Pat Spicer

17:02 Mayor Wilkie: The first is, two questions are from Mrs Pat Spicer. Pat, you know your way to the lectern. Thank you. And your questions will be answered by Kim Rawlings, Director of Strategy and Environment. Thank you.

17:16 Pat Spicer: My name's Pat Spicer. Through the Chair. Background information. The Residential Activation Fund has an infrastructure focus as well as greenfield development, most relevant to 64 Lake McDonald Drive. The strategic importance of the RAF is to support Queensland's plan to build one million new homes by 2044. By funding trunk and essential infrastructure, it helps housing developments proceed more quickly and efficiently. As such, the fund is totally linked to housing output without delay. So my question. What implications impact does receiving a grant through the Residential Activation Fund for infrastructure work at 6264 Lake McDonald Drive, Cooroy, have for future uses of lots two and three of the subdivision? Thank you.

18:15 Mayor Wilkie: And the answer will be delivered by the CEO. So Kim's running late to the meeting. So I'll provide that for you, Pat.

18:22 Speaker 4: So this is Kim's response, or our response as an organisation. The Residential Activation Fund is for infrastructure to support housing, not for the construction of residential buildings. It's for the construction of housing itself. Proposed lot one will provide housing, as a lot will be sold to Coastal Bay Housing Group for the construction of 25 much needed community housing units. Once the subdivision is finished. Proposed lots two and three will be investigated for a range of land uses, including housing, in accordance with the Council resolution dated 23 January 2025, including community consultation.

18:55 Pat Spicer: Thank you. Background information. The July budget report, 18th of the 8th of 25, included the loan item for 6264 Lake McDonald Drive, because there was an embargo on the funding schemes that Council believed will be realised through the program. Council was anticipating taking out that loan and so achieved the other known sources that we can't talk about at this juncture due to Council's commitment with other levels of government around funding announcements. This budget report for July indicates Council had the funding through the Regional Residential Activation Fund, but had to wait for Queensland Government announcement before making the information public. The consideration for taking out a loan substantiates the condition that applicants may be required to provide a matching contribution to the project, often in the term of financial investment. Coast to Plan Building Commencement, July 2026, meets the 12-month criteria from receiving the grant in July 2025.

20:13 My question. As Council has a grant of $4.1 million for trunk infrastructure for 6264 Lake McDonald Drive, Cooroy, from the Residential Activation Fund, and the cost of the contract, which will result in the infrastructure cost of the project, is approximately $6 million. Will Council be activating the loan facility or using Council reserves to cover the balance of the costs?

20:45 Speaker 4: Thank you, Pat. So our response then is Council continues to explore opportunities as outlined in item D of Council resolution dated 23 January 2025. A loan facility is being investigated along with pursuing further grant opportunities. Thank you.

21:02 Mayor Wilkie: Thank you, Pat.