Apartment buildings could soar above 20 storeys in suburban Brisbane under a plan by the city council for more high-density housing around public transport hubs.
The next stage of the council’s anti-sprawl plan will see zoning reviewed to allow for more housing to be built closer to Indooroopilly and Carindale shopping centres, as well as Nundah Village.
Under the plan, rules will be updated to allow buildings to be constructed beyond the current 10-storey limit around Carindale shopping centre and above 20 storeys near Indooroopilly shopping centre.
In Nundah, the existing height of up to 12 storeys will remain with changes to allow greater flexibility to deliver more residential homes in mixed-use buildings.
High-rises near Carindale shopping centre are current limit to 10 storeys. (ABC News: Curtis Rodda)
Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner said the council would work with the community to determine what an appropriate limit would be, with consultation expected to get underway in 2026.
“We want to put more homes where the jobs are, where the transport is and where the services are,” he said.
“The alternative is more urban sprawl, more destruction of bushland which we don’t want to see.Â
“This is just about making sure we plan in a smart way to bring people to where the facilities are.”
Adrian Schrinner says adding to housing supply is a guaranteed way to impact affordability. (ABC News)
Labor council opposition leader Jared Cassidy said Mr Schrinner had not provided enough detail to enable other councillors and community members to advocate for better outcomes including more affordable housing and community spaces.
He said it was a “developer-led” proposal that risked making Brisbane’s inner suburbs unaffordable for key workers.
However, he said Labor ultimately supported the LNP’s push to increase height limits near transport hubs.
“Labor councillors have voted in favour of every policy and planning scheme change this Lord Mayor has brought to council in the last two years because we know in the midst of a housing crisis we’ve got to do things differently,” Mr Cassidy said.
Greens Councillor Trina Massey said without inclusionary zoning rules, there was no guarantee the developments would include social or affordable housing.Â
Tackling congestion challenge
The council forecasts by 2046 Brisbane will need around 210,800 new homes to support its growing population.
Property Council Queensland Executive Director Jess Caire welcomed the council’s move to review options available to increase the amount of housing around existing infrastructure.
Jess Caire says it’s important to unlock areas for housing to improve supply. (ABC News)
“Given the scale and significance of the housing crisis it is imperative that we look to unlock housing everywhere we can,” she said.
“The suburban centres included in this review have the transport infrastructure to support additional housing.”
The council is considering increasing the limit of developments around Indooroopilly shopping centre beyond 20 storeys. (ABC News: Chris Gillette)
Committee for Brisbane chief executive Jen Williams said the changes in areas close to public transport would help tackle the city’s issues around traffic congestion and car dependency.
“As the population increases, so too does the imperative to shift our reliance on private vehicle usage and boost patronage of public and active transport,” she said.
“Through focusing on individual centres within suburbs, Brisbane is able to retain that authentic appeal, while ensuring we continue to provide the housing and services the city so desperately needs.”