The Property Council of Australia has raised concerns over comments made by Lord Mayor Campbell that the powers of the Urban Land Development Authority (ULDA) would be wound back under a LNP State Government.

The Lord Mayor and presumptive Ashgrove candidate said yesterday a Campbell Newman-led state government would wind back the power of the ULDA.

Property Council of Australia Queensland Division Executive Director Kathy Mac Dermott said the ULDA has demonstrated that great community outcomes can be achieved when planning approvals are quick and infrastructure charges low.

“The reality is that a number of councils are not delivering their planning and development assessment functions in a timely manner. Added to this, many are making housing unaffordable because of high infrastructure charges and a lack of sound infrastructure planning.

“The ULDA cuts through this quagmire.

“Until councils are in a position to deliver their responsibilities as effectively as the ULDA, this body remains relevant and important in Queensland.

“It would simply be irresponsible to wind back the powers of the ULDA from day one of a new government.

“The Property Council supports a medium-term approach to mainstream a number of the powers the ULDA to councils with a demonstrated capacity to deliver. We also believe the State must chart a course to evolve the ULDA into an entity primarily focused on ensuring adequate land supply in designated growth areas by 2015.

“Lord Mayor Campbell Newman represents a large and well resourced local government and to be fair, he has ensured his council has had a focus on delivering housing and importantly employment-focused development.

“However, other councils have shirked their responsibilities in this space and the Property Council is nervous about the prospect of winding back the ULDA and giving councils with such a track record more power.

“The Lord Mayor must send a message to councils that any additional powers that may come their way under a change of State Government will coincide with much higher levels of delivery and accountability.

“The Lord Mayor must recognise that Queensland has lost its competitiveness with other states and councils have played their part in creating this problem. Until councils are meeting the benchmarks set by the ULDA the body remains vital to delivering affordable housing across the State.”