78-84 John Street, Yeppoon

Residents would be eligible individuals and households who need secure, affordable, long-term homes. St Vincent de Paul Society Queensland and Vinnies Housing do not target a specific demographic, age group or social cohort. Rather, housing allocations would be based on assessed housing need, eligibility requirements and the suitability of the available homes for each household.

The available housing demand data demonstrates that housing need exists across a broad cross-section of the community, including older single people, single-parent families, people living with disability, key workers and other individuals or families experiencing housing stress or insecurity.

Some residents may also come through government local transfer or downsizing pathways, where people who are already living in social housing move into a smaller, more suitable home. This can help older people or smaller households live in housing that better suits their needs, while freeing up larger homes for families.

Vinnies Housing would assess and match eligible households to suitable homes based on factors such as household size, accessibility needs, support needs and ability to sustain a tenancy. Subject to final allocation arrangements, preference would be given to people connected to Yeppoon and Livingstone Shire, supporting local residents who are experiencing housing need to remain connected to their community, family, employment, education and support networks.

No. This is not a homeless hostel or temporary accommodation facility. It would provide high-quality, self-contained and affordable long-term homes for eligible individuals and small households who cannot secure suitable housing through the private market.

Residents may include people experiencing or at risk of homelessness, as well as older people, key workers and people on low incomes whose current housing is unaffordable or unsuitable. Residents would live independently, pay affordable rent and have the same tenancy rights and responsibilities as other renters, with the homes professionally managed by Vinnies Housing.

Yes.

Community housing provides secure, professionally managed rental homes for people who cannot find suitable housing in the private market. It can include social housing for people on low incomes or with identified needs, and affordable housing for eligible low- to moderate-income households, which may include key workers. Residents pay rent set under established guidelines, so it remains affordable and does not cause financial hardship.

These homes are needed because rising rents, limited vacancies and changing circumstances can leave people priced out of the private rental market - even when they are working, older or have lived locally for many years.

Community housing gives people a stable foundation to remain connected to employment, family, services and community life. Tenants have the same rights and responsibilities as other renters, and the proposed homes would be professionally managed by Vinnies Housing.

All applicants must be on the Queensland Government's social housing waitlist. 

Potential tenants would be assessed through established eligibility, allocation and property-matching processes, where eligible households are matched with homes that suit their household size, accessibility needs, support needs and ability to sustain a tenancy. The specific pathways for the proposed Yeppoon development would depend on the approved housing mix, funding and allocation arrangements. 

Community housing residents have the same responsibilities as all Queensland tenants, including respecting their neighbours’ reasonable peace, comfort and privacy.

Vinnies Housing would actively manage tenancies and has established processes for responding to concerns. If an issue arises, it would be assessed fairly and proportionately. Responses may include communication with the tenant, support to resolve the issue, monitoring the concern or formal tenancy management action where required.

Serious or repeated breaches would be managed in accordance with Queensland tenancy legislation. Immediate safety concerns should always be reported to emergency services or police.

If approved, Vinnies Housing would professionally manage the development for the long term, including:

• Property maintenance

• Property inspections

• Building security

• Tenancy management

• Responding to concerns or complaints from tenants, neighbours or the community

• Referring tenants to access support services where needed and appropriate.

Vinnies Housing would oversee maintenance, inspections, tenancy obligations and concerns through established processes. This means the property would be actively managed, not simply responded to when something goes wrong. 

Our aim is to create a place that residents are proud to call home and neighbours see as a positive addition to the community. 

The proposal is for self-contained, long-term homes, not an institution or temporary accommodation facility. Residents would live independently, with the same rights, responsibilities and need for privacy as other neighbours.

The development would be designed and managed to support connection: within each household, with neighbours on the same floor or wing, across the residential community, and with the wider Yeppoon community.

The building design would consider opportunities for safe, welcoming shared spaces, while Vinnies Housing would support respectful neighbour relationships, tenancy participation and community engagement initiatives once the development is operating.

Where residents need additional assistance, St Vincent de Paul Society members, Vinnies Housing employees and the Society’s specialist service teams may provide support, depending on individual need, consent and available service arrangements. This support could include practical assistance, referrals, community engagement initiatives and social activities that help residents feel at home and stay connected to local services, networks and community life.

We understand the site’s established trees, gardens and green space are important to many people in the Yeppoon community.

No final decisions have been made regarding individual trees. Detailed investigations and independent arborist advice will help inform future design work and identify opportunities to retain significant trees where possible.

Trees and landscaping across the whole site, including the John Street and William Street frontages, will need to be considered as the design develops. Where tree retention is feasible, appropriate protection measures would be incorporated into project planning, alongside opportunities for new landscaping and replacement planting where required.

Landscaping, open space, access, parking and the relationship between the development and surrounding streets will remain important considerations as the design evolves.

When it is well designed and professionally managed, community housing can reduce homelessness and housing stress, support local workforce participation and ease pressure on health and community services. It also creates a well-maintained, long-term community asset, with clear tenancy responsibilities and established processes for responding to concerns.

The homes would be professionally managed by Vinnies Housing, an experienced Community Housing Provider (CHP) that manages more than 700 homes across Queensland. Residents would be required to meet tenancy obligations, just as they would in any rental housing, and Vinnies Housing would be responsible for tenancy management, property maintenance and responding to any concerns.

The development is being designed as a long-term residential community, with high-quality homes, landscaping, shared outdoor spaces and appropriate on-site management arrangements. The aim is to create a safe, attractive and well-maintained neighbourhood that integrates with the surrounding community.

Importantly, residents would be local people in need of secure and affordable housing, including workers, older people, people living with disability, single people and families. Like any other neighbours, they would be members of the Yeppoon community who want a stable place to live, work and participate in community life.

Our experience across Queensland shows that when housing is well designed, professionally managed and connected to the local community, it can create positive outcomes for residents, neighbours and the broader community alike.

St Vincent de Paul Society Queensland is guided by Council planning processes, responding to locally identified opportunities rather than targeting specific sites. Through our 500 Homes Program, our priority is to provide high-quality, safe and desirable homes in communities where people are experiencing hardship, housing insecurity or homelessness.

In June 2022 the Society responded to an EOI (expression of interest request) from Livingstone Shire Council to design and develop proposed community housing at James Street. In March 2026, Council suggested potentially relocating the proposed community housing development to John Street, given its broader plan to improve community infrastructure in Yeppoon.

The Society has been the adjoining neighbour to the John Street site for many years, operating our community support centre and retail store from next door. We have a strong sense of place and recognise the community uses of the site.

Our interest is in creating secure, welcoming homes that give local people a stronger foundation for stability, independence and connection to their community.

Read more about Livingstone Shire Council's planning and engagement for community infrastructure: getinvolved.livingstone.qld.gov.au/future-community-precinct

No. Council had already been considering the future of Yeppoon’s library, community centre and broader community infrastructure as part of its long-term planning for a growing region. Council has explained that it is exploring opportunities for a new generation of library and community facilities that can meet future needs and continue supporting connection, inclusion, learning, wellbeing and community life for decades to come. The Society’s proposal did not initiate this work. If the existing services relocate, decisions about their future location, design and timing are matters for Livingstone Shire Council.

Find out more about Council's plans here: getinvolved.livingstone.qld.gov.au/future-community-precinct 

No. St Vincent de Paul Society Queensland is a member-led not-for-profit charitable organisation, not a private developer. We have supported Queensland communities for more than 130 years and have served the Yeppoon community for nearly 90 years, since the local Conference (a group of members supporting their community) was established in 1937. In the last financial year alone, the Society supported more than 1,200 people in the Yeppoon area through practical assistance and local services.

This proposal is an extension of that long-standing commitment. Through our 500 Homes Program, we are investing in high-quality, safe and desirable housing for Queenslanders experiencing hardship, housing insecurity or homelessness.

As a registered charity, the Society does not distribute profits to private owners or shareholders. Any income generated through our activities is reinvested into our charitable mission, including the delivery of housing, homelessness services, community support programs and assistance for vulnerable Queenslanders. The proposed Yeppoon development forms part of that mission and is intended to create a lasting community asset that responds to urgent local housing need.

If approved, the homes would be professionally managed and maintained by Vinnies Housing, with the same care, accountability and respect for community that underpin the Society’s work. Our intention is simple: to be a responsible long-term neighbour and to help more local people build secure, stable and connected lives.

Yeppoon urgently needs more homes that local people can afford. Without suitable housing, people may be forced to leave the community, live in insecure or overcrowded accommodation, move away from work and support networks, or face homelessness.

As at 30 June 2026, 246 Livingstone Shire residents, representing 164 households, were on the social housing waiting list, and every application was assessed as very high need. Only 1.6 per cent of local households are in social housing, compared with 3.1 per cent across Queensland.

132 Livingstone Shire applicants, or 80 per cent, nominated Yeppoon as one of their preferred letting areas, making Yeppoon the most frequently nominated letting area among local applicants.

With a rental vacancy rate of just 0.7 per cent, local people have few options when rents rise or a lease ends. The effects are felt across Yeppoon as employers may struggle to retain workers, families lose support networks and demand grows for health, homelessness and community services.

Community and affordable housing is an investment in Yeppoon’s future. It helps local people remain connected to jobs, family and services while reducing the growing social and economic cost of housing stress and homelessness.

The proposed development would be designed as an attractive, high-quality residential building that complements its location and creates a positive addition to the Yeppoon streetscape. Careful attention would be given to architecture, landscaping, lighting, accessibility, safety and shared spaces so the homes feel welcoming, secure and desirable for residents and neighbours alike.

Vinnies Housing would provide professional, ongoing tenancy and property management - not simply respond when something goes wrong. Its teams would oversee routine and preventative maintenance, property inspections, tenancy obligations and concerns raised by residents or neighbours through established processes. This long-term stewardship would help ensure the building remains safe, beautifully presented and well cared for as a valued community asset.

Tenants would live independently. Where a tenant needs additional assistance, St Vincent de Paul Society is uniquely positioned to provide support through our local members, and via our professional support services. Any support would be based on individual need, consent and available service arrangements.

The Society recognises that the site’s trees, gardens, green space, parking, access and relationship with neighbouring properties matter deeply to the community. The current concept is not final, and community feedback will inform the next stages of design alongside technical studies, arboricultural advice, planning requirements and the needs of future residents.