FEARS of compulsory land resumptions have been dismissed as the State Government moves forward with plans for a housing development in Southern Thornlands, which could bring up to 8000 new homes over the next 20 years.
Land resumption refers to the process by which a government or other authorised authority takes possession of privately owned land for public use or development purposes.
At a recent public information session, State Member for Redlands Rebecca Young opened with a crucial question from a local resident.
“What is the likelihood of compulsory land resumption for people within the PDA who don’t want to sell? Do they have to?” the question read.
Economic Development Queensland (EDQ) Senior Executive Ruth Stokes reassured the audience.
“The short answer is no – no one is going to come and take your land,” she said.
“In rare cases, land may be needed for essential public infrastructure like roads or schools, but that would involve a formal process and significant negotiation.
“This isn’t about forcing people to sell for housing.”
Concerns over the speed of planning for the Southern Thornlands Priority Development Area (PDA) were also raised, with some questioning why the process would take 18 months amid the region’s growing housing crisis.
“We need this, and we need it now,” another question began.
“People are crying out for housing.
“Why is it taking 18 months?
“Is there a way we can do it quicker?”
Ms Stokes acknowledged the urgency but explained that the development’s scale and complexity required careful planning to ensure adequate infrastructure, such as roads and sewerage, could support the influx of new residents.
“Planning for a development of this size is not something we can do overnight,” she said.
“We’re very conscious of the need for housing and are moving as fast as we physically can.”
Ms Stokes confirmed that some homes could be delivered by the end of next year, although broader infrastructure work would take time.
“We’ve already secured funding for upgrades to key intersections like Springacre and Boundary roads,” she said.
“But we can’t drop 800 or 900 new households into the area without properly planning for the supporting infrastructure.”
The Southern Thornlands PDA is a key strategy to address Redlands’ expected population increase – from 161,700 residents in 2021 to more than 210,000 by 2046.
Mrs Young, reflecting on her deep commitment to the community, emphasised the importance of making decisions that benefit everyone.
“I don’t want to stuff this up. I live here too, and I want something we can all look back on in 20 years and be proud of,” she said.
Redland City Council’s involvement in the consultation process was also discussed at the session by Division 9 Cr Jason Colley.
“We are where we are, and our responsibility as elected representatives is to deliver the best outcomes for our residents,” he said.
“We want to ensure that we have a voice and a seat at the table to represent our community.
“It’s extremely important that we can walk away from this saying we’ve done everything we can to ensure the best possible outcomes for our residents.”
