The SEQ regional plan 2017 also known as ShapingSEQ is under review with the draft ShapingSEQ 2023 Update released by the State for formal public consultation from 3 August to 20 September 2023.

Now is the time to have your say on the future of SEQ.

Go to this site or contact our Planning Team to find out how it affects you and future growth and development opportunities.

Fast Facts

• Expansion of the urban footprint boundary with additional areas proposed at Elimbah, Staplyton, Thornlands, Redland Bay, Wellcamp, Yatala and Beerburrum.
• Major Development Areas (MDA) at Elimbah North, Wellcamp and Beerwah East and Potential Future Growth Areas at Westbrook, Highfields, North Harbour and Staplyton. 
• Clear emphasis on increasing existing densities within the existing urban footprint with the infill/sprawl ratio increased from 60/40 to 70/30.
• “High amenity areas” to support higher densities in appropriate locations around centres, major public transport services, significant greenspace/recreation areas and education facilities.
• “Gentle density” in low density and low-medium density zoned areas replacing the concept of the “missing middle”. 
• 20% of all new homes across SEQ is to be provided as either social housing (public and community housing) and affordable housing (which is defined as households on low to moderate incomes).
• New focus on expanding industrial land, including potential locations for strategic Recycling Enterprises Precincts. 
• Inclusion of the SEQ Infrastructure Supplement (SEQIS).

Expanding the Urban Footprint

Land continues to be allocated into three regional land use categories, being the Urban Footprint, Regional Landscape and Rural Production Area and the Rural Living Area. The ShapingSEQ Update allows further urban development and growth outside the current Urban footprint boundary, with additional area proposed at Elimbah, Staplyton, Thornlands, Redland Bay, Wellcamp, Yatala and Beerburrum.

Other areas of growth are identified in Major Development Areas (MDA) at Elimbah North, Wellcamp and Beerwah East, and Potential Future Growth Areas at Westbrook, Highfields, North Harbour and Staplyton. It is expected an additional 2.2 million people will call SEQ home by 2046, requiring 900,000 more homes, with 209,700 homes needed in Brisbane alone.

Whilst there is expansion of the urban footprint, there is a clear emphasis for increasing consolidation and increased densities within the urban footprint. As such the infill/sprawl ratio has increased from 60/40 to 70/30; a clear sign that infill and consolidation is here to stay.

Infill Opportunities

Infill and consolidation within urban areas is supported for the obvious reasons, but the bigger question is – how will this be coordinated with infrastructure upgrades, planning approvals and construction costs? How will the State enforce the achievement of population targets? More will need to be done to incentivise and enforce infill development. There is the political and community aspect also which can be adverse to increased densities.

There are opportunities to increase densities at key locations across SEQ. Increasing densities around high amenity areas is a clear and demarcated way to increase densities whilst protecting the low-density areas people value so dearly. The SEQ update introduces “high amenity areas” which supports higher densities in appropriate locations around centres, major public transport services, significant greenspace/recreation areas and education facilities. In these areas local governments are required to proactively support densities provided in the regional plan. This is needed as there is currently low and low-medium zoned land restricting infill development in many high amenity areas across the region. The planning scheme restrictions mean land in highly serviced areas including those in proximity to the CBD only cater for dwelling houses and / or 2 to 3 storey multiple dwellings. This does not support population growth and housing targets and must be reviewed immediately before the land is further fragmented and the opportunity lost.

Gentle Density

Outside the higher density zoned land and high amenity areas, the SEQ update introduces “gentle density” in low density and low-medium density zoned areas which replaces the concept of the “missing middle” used in the current SEQ regional plan. It is uncertain how the state will enforce this and whether local governments accommodate for gentle density in their planning schemes. For example, in 2018 the state allowed Brisbane City Council to do the “townhouse ban” on large low density zoned and emerging community zoned land. With a large amount of the growth projected within Brisbane, the planning scheme needs to do more to facilitate and incentivise growth in appropriate locations across the Brisbane LGA and not just in high density areas in the City and Kurilpa.

Housing Affordability

If we are talking about gentle density in low density and low-medium density areas, how can affordable housing options (for all) be delivered on already expensive and precious land? Part of the solution is to provide for smaller land holdings in low and low-medium density zoned areas – allowing smaller lots, such as terrace lots, micro-lots, townhouses, secondary dwellings that can be titled.

Logan City Council is leading the way in this space. There are provisions for secondary dwellings to be titled and the new planning scheme soon to be released allows for much smaller lots, such as terrace lots. Can this go even further with micro lots?

A new target is introduced, with 20% of all new homes across SEQ is to be provided as either social housing (public and community housing) and affordable housing (which is defined as households on low to moderate incomes). This is much needed. Housing stress has long been acknowledged as housing costing more than 30% of your household income. Stats say that the average new mortgage alone in Brisbane is 39.9% of our household incomes.

Got Questions?
Contact our Planning Team now if you would like further information about the draft ShapingSEQ Update or how to make a submission.