- Construction is underway on 114 new homes in Southport, reversing another failed housing plan by the former Labor Government.
- The development will deliver a mix of homes within the Gold Coast Health and Knowledge Precinct.
- The Crisafulli Government is building Queensland’s future after a decade of decline under Labor saw Queenslanders locked out of the housing market as vacancy rates plummeted to record-lows.
Work is now underway to deliver 114 new homes on the Gold Coast, reversing a failed housing plan for the site by the former Labor Government that delivered no homes.
The new Kin development by Azure will deliver a mix of a mix of three-bedroom terrace homes and one and two-bedroom apartment-style residences across the 1.7-hectare site within Southport’s Health and Knowledge Precinct.
The first sod was turned today, ending another sorry chapter of mismanagement by the former Labor Government that contributed to its Housing Crisis.
In its dying months, the former Labor Government spruiked plans for more than 800 apartments at the site, but the project failed as it was unfunded and the proponent couldn’t deliver it.
The Crisafulli Government has ensured real homes are built on the site, with Economic Development Queensland working with new proponent Azure to deliver greater housing choice alongside the precinct’s existing build-to-rent community.
The development is also part of the Parklands Priority Development Area which ensures unnecessary red tape and other barriers are removed to fast-track and deliver much needed new homes on the Gold Coast.
Economic Development Queensland worked with Azure during pre-lodgement of the Development Application to ensure a streamlined and accelerated process and granted approval within 29 business days, enabling construction to commence sooner.
Construction is expected to be complete in 2028.
Labor’s collapsed plan for the site is in addition to the former Government’s failed $1.7 billion Ground Lease Model, would have cost approximately $2.4 million per dwelling, and which also delivered zero homes.
Deputy Premier and Minister for State Development, Infrastructure and Planning Jarrod Bleijie said seeing construction underway showed the Crisafulli Government was getting on with addressing Labor’s Housing Crisis.
“Queenslanders were promised housing projects that never left the drawing board for too long. The Crisafulli Government is changing that by unlocking more supply that delivers actual new homes,” Deputy Premier Jarrod Bleijie said.
“Tucked perfectly in the Gold Coast Health and Knowledge Precinct and close to shops, dining and parkland, this will be the perfect place to call home for more Gold Coasters.
“The Crisafulli Government is pulling every lever we can to tackle Labor’s Housing Crisis and Economic Development Queensland got cracking to ensure these homes come out of the ground as soon as possible.
“Availability equal affordability and a record 52,500 homes are under construction in Queensland right now, highlighting the Crisafulli Government’s record investment and efforts to unlock and fast-track housing supply across the state.”
Minister for Housing and Public Works and Member for Bonney Sam O’Connor said the Southport project was another example of the Crisafulli Government working with industry to deliver a real place to call home.
“Housing is one of the biggest issues facing Gold Coasters but for too long our city was ignored by Labor or given false promises on sites like this which turned out to be undeliverable,” Minister O’Connor said.
“We will be delivering real homes here on this key Southport site after almost a decade where mowing was the only thing the former Labor government did here.
“These 114 beautiful new homes will create more opportunity for people who aspire to achieve home ownership on the Gold Coast, especially for our health workers at GCUH just next door, and I can’t wait to see them come out of the ground.”
Azure Founder Trent Keirnan said Kin highlighted what can be achieved when government and industry work together to accelerate housing supply.
“Today is a significant milestone for both Azure and EDQ. Kin is the first project we’re delivering together, and it’s built on a shared goal of providing quality, design-led homes to the community sooner,” Mr Keirnan said.
“The collaboration between our teams has been outstanding. EDQ worked closely with us from day one, and the efficient turnaround of the approval process has allowed us to commence construction time. When government and industry are aligned on the same outcome, homes get delivered faster – and that’s exactly what Queensland needs right now.”
