Tag Archives: heritage

South Brisbane & South Townsville top Qld in building approvals so far in 2017-18

Posted on April 12, 2018 by

In my last post, I considered the Queensland construction industry outlook. In today’s post, I take advantage of new data on building approvals at the small area level (ABS SA2 regions) for 2017-18 so far released by the ABS yesterday. … Continue reading →

Posted in Brisbane, Housing, Townsville, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Still lots of room to boost population density in Brisbane

Posted on April 3, 2017 by

The vexed issue of heritage protection is in the news again, with controversy over the development of two apartment blocks behind the 1886 Clayfield heritage home Mundumburrah”, which will be raised and brought forward on its lot to accommodate the … Continue reading →

Posted in Housing, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

Grattan book City Limits highlights problems with current planning and transport policies

Posted on March 31, 2015 by

Jane Frances-Kelly and Paul Donegan, formerly and currently of the Grattan Institute respectively, had an excellent book published earlier this month called City Limits, which argues strongly for cutting red tape from town planning processes, introducing congestion charging for roads, … Continue reading →

Posted in Housing, Tax, Transport | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

State & local govts need to allow development to boost housing supply – Gap mega-suburb would be a good start

Posted on March 13, 2015 by

Now that likely future PM Malcolm Turnbull has highlighted the “big supply side issue” in Australia’s housing market (see yesterday’s Australian), it would be timely for State and local governments around Australia to review their regulations and charges, which many … Continue reading →

Posted in Housing | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Local government regulatory reform process fails to stop silly heritage listings in Townsville

Posted on October 30, 2014 by

In its report on cutting red tape last year, the Queensland Competition Authority noted that “the Government will consult with local government in late 2013 on a regulatory reform program for local governments.” This consultation obviously didn’t achieve much, because … Continue reading →

Posted in Housing, Townsville | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

Heritage protection imposing high costs

Posted on May 18, 2014 by

The head of the Financial Stability Department at the Reserve Bank of Australia, Luci Ellis, delivered an excellent speech last week on Space and Stability: Some reflections on the Housing-Finance System. In the speech she observed: The cumulation of individual … Continue reading →

Posted in Housing | Tagged , , , , , , | 6 Comments

Senate inquiry should consider impact of heritage protection on housing affordability

Posted on May 6, 2014 by

I was pleased to see the Queensland Government note, in its submission (available on the submissions page) to the Federal Senate Inquiry into Affordable Housing in Australia, that “local government must be more responsive and flexible if improved housing affordability is to … Continue reading →

Posted in Housing | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 10 Comments