The Queensland government has scrapped plans to convert unused student accommodation into emergency housing because it would take too much work to bring it up to fire safety codes.
The plan to turn 200 student beds at Griffith University's Mount Gravatt campus into emergency accommodation was announced after a housing roundtable last year.
About $2.1 million had been spent before the conversion was abandoned, which the opposition has called a "chaotic" decision.
Today Deputy Premier Steven Miles told parliament the $25 million ear marked for the conversion would instead buy 64 homes across the state, enough for about 300 people.
He said the Griffith site was only a temporary solution for short-term crisis accommodation, which would have taken substantial work to bring up to current codes.
"This decision will deliver much better value for money," he said.
In February, the government said construction work to renovate the Griffith site was well underway, and the emergency accommodation, providing 100 beds, would be finished by mid-year.
A spokesperson for Mr Miles said about $2.1 million had been spent on the building so far which included design development, internal demolition, building condition and bushfire assessments, asbestos testing and temporary construction like fencing, lighting, CCTV and security.
The 64 houses and apartments will be spread across Acacia Ridge, Annerley, Atherton, Bucasia, Cloncurry, Cooran, Eagleby, Emerald, Gladstone Central, Gleneagle, Gordonvale, Griffin, Kawungan, Mount Low, Ormeau, Pimpama, Rural View, Smithfield, Tully and Urangan.
Mr Miles said the government has signed the contracts for the properties, most of which will be settled within the next two months.
"It will be more beds, suitable for longer term accommodation, available sooner and permanently," Mr Miles said.
Opposition says decision was 'chaotic'
Tim Mander, the shadow minister for housing and public works, said it was a "chaotic" decision.
"Rather than helping housing supply, they are making it worse," he said.
"They've obviously been working on this for weeks and weeks and failed to inform Queenslanders."
Mr Mander said it was "far more efficient" when accommodation "can be grouped together where the services can be provided".
