New water plant, better roads to boost housing
Residential Activation Fund is 'pulling every lever to increase housing supply because you can’t build homes without infrastructure'.
MAJOR multi-million dollar infrastructure projects are set to unlock the potential for almost 20,000 new homes in Toowoomba and the Lockyer Valley area of Queensland.
The latest projects will deliver the critical trunk infrastructure needed to unlock land for residential development.
Firstly, a $145 million investment in Toowoomba Regional Council will deliver the Southern Water Treatment Plant in the Toowoomba region.
It will see a new trunk water treatment facility, reservoir, booster pump station and trunk water mains service the city’s southern and south-western growth corridors, including Westbrook, Drayton, Wellcamp, Mount Rascal, Kearneys Spring and Middle Ridge.
The project is expected to unlock at least 17,000 new residential lots, with capacity to support even more homes into the future.
Secondly, the Queensland Government is also backing road upgrades at Woodchester Estate in Gatton with $9.8 million, which will deliver essential roadworks, gully crossings and associated stormwater and electrical infrastructure, unlocking more than 2800 lots.
The Residential Activation Fund is a key pillar of the government’s plan to unlock housing supply by investing in enabling infrastructure that brings forward new residential development across Queensland.
Delivering more supply through the Crisafulli Government’s Residential Activation Fund not only provides more rental availability, but it opens the door to home ownership for more Queenslanders.
The program has now unlocked capacity for more than 100,000 homes statewide.
Premier David Crisafulli said the government was unlocking home ownership for more Queenslanders.
“We made a commitment we’d do everything we could to deliver a place to call home for more Queenslanders and that’s what this is all about,” Crisafulli said.
“This is a significant step in the right direction for Toowoomba and the Lockyer Valley and it’s part of our plan to build Queensland’s future.”
Jarrod Bleijie, deputy premier and minister for state development, infrastructure and planning, said the investment was a clear demonstration of the government’s commitment.
“The RAF is pulling every lever to increase housing supply because you can’t build homes without the roads, water and sewerage infrastructure to support them.
“These projects will unlock almost 20,000 more homes for Queenslanders while supporting growing communities in Toowoomba and the Lockyer Valley.
“Availability equals affordability and by ensuring supply is unlocked, while also delivering a record number of social and affordable homes and support for first homebuyers, we’re delivering for Queenslanders.”
Toowoomba Regional Council mayor Geoff McDonald said this was a landmark moment for the Toowoomba region and a transformational investment in the future.
“This funding is about much more than water infrastructure. It’s about creating the foundations for new communities, new neighbourhoods, new jobs and new opportunities for generations of Queenslanders,” McDonald said.
“The Toowoomba region is one of Queensland’s great regional success stories. People are choosing to live here, businesses are choosing to invest here and families are choosing to build their futures here.
“The Southern Water Treatment Plant is exactly that type of region-shaping infrastructure. It will unlock the capacity needed to support up to 33,000 future homes across our region and help ensure Toowoomba remains one of Queensland’s most liveable and prosperous regional centres.”
