Mayor shocked by massive take-up of FREE LAND offer in tiny outback town
A Queensland council has been flooded with requests after announcing a scheme that would have plots of land being practically given away to new and aspiring homeowners.
Just one week after Quilpie Council offered a $12,500 grant to anyone who buys a block and builds a home on it, the regional Queensland council logged over 200 enquiries from people interested in the scheme.
“It has definitely taken us by surprise - but in the best possible way,” Quilpie Shire Council Mayor Stuart MacKenzie said in a statement.
“We’re looking forward to all the quality new houses that will soon be under construction in the Quilpie Shire. It will mean people can fill the job vacancies we have, and move into their own new house.”
The council’s plan went viral after The Courier Mail broke the story.
With a population of just 800 people, the council were hoping to get five families to build and move into the area.
Instead, they received 40 times that from people looking to get their hands on some real estate.
Council chief executive Justin Hancock said they were “blown away” at the level of interest, confirming that the blocks have sold for as little as $12,500.
“We have some of the cheapest blocks of land in Australia,” he said.
“There are blocks of land in the Curlew Estate for as little as $12,500 - which is the amount we will pay back when homeowners build and live on the land for at least six months, which makes it affordable for younger would-be homeowners.
“These 1000-square-metre blocks all have roadways and full amenities connected. At the moment they are big patches of red dirt - but we’re known as one of the greenest towns in Outback Queensland because of our abundance of artesian water that keeps gardens and front lawns lush and green, even when things heat up over summer.”
Mr Hancock said the council had built eight houses over the last five years, with another eight slated to be built over the next year.
“We’re confident this new grant will turn the tables on that. We’ve also had quite a few enquiries from builders who see the opportunities in the region, as people will only receive the grant if they build and live in a house on their property. We’ve been blown away by the level of interest,” he said.
With the other states coming out of lockdown, Mayor MacKenzie also said the timing of the grant “couldn’t be better”.
“We’re thrilled with the number of calls and emails we’ve had this week of people interested in building a new house in Quilpie,” he said.
Quilpie Shire is located 1,000 kilometres west of Brisbane, has a regular train service, and twice-weekly flights to the capital and Mount Isa.
Image: Quilpie Shire Council / Facebook