Queensland’s $2 billion Residential Activation Fund (RAF) is rapidly gathering pace, with the Crisafulli Government announcing more projects that will unlock nearly 1,900 new homes across regional Queensland.
The two major announcements include:
- Livingstone Shire: $25 million towards the East West Connector, unlocking up to 1,500 homes in the Hidden Valley Precinct.
- Western Queensland: $41.8 million across 14 local government areas, unlocking 363 homes.
Together, the projects represent a significant investment in regional housing supply and critical infrastructure delivery, and reinforce the government’s promise that at least half of the $2 billion RAF will go to regional and remote Queensland.
Livingstone Shire: A Breakthrough Moment
The RAF’s $25 million investment into Livingstone Shire supports construction of Stage 1 of the East West Connector road project.
The Connector will underpin the Hidden Valley Residential Precinct classified as a priority housing area under the council’s Temporary Local Planning Instrument and is expected to unlock up to 1,500 homes over its first stage.
Deputy Premier and Minister for State Development, Infrastructure and Planning, Jarrod Bleijie, said the project was emblematic of how the RAF is designed to work.
“The Crisafulli Government is delivering on our election commitment to give more Queenslanders a place to call home by funding shovel-ready projects like Stage 1 of the East West Connector, which will be a game-changer for the Livingstone Shire,” he said.
“This project will transform the housing landscape in regional Queensland and give more Queenslanders a place to call home. Partnering with Council to unlock this critical infrastructure will deliver more homes.”
Member for Keppel Nigel Hutton described the funding as “a catalyst for a decade of growth.”
“This is a big win for Keppel with a $25 million investment towards a major priority housing area … which will unlock up to 1,500 new homes in stage one,” he said.
Livingstone Shire Mayor Adam Belot called the announcement a “breakthrough moment” for the Capricorn Coast.
“This is about planning smarter, delivering critical infrastructure upfront and creating the foundations for connected, liveable communities,” Mayor Belot said.
“Stage 1 unlocks the land, Stage 2 delivers the full east–west link, more residential lots and long-term traffic relief. We’ve planned carefully, engaged widely, and we’ll build responsibly. This is a confident step forward, and our community can be assured that we’re not stopping here.”
Western Queensland: 14 Councils, 363 Homes
In Western Queensland, the RAF will deliver $41.8 million across 14 projects in 11 council areas, unlocking 363 homes in towns stretching from St George to Bedourie.
Deputy Premier Bleijie said the timing was critical for communities still recovering from recent flooding.
“Just months after record-breaking rainfall and flooding left a path of destruction in Western Queensland, the Crisafulli Government’s Residential Activation Fund has delivered a $41.8 million investment set to fast-track the delivery of 14 projects, unlocking 363 new homes,” he said.
Projects include:
- Balonne Shire: civil works and stormwater drainage for new estates in St George.
- Murweh Shire: 65 blocks in a new flood-free estate in Charleville.
- Quilpie Shire: trunk infrastructure to finally progress a rural residential estate first approved in 2014, allowing up to 30 dwellings.
- Longreach Regional Council: servicing six Ilfracombe lots inaccessible since 2009.
- Bulloo and Diamantina Shires: trunk water, sewer and road works to enable council-owned land to be developed.
Local mayors emphasised that without RAF support, many of these projects would remain stalled.
“As a rural council, we are heavily reliant on grant funding from other levels of government and this funding will provide the essential infrastructure required to develop additional housing in our Shire,” said Balonne Mayor Samantha O’Toole.
Murweh Mayor Shaun “Zoro” Radnedge said the new estate “offers our residents an opportunity to invest and build out of the flood-prone area to make our community more resilient.”
Quilpie Mayor Ben Hall described the RAF funding as “a pivotal milestone in realising Quilpie Shire’s long-term vision … enabling the construction of up to 30 additional dwellings and strengthening Council’s Q1000 objective to restore the Shire’s population to 1000 residents.”
TGB Take
For builders, suppliers and civil contractors, the RAF is already proving more than just a funding line, it’s a pipeline.
In Livingstone, the East West Connector opens up the largest single greenfield opportunity announced to date. Builders operating across Central Queensland should be preparing now for demand tied to the Hidden Valley Precinct.
In Western Queensland, while the numbers of lots may seem small by metropolitan standards, the social and economic impact of even a dozen new homes in remote towns is profound. Builders in these regions will play a key role not just in constructing houses but in attracting essential workers, retaining families, and ensuring communities remain viable.
As RAF round one continues to roll out, the focus should be clear: aligning infrastructure with real housing outcomes and ensuring that builders and councils are equipped to turn land into homes without delay.
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