120,000 new homes: Inside Qld’s next city as Moreton Bay population booms
Some 100,000 homes, as well as hospitals, new highways a university and a city the size of Mackay are all tipped to be delivered to this booming South East Queensland region by 2046. SEE WHAT NEEDS TO BE BUILT
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More than 100,000 homes, hospitals, new highways university and a new city the size of Mackay are all tipped to call Moreton Bay home by 2046, as the region’s population balloons.
New population projection data shows Moreton Bay’s population will increase 64 per cent from 484,428 in 2021, to 796,515 in 2046.
Moreton Bay has the third largest local government population in Australia, passing the 500,000 mark last August, and is projected to overtake the population of Tasmania by 2031.
Moreton Bay Regional Council (MBRC) predicts an additional 200,000 people are expected to call Moreton Bay home over the next 20 years.
Queensland’s booming population is predicted to surpass 7 million by 2046, with regional areas like Moreton Bay predicted to grow at phenomenal speeds, as interstate migrants from NSW and Victoria seek out affordable living.
With such a massive population boom on the way for Moreton Bay, the question is: how will the region cope?
Where will people live in Moreton Bay?
REIQ COO Dean Milton estimates that Moreton Bay will need 120,000 dwellings to house its 2046 projected population.
“However this is contingent upon the demographics of that new population, and therefore it is vital that planning incorporates introducing a diversity of housing, rather than taking a cookie-cutter approach,” Mr Milton said.
MBRC has set the ambitious goal of containing it’s urban footprint to 25 per cent of its 2,045 square kilometre region, protecting the remaining 75 per cent from urban development.
The council plans to achieve this with a “polycentric” city model, where high-end business and density will be spread throughout city centres in the region, essentially building up instead of out into existing rural areas.
There are 12 growth areas in Moreton Bay which have already seen or will see a boom in urban development and housing.
These are: Morayfield South, Burpengary East, Narangba East, Joyner, Warner, Wamuran, Pine Valley, Elimbah North, Elimbah East and North East Business Park.
Waraba (Caboolture West) will be the last major greenfield development in the region.
Over the next 40 years, the Caboolture West growth area is anticipated to accommodate 70,000 residents in 30,000 homes and become a city the size of Mackay, with all the schools, housing and other infrastructure to boot.
The Queensland Government is currently leading land use and infrastructure planning to support the development of Caboolture West as a new regional city for the Moreton Bay region.
The first 2,000 homes to built by Stockland have been approved for construction in Waraba.
North Harbour in Burpengary East off Buckley Road, is a 785 hectare, 2,000 home master planned community, featuring a 400 berth marina, 500 dry boat stacker, 46 hectare mixed industry precinct, marina village with retail, commercial and residential elements.
The $2.7 billion project, up to stage 32, is expected to create up to 7,000 jobs.
Lendlease is set to build a $500 million residential community called Kinma Valley off Oakey Flat Road in Morayfield.
Expected to be home to over 6,500 people, the land has been approved for up to 2,500 new homes.
REIQ’s Chair of Caboolture/Redcliffe James Brown said Caboolture West and Morayfield will provide the longer term future supply of land for the area highlighting the current opportunities closer within Morayfield and Caboolture almost as infill suburbs yet not currently at infill prices.
“Moreton Bay region with an area over 2000sq kilometres comprises an extremely diverse range of property types including the opportunity to purchase three-quarter acre to two acre properties without development premiums, these properties in Brisbane are a rarity and with the projected population growth these properties will continue to be desired,” Mr Brown said.
“While opportunities to obtain new vacant land lots exist much of this is being created under the current town plan which increased density requirements for developers and hence lots can start from less than 300 sqm but tend to average in the 400 sqm range.
“Therefore any properties on 600 sqm and above rather than the standard will become more attractive as we see the new generation of developments completing and the long term population growth forecast.”
What needs to be built?
With Moreton Bay’s population to grow by 64 per cent by 2046, a lot of new infrastructure will be needed.
MBRC has identified the following critical infrastructure needed before the 2032 Olympics in Brisbane:
The Bruce Highway Western Arterial Road, Transport and Main Roads (TMR) has to implement the Moreton Connector and add a second crossing over the North Pine River.
Further MBRC listed the replacement of seven railway level crossings with overpass infrastructure.
Railway crossings where major infrastructure upgrades are required to accommodate planned growth which include:
- The Buchanan Road overpass, a new bridge over the rail line that will facilitate growth including Caboolture West.
- Blewers Road overpass, a new bridge over the rail line that will facilitate growth including Morayfield South and Caboolture West.
- Hauton Road overpass, a new bridge over the rail line.
- Narangba East bypass which includes a new bridge over the rail line.
- Boundary Road bridge upgrade and realignment.
- Improvements or alternative to the Alma Road underpass.
Mr Brown said Moreton Bay has been a sleeping giant of growth since the amalgamation of local councils in Pine Rivers, Caboolture and Redcliffe.
“The Moreton Bay Council area is benefiting from much needed road infrastructure upgrades which has come somewhat after other major road infrastructure to the South (South East Freeway and Bruce Highway to Gold Coast upgrade) and Western Freeway West of Brisbane has led development and growth in those areas,” Mr Brown said.
“The Gateway arterial road duplication and Bruce Highway upgrades have been much needed and the planned North Brisbane Bruce Highway Western Alternative will improve access and capacity.”
In all likelihood further hospitals will need to be built by 2046, to support the existing Caboolture and Redcliffe public hospitals, along with the three satellite hospitals still to be built.
The Mill at Petrie is a 460ha greenfield site and priority development area delivering sustainable, mixed-used developable land.
The Mill at Moreton Bay is projected to boost the regional economy by $813 million annually and generate 8600 jobs.
The Mill would be made up of shared use facilities for the community such as a private hospital, sport and recreation, green and open space, public areas, in addition to commercial and retail shops, residential housing and student accommodation, and significant wildlife and conservation areas.
Moreton Bay Regional Council will host the Olympic boxing events at the new multipurpose 7,000-seat indoor stadium that will be built at The Mill.
Council expects it will feature at least nine multi-use courts that will be designed to not only host high-level sports competition post the Olympics but have huge legacy benefits for the broader community.
The University of the Sunshine Coast Moreton Bay Campus is in stage two of its campus development with three new buildings.
Upon completion the USC Moreton Bay will cater for 10,000 students.
Student enrolment is due to reach 10,000 by 2030, with graduating students contributing to the abundant, highly skilled workforce in Moreton Bay.
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