Industry welcomes major overhaul of legacy planning schemes in Woolloongabba and Northshore Hamilton.
The Queensland Government has officially opened public consultation on two major development scheme updates that promise to reshape inner-Brisbane’s housing and infrastructure landscape, while sending a clear message that red tape won’t stand in the way of housing supply.
The revised Priority Development Area (PDA) schemes for Woolloongabba and Northshore Hamilton aim to unlock more than 26,000 new homes, forming part of a broader push by the Crisafulli Government to streamline planning processes and accelerate housing delivery in key growth precincts.
What’s Changing…and Why It Matters
The updates follow the release of the Government’s 2032 Delivery Plan, with Woolloongabba to be transformed into a legacy Gabba Entertainment Precinct and up to 16,000 new homes slated for development in the area. Meanwhile, Northshore Hamilton will see up to 10,000 new homes delivered and benefit from a decade’s worth of land supply being brought forward, thanks to the relocation of the Brisbane Athlete Village.
Importantly, both precincts will now be guided by revised PDA frameworks aimed at simplifying the approval process, aligning development expectations with market realities, and ensuring infrastructure keeps pace with growth.
A Reset on Poor Planning
Deputy Premier Jarrod Bleijie didn’t mince words when announcing the schemes. He pointed to Labor’s “failed” PDAs—citing only three residential development applications being lodged in Woolloongabba under the previous scheme—as justification for the overhaul.
“Labor’s plans were full of red tape and unworkable policy settings that didn’t reflect how development actually happens,” Bleijie said. “We’ve listened to industry and stripped back what wasn’t working.”
In addition to fixing underperforming legacy PDAs, the Government is committing to new ones as well, as part of its ambitious plan to deliver one million homes by 2044. A $5.6 billion investment in social and community housing and a $2 billion Residential Activation Fund underpin the approach.
Industry Voices: A Welcome Course Correction
The Property Council of Australia and UDIA Queensland have praised the updates as a genuine response to market realities.
“Feasibilities for new projects have never been more challenging,” said Jess Caire, Property Council Queensland Executive Director. “These revised schemes reflect what the market can actually deliver.”
Caire added that industry concerns raised in earlier consultations were “not only heard but directly addressed”—a refreshing change in government-industry collaboration.
UDIA Queensland CEO Kirsty Chessher-Brown echoed this, calling the changes both timely and targeted.
“With the constructability crisis upon us, there’s never been a more important time to apply a feasibility lens when shaping our communities,” she said. “We need to keep a laser-like focus on removing impediments so the industry can get on with the job of delivering homes.”
The Gabba Legacy Play
While the sporting stadium headlines often dominate the Gabba conversation, this update is less about seats and more about suburban-scale impact. With major hospitals, South Bank, the Brisbane CBD, and the Cross River Rail all within walking distance, Woolloongabba is poised to become one of Brisbane’s most liveable—and connected—urban precincts.
The updated development scheme ensures that this infrastructure is supported by homes, jobs, and lifestyle amenity—something the previous scheme failed to achieve.
Northshore Hamilton Reimagined
For years, Northshore Hamilton has been touted as Brisbane’s future-facing riverside destination. But locals and industry insiders alike have criticised the lack of delivery and transparency, especially when the area was earmarked for Olympic infrastructure under the previous government.
That’s now changing.
Member for Clayfield Tim Nicholls was blunt in his assessment: “Labor left the riverside precinct out in the cold… The local community was never given a chance to have a say.”
The new scheme not only accelerates housing but promises to embed community input throughout the process.
What Builders Should Watch
With consultation now live, developers, builders, and industry professionals are being invited to provide feedback on both schemes. This isn’t just a box-ticking exercise—there’s genuine appetite to get these frameworks right.
For builders, the key questions are:
- Are the proposed changes practical and cost-effective to deliver?
- Will the infrastructure commitments match the scale of proposed development?
- How will design controls and building height limits be managed?
- Can these schemes offer pathways for SMEs and not just major developers?
The window for feedback presents a rare opportunity to influence not just two PDAs—but the broader policy tone around housing delivery in Queensland.
Links to Get Involved
The Good Builder encourages our community to engage with the consultation process:
The TGB Take
This marks a pivotal moment for Brisbane’s urban future. Whether the ambition translates into delivery will depend heavily on how well the Government continues to collaborate with the industry.
But if these revised PDAs live up to their potential, they could set a new benchmark for how Australia’s cities handle densification, infrastructure and legacy precincts.
As always, we’ll be watching closely, and bringing you updates as they unfold.
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