THE State Government has approved zoning for a major new housing community of up to 800 homes on Springacre Rd in the Southern Thornlands Priority Development Area (PDA).
Economic Development Queensland (EDQ) has signed off on a Material Change of Use (MCU), rezoning Stage 1 land to residential, but State Member for Redlands Rebecca Young stressed this was not a construction approval.
The project by Urbex will convert the rural-zoned land into a master-planned community with a village heart and a mix of homes, retail and community spaces.
The development targets 20 per cent affordable housing and an average density of 25-35 homes per hectare.
Mrs Young said there had been “significant positive work happening behind the scenes with adjoining neighbours to stage 1, and the next step will be pre-lodgement on the planning design”.
“I understand this may occur before Christmas, after which EDQ will assess the design, taking into account feedback by neighbours and through the public consultation process that has taken place,” she said.
Mrs Young rejected claims the PDA was being rushed.
“The Southern Thornlands PDA has not been ‘pushed through’ – it has been carefully planned since its announcement on April 5, 2025, as a 20-year staged project,” she said.
“Stage 1 will deliver 800 new homes, with development works starting in quarter 1, 2026 (pending final planning design approval by EDQ), this will be alongside a $4 million upgrade to the Springacre and Boundary Roads intersection.”
Mrs Young said the rollout would continue in stages to ensure infrastructure kept pace with growth.
“Once final approvals are issued, the first works will be infrastructure delivery, including the Springacre intersection upgrade scheduled for the first quarter of 2026, followed by sewerage, water and other essential service infrastructure,” she said.
Homes are expected to start emerging by late 2026, with Mrs Young describing the project as “a responsible, sequenced and properly planned rollout”.
In response to concerns about infrastructure costs, Mrs Young provided further detail about State Government investment already allocated to Redland City Council.
Under the South East Queensland Community Stimulus Program, Council received $5.45 million for the 2024-27 South West Victoria Point Gravity Sewer Infrastructure Expansion.
In addition, under Tranche 1 of the $2 billion Residential Activation Fund (RAF), Council was awarded $4.3 million for a Victoria Point sewer upgrade – 100 per cent of the amount it applied for.
Mrs Young said with Tranche 2 of RAF opening in early 2026, Redlands had a major opportunity ahead.
“With $1 billion available in this next tranche, I strongly encourage Redland City Council to work collaboratively with EDQ and developers involved in Stage 1 of the Southern Thornlands PDA to position themselves for a larger share of this funding,” she said.
