General News
14 May, 2025
Anger over housing deal
CASSOWARY Coast Regional Council is selling off its community housing properties because it is “not part of council’s core business”.
According to a council report, the council owns 21 properties with 70 tenancies, mainly in Innisfail, Tully and Cardwell.
The council has launched an expressions of interest campaign inviting registered community housing providers to buy 12 freehold properties in the first stage of the sell-off.
A council report said with changes in the regulations and management requirement for community housing and different external funding opportunities, the council “is no longer best positioned or resourced to continue as a registered community housing provider nor oversee the management of the existing portfolio”.
“(The) council expects that with a staged, and eventual complete divestment of council’s community housing portfolio, that there will be efficiencies, and financial savings across operational activities, including depreciation, insurance, employee
financial, administrative monitoring and reporting. Furthermore, the existing and future needs of community housing tenants will be better met,” it said.
The first stage involves 16 one and two bedroom units, six duplexes and four houses in Innisfail and five units and one house in Tully. The council estimates the savings will be more than $50,000 a year.
Mayor Teresa Millwood said the council was committed to ensuring a process which would make for a smooth transition for existing community housing tenants with minimal impact or disruption.
She said the resolution to “divest council’s community housing portfolio will be undertaken in stages”.
“We understand that though the process will take some time, we want to reassure our existing tenants that this change will be managed with the utmost care, to ensure that tenants continue to have access to appropriate housing that meets their living situation,” Cr Millwood said.
But residents are furious and have vented their anger on the council’s Facebook page.
“Brilliant move Cassowary Coast Regional Council,” said Tina Morriss.
“Let’s strategically divest from community housing so someone else can deal with people in need. After all, why actually provide services when you can outsource responsibility?,” she said
“I’m really curious. How many residents and ratepayers were actually consulted on this? Oh right, the people that are supposed to be representing us know best.”
Robyn Archer said the media release sounded great “but doesn’t actually say what they are doing”.
“So is the council getting rid of council-owned homes and passing it on to Department of Housing? I know of several elderly people in Cardwell who live in these homes and they would be devastated if they had to move or will have a different landlord,” she said.
Frederick James said the council was so “cash strapped it has to flog off community housing”.
