September 2025 industry briefings
We are looking to partner with a developer that has set project timeframes. Can we include these within the pre-submission application?
The project timeframes can be included within the pre-submission application.
The State will be able to provide initial feedback on the ability to support the proposed project timeframes at the Pre-Submission Discussion.
Developers are welcome to attend the Pre-Submission Discussion however a representative from the Community Housing Provider must also be present.
Evaluation Criteria 1: Tenure and Suitability includes the option for exclusive control of the proposed site. What does this look like, can this include a model where ownership does not vest with the Community Housing Provider (CHP)?
There is no single answer as each housing solution proposed is unique and will be assessed on its merits. The State will be able to provide feedback on an individual proposal as part of the Pre-Submission Discussion.
In the assessment of proposals, the State will always consider the tenant outcome compared to the commercial stack:
- the tenant outcome and the impact on the tenant particularly where there is debt left or uncertainty over the availability of the property to tenants at the end of the commercial period
- the commercial value of the project and whether the commercial value meets overall investment value.
Some tenure examples are provided below, noting that the proposal must include a long-term housing solution:
- CHP ownership or lease-based model like in a faith-based arrangement
- Projects that include residual debt.
How will the State provide feedback to the sector around value proposition and trends or themes following the assessment of proposals?
The Pre-submission process is key to providing feedback.
There is no one answer to value proposition and what represents value for money. Each project will have its own value proposition based on the several factors including dwelling yield, development type, location, target cohort etc.
The importance of the Pre-Submission Discussions is to provide direct feedback to the Community Housing Provider about the specific project.
The State is still working through how thematic feedback, and trends will be presented back to the sector. Regular targeted industry briefings are expected given the length and breadth of this always open process however this will be a balance between transparency and protecting the commercial-in-confidence nature of proposals received from proponents.
It is unclear in the Q-CHIP Market Process Invitation when funding support will be considered for affordable housing solutions. Could you provide further clarity on the inclusion of affordable housing and how the prioritisation of social housing links back to the Social Housing Design Guidelines (SHDG)?
The State has not prescribed fixed parameters for when affordable housing will or will not be supported. This is not intended to be unclear but rather flexible. This means the State can support best for project outcomes delivering social housing as a priority.
The Minister for Housing and Public Works and Director-General, Housing and Public Works remain focused on the delivery of social housing and catering to those individuals on the social housing register. Where affordable housing is proposed as part of a project it must demonstrate that it supports the State to do this. For Q-CHIP, the State asks that proponents explain how the proposed affordable homes complement and support the social homes as part of the pre-submission application.
The Pre-Submission Discussion remains the pathway for exploring whether the proposal has the potential to meet the evaluation criteria, the Department’s priorities and highlight key areas of proposal development required before an Expression of Interest (EOI) is submitted.
Proponents should engage with the Department early regarding the application of the Social Housing Design Guidelines (SHDG). The Department is flexible and looking for outcomes that are fit for purpose and suit the needs of the tenant that present value for money to the State.
If I am looking to become a registered Community Housing Provider (CHP), at what point in the Q-CHIP procurement process do I need to be registered as a CHP?
The Department is only able to enter into a contract with a CHP meaning that until this point it is not required to be registered. However, genuine intent to register as a CHP will need to be demonstrated from the pre-submission application so that the Department has early visibility and certainty of this pathway.
That State has committed to delivering 53,500 social and community homes by 2044 with delivery ramping up to 2,000 homes per year from 2028. Is there an expectation around the amount of community housing delivered by the sector to meet this target?
This information is still being worked through and will likely be shared with the sector as part of the future Housing Plan to be released by the Department.
In the context of pipeline, it would be helpful to understand when details of other new State initiatives will be released e.g. precinct renewal.
This information is still being worked through and will likely be shared with the sector as part of the future Housing Plan to be released by the Department.
Is there a preferred development size or range of dwelling numbers which you would like us to stick within for each development proposition?
There is no minimum or maximum dwelling yield per project proposed for the program.
The State will be able to provide initial feedback on the proposed development yield and type based on the project location at the Pre-Submission Discussion.
The State welcomes submissions of all development size and scale.
How will 'mixed' projects be assessed if the affordable element is not deemed permissible?
Early engagement through the pre-submission process will be key to understanding if the affordable component proposed is likely to meet the State’s criteria.
The intent is to provide genuine feedback throughout the process to assist with the proposal development.
A hypothetical situation could include a project that proposes a mix of social and affordable dwellings that we don’t think aligns with the Department’s priorities. Feedback will be provided to that effect in the Pre-Submission Discussion. If the Proponent, then elects to submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) that continues the tenant mix not supported by the Department then this will be evaluated accordingly.
Will the State provide guidance as to the quantum of funding support available per project or region, either before or during the Pre-Submission Discussion?
There is no one answer or specific number for funding support. Each project will have its own value proposition based on the several factors including dwelling type, design, location, target cohort etc.
The Department understands the importance of having these value conversations early in the process and support this as part of the Pre-Submission Discussion.
The pre-submission process is key to providing feedback on a project specific basis and will look at the funding requested as well as all the other elements that represent value in the project.
Will the State require Community Housing Providers (CHP) to procure Liveable Housing Association (LHA) ‘As Built’ certification to support silver and gold dwellings? Or is an architect's review sufficient?
The State has a commitment to deliver a mix of product across our portfolios that meet gold or platinum certification.
The Social Housing Design Guidelines (SHDG) are an important set of standards setting design requirements to be considered.
Any proposed achievement or departure from the SHDG should be discussed as part of the Pre-Submission Discussion.
Will modular/Modern Methods of Construction (MMC) delivery be recognised in evaluation as a faster, lower-cost option?
The program has no fixed requirements for construction methodology.
Our view on construction methodology is dependent on the project specifics and if an MMC modular style methodology delivers quicker lower cost outcomes it will be naturally favoured in the evaluation criteria over a higher cost slower option.
We would welcome discussions on how MMC for any particular project would deliver those benefits.
Is modular/Modern Methods of Construction (MMC) supported by the Q-CHIP? Any views on offshore manufacturing?
No specific views on offshore manufacturing have been developed for Q-CHIP. The State will be able to provide feedback on the specifics of the project as part of the Pre-Submission Discussion.
As a landowner we are looking to partner with a Community Housing Provider (CHP), does the state assist in facilitating this?
The State is unable to directly provide referrals or recommendations due to probity. However, we can provide assistance on how you might partner.
Materials are available online including a register of CHPs and their relevant tiers operating in Queensland.
Peak bodies including Queensland Shelter (QShelter), Community Housing Industry Association Queensland (CHIA QLD) and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Housing Queensland (ATSIHQ) may also be able to help make these connections across the sector.
What will the broader public visibility be of Q-CHIP submissions as they are going through the Q-CHIP assessment process?
The State will be transparent around projects that are being supported and delivered through Q-CHIP.
Where it relates to feedback that will be of benefit to the sector, the State is still working through how thematic feedback, and trends can be aggregated and presented back to the sector. Regular targeted industry briefings are expected given the length and breadth of this always open process however this will be a balance between transparency and protecting the commercial-in-confidence nature of proposals received from proponents.
Are there any administrative amendments proposed to the Housing Regulation as a result of Q-CHIP?
The State welcome this approach and hope that the always open nature of the Q-CHIP procurement process provides the flexibility to participate in other deliverers of social and community housing. This may also include opportunities brought to market by local governments, Economic Development Queensland or other agencies that have a social and affordable housing overlay that could benefit from partnership with Q-CHIP.
For the pre-submission form, how would you like us to complete the "State government support request" section if funding support takes place via an availability payment?
Please provide as much detail as possible on the scale and nature of the funding requested from the State Government. If an availability payment is requested provide an estimate of the total availability payment over the term to support an informed Pre-Submission Discussion.
Will there will be visibility of the number of projects progressing through Expression of Interest (EOI), Detailed Proposal (DP) or contracting phase per geography and typology to help consider whether it is worth submitting a project.
The State is currently working through how to provide greater visibility to the sector on the supply and demand of social housing including the target and need across Queensland. As part of this, we are looking at how we provide greater visibility on where we are currently delivering or have pipeline projects to help proponents understand the gap. The State will look to provide this information in the near future.
Will it be possible for funding to flow to support projects as they move into Design Development phase?
The State has heard from the sector about the cost of progressing projects through the development phases however the State has an expectation that the CHP sector can contribute and support the development of the proposed projects including the participation in this procurement process. Early engagement through the pre-submission process with feedback on the likelihood of project success will help CHPs to make these investment decisions to purchase land and the like.
We also note that for a lot of the CHP sector this can be unrealistic and insufficient to support the development of a project so we would welcome a discussion about what early support would look like. The Department may also be able to look at how the Community Housing Futures (CHF) program could support the growth ambitions of your organisation.
When will better access to relevant Social Housing Register data be available and how?
The Queensland Government Open Data portal provides access to datasets and information relating to the Social Housing register.
Specific to the Q-CHIP program and supporting its objective we have included social housing register data on the Q-CHIP website, broken down by LGA region and cohort.
If more specific information is required by the Proponent, this could be raised at the pre-submission discussion.