Queensland seeks proposals for $2 billion housing infrastructure fund

Queensland has opened applications for its $2 billion Residential Activation Fund aimed at building infrastructure to support new housing developments across the state.

The government has called on developers and councils to submit infrastructure proposals related to shovel-ready housing projects.

Funding will primarily target new roads but will also consider essential enabling infrastructure such as water supply, sewerage, stormwater and power facilities.

The Residential Activation Fund forms part of the Crisafulli Government’s “Securing Our Housing Foundations Plan,” which aims to construct one million new homes in Queensland by 2044.

Premier David Crisafulli has indicated that the funding will be distributed over two decades rather than spent all at once.

At least 50 per cent of the funding will be allocated to projects outside south-east Queensland, ensuring regional areas beyond Brisbane, the Gold Coast and the Sunshine Coast receive substantial investment.

The first round of applications is open to both infill and greenfield sites, with the government prioritising shovel-ready projects where infrastructure spending will expedite home completion.

Projects must be ready to begin construction within the coming year.

Selection criteria will include assessment of “local need for housing, as well as demand, scale and benefit to the community”.

Mr Crisafulli said the funding would remove development delays often caused by insufficient infrastructure.

“This unlocks land to build more homes sooner, opening the door to home ownership earlier to ease the housing crisis and drive down costs for Queenslanders,” Mr Crisafulli said.

Deputy Premier and Minister for State Development, Jarrod Bleijie, urged stakeholders to take advantage of the opportunity.

“We want to see houses coming out of the ground as quickly as possible, and I urge councils, developers and landowners to submit their applications for the Residential Activation Fund,” Mr Bleijie said.