By Dominique Tassell
Southern Downs Regional Council touched on the housing crisis at the information session on Wednesday 16 February.
While discussing a review of the corporate plan, Mayor Vic Pennisi raised concerns about housing.
He asked when the other councillors felt it would be time to make a decision on housing, such as emergency housing for people moving to town for council jobs.
Councillor McDonald raised this could be included in the planning scheme.
Chief executive officer Dave Burges stated they could put a goal to make planning applications easier in the corporate plan.
Mayor Pennisi again asked when those present thought council should intervene.
Mr Burges stated retention of staff has been an issue for the council.
The next day, Mayor Pennisi reiterated his concerns.
“Is it time for council to build some townhouses or houses? Because we’re finding that when we ask people to come here because of the jobs, they can’t because there’s no accommodation.”
“It’s something the council will need to discuss,” he said. “Until that discussion takes place, there’s no formal position of council.”
“I think as a result of yesterday, there’ll be a report at some stage come to council for us to have that discussion.
“Whether it’s time or not for council to intervene in some way, I don’t know.
“We’ll see where the discussion … it’s up to those nine people around the table.”
Mr Burges once more stated it has been difficult to attract people to the region.
It was raised that selling off land such as the current Rose City FM site and the Clintonvale site mentioned in the parks optimisation program would free up land to be developed in the region for housing.
