Development Incentives: Moreton Bay Regional Council

As part of Queensland Government’s $2 billion Housing Investment Fund Moreton Bay Regional Council is offering to remit part or all of the development application fees and infrastructure charges to incentivise private sector construction of affordable social housing. Where in the Priority Affordable Social Housing Area (PASHA), 100% of application fees and 100% of the infrastructure charges are eligible to be remitted. Where in the Affordable Social Housing Area (ASHA), 100% of the application fees and 50% of the infrastructure charges are eligible to be remitted.

An applicant can apply to Council to remit the application fees and infrastructure charges if:

• A Development Approval has been given for Residential Development;
• Evidence is provided to the Council’s satisfaction that the development contains an Affordable Social Housing component;
• The Development Approval takes effect between 1 July 2022 and 30 June 2027 inclusive;
• Building work is substantially commenced within two years of the development approval taking effect or by 30 June 2028, whichever is the earliest;
• The development commences use in accordance with the relevant period under the Planning Act 2016 or by 30 June 2029, whichever is the earliest;
• An infrastructure agreement is provided to Council executed by a Registered Community Housing Provider requiring the Affordable Social Housing to be provided for a period of not less than 15 years.

The facility will need to be managed by a community housing provider, but the building can remain privately owned by the developer. Where the owner of the property is not a Registered Community Housing Provider, an instrument of covenant is prepared and provided to Council which requires the Affordable Social Housing component of the development to only be used for Affordable Social Housing.

Affordable Social Housing means housing which is:

1. Affordable Housing “housing that is appropriate to the needs of households with low to moderate incomes, if the members of the households will spend no more than 30% of gross income on housing costs” – Schedule 4 of the Planning Regulation 2017;
2. owned or leased by a Registered Community Housing Provider (that is registered on the National Register or State Register); and managed by a Registered Community Housing Provider that is registered on the National Register or State Register.

Eligible suburbs include:

• Caboolture
• Morayfield
• Burpengary
• Deception Bay
• Kippa-ring
• Redcliffe
• Petrie
• Lawnton
• Strathpine
• Albany Creek
• Arana Hills
• Ferny Grove.

This policy does not apply to a Development Approvals for reconfiguring a lot.