Newsroom
Community Rallies Against Charters Towers Housing Destruction
February 26, 2026
Passionate Charters Towers locals, with only 24 hours’ notice rallied at the site of the former Eventide Aged Care units to join Robbie Katter MP in calling out the galling insanity of housing units being bulldozed in the middle of an acute housing crisis.
Mr Katter addressed the crowd, saying there was no need for this destruction, given there is a developer ready to step in and convert the units for housing, at no cost to the taxpayer.
“We have people leaving town, businesses closing their doors with no staff, and people living in tents and caravans, and the government in Brisbane decides to bring in the dozers!” Mr Katter told the crowd.
“It was less than ten years ago that these units were renovated. In fact, the builder who did the work is here with us this evening.
“It’s bureaucratic insanity that so soon after the renovations the demolition crews are here. The Minister, or Premier, can stop this immediately.
“The health department say they want to put a new hospital here; one day. Meanwhile there is a perfectly clear parcel of land adjoining this lot, less than two hundred meters over there that would be ideal.
“The need for housing here in Charters Towers is acute now. There are ready solutions on the table, and the government is refusing to act rationally and open up immediate access to more housing”, Mr Katter said.
A well-known developer has visited the site and expressed immediate interest in quickly developing the site into more than 50 units ready for occupation. The land parcel annexation has been prepared for Ministerial sign-off. This would be at no cost to government.
Mr Katter lamented that the Brisbane parties have been at each other on social media about how much social housing they have built or sold off, yet both parties have neglected to green-light more than 50 housing units where the housing crisis is acute.
“This project is surely an easy win for any Brisbane party – cutting the ribbon on more than 50 units, with people desperate for accommodation moving into secure housing has to be a no-brainer,” he said.
“But instead, we see Ministers more willing to sign off on tender documents to begin demolition, costing the taxpayer, before they are willing to sign off on allowing a developer to provide housing at no cost to government.
“After successive letters, meetings, and questions in parliament to the Health Minister and the Housing Minister, I’ve written to the Premier to seek his urgent intervention to save this valuable housing stock.
“Every Queenslander needs a roof over their head, and it beggars belief that the government is willing to bulldoze more than 50 units while people are living in caravans and tents,” the Member for Traeger said.