The Crisafulli Government has launched a new Land Activation Program aimed at accelerating housing delivery by unlocking underutilised, government-owned land across Queensland and partnering with the private sector to bring sites to market.
The program, to be led by Economic Development Queensland (EDQ), is positioned as a key pillar of the Government’s broader housing strategy, which includes a long-term target of delivering one million new homes by 2044.
Under the Land Activation Program, private sector proponents will be able to identify surplus or underused state-owned sites and register their interest in developing them for housing. EDQ will assess proposals to determine whether land is genuinely surplus to government needs and suitable for residential development.
First site released in Banyo
The first site to be released under the program is more than six hectares of vacant government-owned land in Banyo, in Brisbane’s north. The site is expected to support up to 400 new homes and is located close to existing public transport, schools, and retail amenities.
According to the Government, further sites will be released progressively across the state as part of the program.
The Land Activation Program also formalises a “use it or house it” policy, under which state land that is no longer required for operational purposes, or has no foreseeable future use, is to be prioritised for housing outcomes.
Housing supply pressures remain acute
The announcement comes amid ongoing housing supply challenges across Queensland, including low rental vacancy rates, rising construction costs, and increased pressure on social housing.
Government figures indicate that housing lot approvals fell by 29 per cent during the previous decade, contributing to supply constraints and affordability pressures. Queensland continues to record one of the lowest home ownership rates in the country.
The new program sits within the Government’s Securing Our Housing Foundations Plan, which aims to address these structural constraints by increasing land availability, streamlining approvals, and reducing delays between land identification and housing delivery.
Comparison with former ground lease approach
The Government has drawn a clear distinction between the Land Activation Program and the former Ground Lease Model proposed under the previous administration.
A KPMG review of the Ground Lease Model, commissioned prior to the change of government and later released publicly, estimated the program would cost $1.7 billion to deliver 715 dwellings. The Crisafulli Government has cited this assessment as evidence of the need for alternative approaches that rely more heavily on private sector delivery and reduced direct public expenditure.
Deputy Premier and Minister for State Development, Infrastructure and Planning Jarrod Bleijie said the new program was focused on increasing supply more quickly while limiting taxpayer exposure.
“The intent is to partner with industry to bring development-ready land to market sooner, rather than leaving sites unused while housing pressures continue to build,” Mr Bleijie said.
He added that the Banyo site had remained vacant for several years despite its proximity to established infrastructure and services.
Industry response
The property sector has broadly welcomed the announcement, with industry groups long calling for a more systematic approach to identifying and activating surplus government land.
Property Council of Australia Queensland Executive Director Jess Caire said the program addressed a longstanding gap in housing supply policy.
“Identifying and activating underutilised government land is critical to unlocking the new housing supply Queensland urgently needs,” Ms Caire said.
She added that industry was seeking clarity and consistency around site selection, assessment criteria, and delivery timelines to ensure land releases translate into completed homes.
Assessment and next steps
EDQ will assess industry proposals against a set of criteria designed to ensure land brought forward is genuinely surplus and suitable for residential use. This process is intended to prioritise sites that can be delivered efficiently and contribute meaningfully to housing supply.
The Government has indicated that the Land Activation Program will evolve over time as more sites are identified and brought through the assessment process.
For builders, developers, and suppliers, the program may create new opportunities to engage with government-owned land that has previously remained unavailable or inactive.
More information and details on how to register interest are available via Economic Development Queensland.
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