by the receiving authority (i.e. throw it down a tunnel) is another thing.

[Mozz]

Interesting re infrastructure and new housing - Springfield had around 20,000 population in 2009 - railway line has been discussed for at least 10 years. I understand that the Railway line is planned (not funded) for 2015/2016 when the population may well be 40,000 the intervening years of 2010 - commissioning of the new line will be interesting. Springfield is around 42km from the Brisbane CBD around 5km more than Ipswich. If government is touting a solution to population growth is to go way west then infrastructure needs to be provided in appropriate timeframes for now and into the future ..... peak oil........