Council launches housing roadmap to tackle critical shortage
Published on 13 August 2026
Flinders Shire Council is taking action to address a critical housing shortage and other long-term challenges for the region, launching a housing roadmap alongside a community strengths and needs assessment.
The Flinders Shire Council Housing Strategy assesses housing need over the next 20 years within the context of current housing and vacant residential land supply, market conditions, and projected demand based on population and employment growth, as well as the delivery of key major projects within Flinders Shire.
It identifies an existing gap of at least 35 dwellings for key workers, which could reach 90 dwellings by 2030 as major projects get underway, as well as a need for increased housing diversity to provide for older residents, key workers and young people seeking a convenient, low maintenance option.
Key constraints holding back the delivery of new housing include the ability to service and deliver lots and dwellings at the required speed due to a lack of trades; the availability of finance for private builds, including for first-home buyers; and the need for a significant upgrade or replacement of existing stock to meet the needs of new workers and residents.
Flinders Shire Mayor Kate Peddle said the Housing Strategy provided a comprehensive, evidence-based framework to meet current and future housing needs.
“While it paints a dire picture of the current housing market, it also provides clear, actionable goals and opportunities to improve housing availability and affordability using a range of advocacy, planning, funding, and infrastructure measures,” said Mayor Peddle.
“Council is already working to address the identified needs and barriers; we are actively seeking funding through a major project proponent to commence construction of new Council-owned units to meet a shortfall in staff housing.
“We are also urging the Queensland Government to expand the agricultural First Start Loan Scheme to tradespeople and professionals seeking to establish or buy into a business in regional Queensland to help alleviate the shortage of skilled labour and entrepreneurs.
“We will use the Housing Strategy, coupled with a community strengths and needs assessment commissioned by Council, to drive advocacy to support housing and broader economic development outcomes for Flinders Shire.”
Flinders Shire Council has launched a Housing Strategy to meet current and future housing needs.
The Community Strengths and Needs Assessment (CSNA) identifies that increasing housing supply and diversity will help address other long-term challenges, such as attracting and retaining workers in critical sectors including trades, childcare, health and essential services.
Using available socioeconomic data and targeted community engagement, the CSNA examines 116 indicators across seven community capitals, assessing them against their current condition and trend, development cycle pressure and community priority.
Mayor Peddle said the CSNA highlighted key strengths, needs, vulnerabilities and aspirations at a critical time for Flinders Shire.
“Flinders Shire stands at the start of a decade that could reshape the region,” she said. “Like many agricultural communities across regional Australia, we are facing long-standing pressures on infrastructure and services.
“However, unlike most, we are also on the precipice of rapid economic activity and population growth, driven by renewable energy development, the CopperString transmission project and a major capital works program.”
Mayor Peddle said Council commissioned the CSNA to meet this moment deliberately and secure lasting benefits for the community.
“It confirms what we know and love about Flinders Shire, including our sense of community, strong cultural identity and creativity, and high rates of crisis response and volunteering,” she said.
“It also identifies areas that require strengthening, many of which are interconnected: housing shortages, ageing water and sewerage infrastructure, lower than average health outcomes, including for First Nations peoples, and the risk of climate impacts to our region.
“The assessment also highlights a number of social wellbeing challenges common across regional Queensland, including elevated rates of domestic and family violence and limited local access to specialist support services.
“These are complex issues that require coordinated responses across all levels of government and the community sector.
“While Council cannot solve these challenges alone, the CSNA provides an important evidence base to advocate for the investment, services and partnerships our community needs.”
Mayor Peddle said meaningful progress in all priority areas would require coordinated effort across all levels of government, the private sector, service providers, community organisations and residents.
“The Housing Strategy and CSNA will be integral to how we move forward with the level of investment earmarked for Flinders Shire, and how we work with key stakeholders to build on our strengths, address areas of need, and plan for sustainable, well-managed growth,” she said.
The Housing Strategy and CSNA were commissioned with funding support from the Local Government Association of Queensland’s Queensland Council Energy Partnership Program.