MARCOOLA is soon to be home to a new group of residents who will have a secure place to call home, which is affordable, and the project could not have come at a better time, with a rental shortage across the region.
The modular housing project is situated behind Chemist Warehouse on David Low Way, and the first tenants, who are low-income but key workers, are being welcomed by Sunshine Coast Council with the support of the Queensland Government.
The project comprises 22 modular homes located on 11 Council-owned properties at Marcoola. It includes four three-bedroom homes, seven two-bedroom dwellings and 11 one-bedroom homes that feature decks and outdoor areas.
The first eight homes were unveiled on Tuesday, June 17, with the remainder to become available in coming months for eligible, low-income individuals, couples and families.
Coast2Bay Housing Group CEO Andrew Elvin said his group was excited to be managing 22 new homes in partnership with Sunshine Coast Council and the Queensland Government.
“The homes will be offered to rent at 74.9 per cent of market rent, offering genuinely affordable solutions for singles, couples and small families working in the local area,” Mr Elvin said.
“We applaud Sunshine Coast Council for seeking innovative approaches to housing.”
The modular build allowed the project to be built quickly.
“By utilising vacant land and a modular prefabrication approach, this provides more rapid outcomes for those in need of affordable homes.”
Sunshine Coast Mayor Rosanna Natoli said the Marcoola project opened a new door for affordable housing on the Sunshine Coast.
“As we know, the property crunch is being experienced across the nation, especially in popular places like the Sunshine Coast, which means many low-income workers are being forced to move away.”
The project will be aiming to house workers in fields such as health and hospitality.
“There is more work to be done to retain our key workers, but this project shows the way.”
Member for Maroochydore, Fiona Simpson, said she was proud to mark the local project’s milestone.
“This specific project for essential workers is a first for the Sunshine Coast region, and I’m thrilled to have it in the Maroochydore electorate,” Minister Simpson said.
Where to next?
The Queensland Government is committed to delivering 53,500 social and community homes by 2044, with a strong focus on partnerships with the community housing sector and unlocking land for community housing projects.
The Queensland Government is delivering a range of initiatives to support social and affordable housing, including through the $2 billion Housing Investment Fund.
Coast2Bay Housing Group is actively working with all levels of Government to try to bring forward more affordable housing supply urgently.
Sunshine Coast Council has successfully secured agreements with the Queensland Government’s Housing Investment Fund and is exploring further opportunities with the Federal Government’s National Housing Accord.
These efforts aim to maximise the delivery of affordable housing through innovative funding and delivery models.
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