A decision by Sunshine Coast Council will pave the way for more affordable housing to be delivered in the region.
Council endorsed a proposal at its January 18 Ordinary Meeting, to provide identified community organisations, which deliver affordable housing on the Sunshine Coast, with a 100 per cent rebate on standard council infrastructure charges, until 2028.
The council share of the levied charge for a three-bedroom dwelling is approximately $16,800 and is subject to indexation.
Sunshine Coast Council Mayor Mark Jamieson said the rebate supported council’s Housing and Homelessness Action Plan 2023 and would support more housing, including separate housing, boarding and emergency facilities, to be delivered for those who needed it most.
“This rebate will greatly reduce the development costs for particular organisations that provide affordable housing on the Sunshine Coast,” Mayor Jamieson said.
“When you consider that the average levied charge for a three-bedroom home is around $16,800, this 100 per cent rebate has the potential to provide significant support for organisations that deliver affordable housing in our region.”
What is affordable housing and who qualifies?
Affordable housing is appropriate to the needs of low-income households in terms of design, location and access to services and facilities.
It is housing where rent paid by households in the lowest 40 per cent of income units does not exceed 30 per cent of gross household income after any applicable Commonwealth Rent Assistance is deducted.
It includes separate housing, as well as boarding and emergency housing and other specialist forms of housing.
The rebate will be made available to entities registered on the national and/or state register as providing community housing services under s37 of the Housing Act 2003. The rebate applies to all forms of affordable housing provided by registered entities that meet the eligibility criteria of the newly adopted changes to Council’s rebate policy.
