WYNNUM is changing.
As South East Queensland braces for explosive population growth, it’s clear we must adapt – and that includes building more homes in areas with strong infrastructure and transport links.
The proposed One West Avenue development represents a bold step in that direction, offering a vision of modern living that meets rising demand while breathing life into a long-vacant site.
The location, adjacent to Wynnum Central station, is ideally suited.
With about 400 new homes planned – ranging from apartments to penthouses – plus co-working spaces, shops, and health services, the precinct would not only help ease the housing shortage but also stimulate the local economy.
The inclusion of affordable and build-to-rent housing, particularly for key workers, is a welcome feature.
Let’s not forget the scale of the challenge ahead.
More than 2.2 million new residents are expected across South East Queensland by 2046. In Wynnum alone, that’s an additional 4400 people over two decades.
Without projects like this, where will they live?
How will they access services, employment and public transport?
Still, it would be wrong to dismiss community concerns.
Former councillor Peter Cumming has rightly highlighted issues that need attention – building heights, parking pressures, and shadowing impacts on nearby facilities like the bowls and croquet clubs.
These are not fringe complaints; they reflect genuine worries about how new development can affect neighbourhood character and daily life. But we must not allow the perfect to become the enemy of the good.
The proposed 17-storey building, located beside the train line to minimise disruption, does not mean the entire suburb will become a high-rise jungle.
With thoughtful urban design and a commitment to graduated height transitions, good planning can ensure development enhances rather than overwhelms.
Transparency matters.
Council must do more to ensure all residents are brought into the conversation.
Broad and inclusive community consultation will help build trust and ensure the final design reflects the needs of those who live, work, and play in Wynnum.
Wynnum cannot remain frozen in time.
One West Avenue offers a rare opportunity to turn an idle patch of land into a thriving hub of housing, retail and community activity.
Let’s move forward – carefully, consultatively, but resolutely – towards a future where Wynnum grows with grace and purpose.
