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<\/p>\nYOU could bag $20,000 if you move to this Australian town – as long as you don't mind pitching in with the building work. <\/p>\n
The desert town of Quilpie in Queensland is crying out for residents to relocate there, despite the fact zero houses have been built. <\/p>\n
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Quilpie Shire Council is desperately trying to drum up interest for its "free land" scheme, although there are some drastic flaws in the plan.<\/p>\n
As part of the local authorities' Home Owner Grant Scheme, people who buy land and move to the outback town can receive $20,000. <\/p>\n
Officials want to boost the slim population in the town, where summer temperatures can hit 50C, from 595 residents to 1000. <\/p>\n
Those brave enough to live in the dry and desolate area can purchase a plot, build a house, and be refunded for the cost of the land. <\/p>\n
But they only get their cash back when they have lived in the property for six months. <\/p>\n
However, there is a huge snag in Quilpie's master plan – there are no tradesmen willing to take on the mammoth project. <\/p>\n
Council chiefs have been struggling to find builders willing to work in the town, which is around 620 miles from the nearest city, Brisbane. <\/p>\n
Mayor Stuart Mackenzie told 7News: "An absence of builders is the hardest part."<\/p>\n
<\/span><\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n The local authority had called on tradies to give them quotes for six properties to be built in Quilpie, but had hardly any takers. <\/p>\n Mr Mackenzie said the only estimate he did receive was from a builder who wanted an extortionate amount of cash. <\/p>\n The mayor explained: "They came back at $900,000 to build a four-bedroom home. <\/p>\n "We can do that for under $400,000 by buying a transportable (home) which is built away and then moved out.<\/p>\n "It was just the fact that we only got one quote, and it was a ridiculous price.<\/p>\n "There weren\u2019t enough builders out there that wanted to do it."<\/p>\n It means that despite 11 residential blocks being sold since the scheme was announced, the buyers have nowhere to move into. <\/p>\n The council has been forced to bring in four transportable homes over the last three months due to the builders' drought. <\/p>\n Mr Mackenzie said banks are also hampering the success of the scheme as they are reluctant to lend potential buyers cash. <\/p>\n He said they have somewhat "blacklisted" developments in rural towns and regions of Australia as they deem it a high-risk investment.<\/p>\n The mayor added: "The demand is really strong, there\u2019s no doubt about that. <\/p>\n "People want to build out here, and that should hold the price of houses up, or increase them, which should take away the risk.<\/p>\n "Some have been told they need a 50 per cent deposit, others have been told their jobs aren\u2019t secure enough – even though they\u2019re a teacher and a council employee."<\/p>\n Despite the black cloud hanging over Quilpie, one family have extraordinarily decided to take the plunge and relocate there. <\/p>\n The Stennett's have bought a block of land for $25,000 and plan to build their dream home from scratch. <\/p>\n They are set to be the first homeowners who qualify for the "refund" on their plot as part of the Home Owner Grant Scheme. <\/p>\n Mum Heather told ABC: "I don\u2019t think anyone\u2019s been crazy enough to attempt this, but I like a challenge."<\/p>\n Despite the family of four not even visiting the town, they snapped up the land as they say the deal was just "too good to pass up on."<\/p>\n She added: "The lifestyle and the opportunities out there to do something different is very attractive.<\/p>\n "If you don\u2019t try, you\u2019ll never know."<\/p>\n Construction on their home is set to commence by the end of the year.<\/p>\n![](\"https:\/\/www.thesun.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/www-instagram-com-p-cwfoiorit-838713114.jpg\")
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