A new approach to community housing
Queensland has taken a decisive step in tackling the state’s housing crisis, launching an “always-open” community housing procurement process designed to accelerate the delivery of affordable homes.
The Queensland Community Housing Investment Pipeline (Q-CHIP) is the first initiative of its kind in Australia. It gives registered community housing providers the certainty to bring forward projects at any time, rather than wait for limited grant rounds.
Backed by a record $5.6 billion in housing funding secured in the 2025-26 Budget, plus an ongoing $500 million per year baseline from 2029-30, the Crisafulli Government says Q-CHIP will provide the long-term pipeline the sector has been calling for.
Turning the tide after a “decade of decline”
In announcing the pipeline, Treasurer and Minister for Home Ownership David Janetzki highlighted the urgency.
“Queensland has the lowest percentage of community housing stock in the country – just 16 per cent, compared to 34 per cent in New South Wales and 65 per cent in Tasmania,” Janetzki said.
“Under the previous Labor Government, social housing went backwards. They delivered an average of just 509 homes a year – barely a third of the state’s population growth.”
By contrast, the new government points to almost 6,000 social and community homes already under contract or construction within its first ten months.
Building starts in the south
The announcement was marked with the turning of the sod at Waterford West, where construction has begun on the first 44 of 255 new social and affordable homes for southern Queensland.
Delivered in partnership with Community Housing Queensland Limited (CHQL), the homes will include one- and two-bedroom detached dwellings, duplexes, and townhouses designed to meet the needs of seniors and people with mobility challenges.
The projects – spread across Waterford West, Park Ridge, Marsden, Woodridge, Miles, Chinchilla and Roma – are due to roll out between September 2026 and early 2028.
CHQL state manager Carly Bairstow said the impact would reach well beyond the new builds themselves.
“These projects are about so much more than bricks and mortar. They give older Queenslanders, families, and people waiting on the housing register the security of having a place to truly call home,” Bairstow said.
Ministers call for sector partnership
Housing Minister Sam O’Connor used the launch to extend an open invitation to providers.
“For the first time, we’re open for business all year round. Providers can bring forward projects at any time – not just when the government runs a grant round,” O’Connor said.
“The new process will drive competition, sharpen outcomes, and give providers the certainty to plan and build at scale. Everyone deserves a safe, secure, affordable place to call home – and our target is 53,500 social and community homes by 2044.”
O’Connor emphasised that more than 30 registered community housing providers are already engaged, with opportunities for many more to bring forward proposals through Q-CHIP.
Industry welcomes certainty
The Community Housing Industry Association (CHIA) said the initiative represents a “game-changer” for the sector.
CEO Julie Saunders praised the scale and structure of the government’s commitment.
“Our sector welcomes the record $5.6 billion investment and the launch of Q-CHIP. It gives us the ability to work alongside government to bring forward more projects, more quickly, for Queenslanders who need them most,” Saunders said.
The “always-open” process, she added, would help reduce bottlenecks that often slow delivery and force providers into a stop-start cycle.
Homes built for the future
All 255 homes in the first wave are being designed with accessibility and adaptability front of mind. This includes universal design features to support seniors and residents with mobility challenges.
Encouraging downsizing is also a strategic feature, with the aim of freeing up larger social homes for families in need.
The design mix reflects growing demand for smaller dwellings suited to singles and couples – a trend consistent with national demographic shifts.
Why this matters for the industry
For builders, developers, and suppliers, the launch of Q-CHIP signals a significant new pipeline of work. Unlike traditional short grant programs, the rolling structure provides:
- Certainty of demand: Providers can plan projects knowing government funding is ongoing.
- Diverse opportunities: From detached homes in regional towns to townhouses in growth corridors.
- Clear timelines: Projects already scheduled through to 2028.
- Competitive framework: A system that rewards quality and scale in delivery.
It is also expected to create flow-on demand for trades, materials, and project management in both metropolitan and regional Queensland.
A long-term challenge
While the announcement has been welcomed, experts caution that the scale of need remains daunting. Queensland’s housing register continues to hold tens of thousands of applicants, and community housing currently represents just a fraction of total stock.
The government’s target of 53,500 social and community homes by 2044 is ambitious, and will require consistent delivery year on year.
However, advocates argue that initiatives like Q-CHIP are exactly the kind of systemic changes needed to shift from reactive measures to a sustainable pipeline.
TGB Take
For builders and suppliers, Queensland’s new housing pipeline isn’t just about government policy – it’s about business opportunity and industry responsibility.
This model rewards those who can deliver at scale, in partnership with community providers, while embedding accessibility and liveability into every project.
If it works as intended, it may well become a national benchmark – showing how a transparent, “always-open” procurement process can deliver homes faster and restore confidence in community housing.
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