Townsville Affordable Living Precinct
The Northern Australia Infrastructure Facility (NAIF) has made an Investment Decision to provide Hurst Holding Company with up to $42.1 million in concessional finance to support the Townsville Affordable Living Precinct in Townsville, Queensland.
April 2026
Social Infrastructure
Townsville, Queensland
We’re providing Hurst Holding Company Pty Ltd with up to $42.1 million in concessional finance to support the Townsville Affordable Living Precinct, delivering 81 new social and affordable housing units in Townsville, Queensland. The project will help to improve housing availability and living standards for hundreds of vulnerable residents in regional Queensland.
About Hurst Holding Company Pty Ltd
Hurst Holding Company Pty Ltd is a Townsville‑based company operating in property development and construction across regional Queensland. Its work has included residential and community infrastructure projects. The company has experience managing developments across multiple stages, including land acquisition and project delivery, and is involved in projects such as the Townsville Affordable Living Precinct.
Project Overview
The project will deliver a well‑located housing precinct expected to accommodate up to 240 residents, comprising 21 social housing units and 60 affordable housing units across a mix of one, two and three-bedroom configurations. When completed, Regional Housing Limited will purchase and manage the development, with backing from Housing Australia, the Queensland Government, and a commercial lender.
The development prioritises energy‑efficient dwellings (with at least a Nationwide House Energy Rating Scheme 7‑star performance), helping to lower ongoing living expenses. All dwellings will meet Queensland Government and Housing Australia design standards, contain air conditioning and be fully lift accessible. The delivery model also actively supports local construction activity and supply chain participation across north Queensland.
Public Benefit
Independent economic analysis estimates that the project will contribute approximately $36.2 million to gross regional product in north Queensland throughout the construction phase and over a 20‑year operational lifespan. The build is expected to generate around 153 full‑time equivalent jobs, with seven further ongoing roles once operations commence.
How We Helped
Townsville continues to experience strong demand for housing, driven by population growth and its role as a regional hub for defence, health, education and resources-related employment. New supply has not kept pace with demand, contributing to tight rental conditions and increased competition for well‑located homes close to jobs, schools, transport and services. For many residents, limited availability and higher rents make it challenging to secure stable, affordable accommodation, a challenge also reflected in social housing waiting lists.
We provided up to $42.1 million in concessional finance to make the project viable and ensure delivery. NAIF’s ability to accept early-stage construction risk in northern Australia helped the project move forward.
By bridging the construction finance requirement, NAIF’s loan supports the project reaching completion and transitioning to longer‑term funding and operations.
Related Links
Indigenous Engagement
- The Wulgurukaba people
Townsville, located in North Queensland, lies on the traditional lands of the Wulgurukaba and Bindal peoples. Townsville Affordable Living Precinct is situated on Wulgurukaba Country, known as Gurrumbilbarra. The Wulgurukaba people, whose name means "canoe people," have deep-rooted cultural ties to both the mainland coast and Yunbenun (Magnetic Island), with strong connections to the saltwater country and the surrounding marine ecosystems, including the Great Barrier Reef. One of the Wulgurukaba creation story features Gabul, the ancestral carpet snake, who is believed to have shaped significant parts of the region’s coastal landscape, including Magnetic Island and the Hinchinbrook Channel. Today, Townsville remains an important meeting place for many First Nations communities across North Queensland, providing essential services such as health care, education, and employment opportunities.
Indigenous Engagement Strategy Commitments
The proponent has developed an Indigenous Engagement Strategy focused on practical participation, procurement, training and employment pathways for Traditional Owners and the broader First Nations community in Townsville. Commitments include:
Participation
- Structured engagement checkpoints with recognised Wulgurukaba representatives from pre‑construction through to completion, to provide clear touchpoints for cultural matters and project opportunities.
Procurement
- Prioritise ancillary work packages where Indigenous participation is most feasible under the delivery model.
- Aim to engage 2–3 suitably qualified Indigenous businesses for appropriate packages, supported by an Indigenous Supplier Register and early notice of upcoming scopes.
- Facilitate at least one mentorship pairing between an emerging Indigenous subcontractor and a larger contractor on a defined work package.
Training and employment
- A minimum target of 3% Indigenous employment across the project, with an aspirational target of up to 7%.
- Work with established Indigenous employment and training partners to share labour needs and promote job opportunities.
- Provide structured site‑based exposure opportunities for Indigenous students and job‑ready candidates, with referrals to subcontractors through existing recruitment channels.
Monitoring and accountability
- Maintain a live Indigenous Engagement Register to track commitments, evidence and outcomes (including procurement spend and workforce participation).
Require subcontractor reporting on Indigenous participation at completion of work packages.
