CARINDALE could benefit from a major push to create more hotel rooms, but Cr Alex Givney says there are no further height changes proposed for the Waterloo Bay Hotel site in Wynnum.
The Brisbane City Council is preparing a temporary planning instrument aimed at making it easier for suitable suburban pubs and taverns to add short-term accommodation, responding to concerns about a shortage of hotel rooms ahead of the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
Under the broader proposal, the maximum building height for existing pubs in Major Centre zones – including Carindale, Nundah, Mitchelton and Indooroopilly – could increase from 10 to 12 storeys, unless a neighbourhood plan already allows a greater height.
However, Cr Givney said online discussion had created confusion about whether the strategy would further increase allowable development height at the Waterloo Bay Hotel.
“To be very clear: there are no further changes proposed to the height provisions for the Waterloo Bay Hotel site,” she said.
The Waterloo Bay Hotel is zoned Mixed Use, rather than Major Centre, meaning the proposed 12-storey limit does not apply to the site.
Cr Givney said the hotel’s planning provisions had already been considered through changes to the Wynnum Centre Precinct Plan, which set an eight-storey height limit for the site.
“This is why no further changes to the height provisions are proposed for the Waterloo Bay Hotel site as part of this strategy,” she said.
Cr Givney said the proposed citywide amendments were intended to provide more short-term accommodation options across Brisbane for visiting family and friends, while supporting local jobs and businesses needing accommodation for workers.
“In our case, the Port of Brisbane,” she said.
Council says the changes could unlock hundreds of new rooms, allowing visitors to stay closer to family, friends, local attractions and transport hubs rather than being concentrated in the CBD.
More than 60 Brisbane pubs sit on larger sites, but only 15 offer accommodation. Council estimates that if just 20 suitable venues added rooms, hundreds of new hotel beds could be delivered across suburban Brisbane.
Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner said suburban pubs were well placed to help meet Brisbane’s accommodation needs.
“Brisbane has many fantastic pubs in our suburbs and there’s great opportunities to make them even better by adding accommodation,” he said.
