The news comes as the Queensland government released an action plan on the need for more housing in mining communities.
Recent mixed-density developments have added greater variety to housing stock, providing consumers with more choice in the local market. Moranbah has since seen a gradual shift from the excessive sale and rental prices it was renowned for.
“Housing affordability market extremes are now moderating and the long-term industry future is being underpinned by a strategic long-term investment in infrastructure to return Australia and more importantly Central Queensland to the leading global coal exporter,” A spokesman for Isaac Regional Council told ILN.
“A long-term future is assured on the back of continued inter-generational investment in infrastructure and resource development.”
Current rental prices in Moranbah vary from $350pw to $2800pw. Similarly sale prices are varied. Houses vary from $350,000 to high $800,000s.
Land developments such as Bushlark Grove have supplied much-anticipated vacant land to the market. Land in Moranbah is currently valued at $150,000- $312,000 depending on size and other factors.
Isaac Regional Council’s Belyando Estate will deliver about 1500 residential lots over a 10-year period. This large-scale land development will sustain residential growth and affordable housing in Moranbah and the Isaac Region over the long term.
The largest thermal coal mine on the planet is proposed for the Isaac Regional Council area, which will export more than 1 million tons of coal per week.
“This project alone has the ability to influence the national employment rate through the demand for skilled employees for in excess of six generations,” the spokesperson said.
“The expansion of port and rail infrastructure in and adjacent the region is also a significant driver in the region.”
Meanwhile to assist regional and resource communities meet the shortage of housing in mining communities, the Queensland government has released a plan with more than 100 short-term actions.
The Regional and Resource Towns Action Plan includes a range of initiatives and projects to be undertaken in the next 12–24 months in response to the need for more accommodation in mining towns in the state.
Deputy Premier Jeff Seeney said the document outlined how state and local government could work together to ease land supply and housing problems in resource communities.
“Major planning reform is underway across the state, including the preparation of regional plans for Western Downs, Central Queensland and Cape York, but the pressures in some regional and resource communities means that more immediate action is necessary,” he said.
“For this reason actions were identified to address perceived impediments to development ahead of the outcomes of the regional planning process.
“This plan outlines a series of actions to be undertaken in the next one to two years to help regional resource communities take advantage of the benefits of mining development.
“The issues and actions were identified during a series of 11 regional workshops organised by my department in Dalby, Roma, Mount Isa, Emerald, Toowoomba, Cairns, Rockhampton, Bundaberg, Gladstone, Moranbah and Mackay.
“The actions identified in the plan are specifically targeted to the 11 council areas in which the regional workshops were held.
“A range of stakeholders who play a key role in the development industry participated—from builders and developers, to planners, Mayors and other council representatives.”
The focus of the workshops was on four main themes: current state of housing availability, affordability and diversity in each town; requirements and availability of residential, industrial and commercial land over the next 12 to 24 months; issues which are blocking the availability and release of land supply; and opportunities to address land supply issues.
A range of local and state-wide issues were raised and more than 100 actions have been identified. These include developing vacant state land for an affordable housing project in Chinchilla and investigating a priority development area in Blackwater.
“This plan offers a clear way forward in the short term for a number of Queensland mining and resource communities,” Seeney said.
“The plan will be provided to the 11 councils who were part of the workshops. These councils will then work with my department to deliver on the actions.”
