The updated South-East Queensland Regional Plan has been released, revealing a proposal to increase housing stock in Redlands by 31 per cent over the next two decades.
Almost 900,000 dwellings will be needed across the entire south-east region by 2046 to cater for an expected population increase of about 2.2 million, according to the plan.
Housing targets have been set for all 12 SEQ LGAs, with Brisbane and Logan expected to take on about 35 per cent of the region’s new dwellings between now and 2046.
The state government proposes working with industry to deliver a total of 318,100 homes across the two cities, while Redlands is expected to take on 20,000 new dwellings and Moreton Bay 123,000.
The four cities make up the Metro Sub Region, which is described in the plan as the “social, cultural and economic heart of south-east Queensland”.
An increase of 20,000 homes in Redlands by 2046 would take the total number of dwellings in the city up to 85,000 – an increase of about 31 per cent.
Creating more housing diversity across the region is a major focus of the draft SEQ regional plan, which requires councils to update their planning schemes to deliver a mix of dwellings.
This includes reviewing building height requirements to consider allowing up to three storeys in the low density, low-medium density or general residential zones.
The report notes that there is a “significant mismatch between housing stock and household compositions” in Redlands, with detached houses remaining the dominant housing type.
The planning department is still working on diversity targets for each LGA, but a diagram released in the draft report reflects a move towards more attached housing such as apartments and townhouses.
“The population is evolving and housing types in Redland City are not currently diverse enough to meet this evolution,” a planning department spokesman said.
“For example, 85 per cent of dwellings in the Redland area have three bedrooms or more, making it unaffordable for those who want or need something smaller to find a place to live.
“By necessity, we must place a greater focus on diversity and well-developed density in areas that can cater for growth.”
Major expansion is planned for Southern Thornlands, with a proposal to boost housing supply in the area and use a portion of the land for business and industrial purposes.
But the report notes that several issues in the area must be resolved first, such as accessibility to the reticulated wastewater network and mitigation or management of significant environmental values.
Indigenous cultural values in the area and the staged expansion of public transport networks would also need to be considered, along with state interests relating to agricultural land in the area.
The existing industrial footprint at Redland Bay is also set to increase, according to the report.
Planning Minister Steven Miles said the plan would ensure homes were delivered when and where they were needed while protecting the Queensland lifestyle.
“This plan helps put in place a framework that councils can use to deliver more homes over the coming decade,” he said.
“It means more opportunities for young people and future generations to buy their first home, workers to live closer to their jobs, and older Queenslanders looking to downsize but stay within a connected community.
“This plan doesn’t mean growth everywhere – it plans for growth in the suburbs that can cater for growth.
“Infrastructure is a key piece of the puzzle to support housing growth, so we’ve aligned this plan with an infrastructure supplement to ensure we get it right.”
Consultation on the plan is now open, allowing the community to have their say on the proposals.
Residents can also attend an in-person consultation session at Capalaba Place Hall on September 5 between 11am and 1pm.
