Developers fear for Wynnum CBD if changes are not made to current neighbourhood plan

Major projects on hold, investors staying away – developers insist a suburb in Brisbane’s bayside will be left behind if council doesn’t make a major call on a 13-year neighbourhood plan.

There are fears developers could abandon Brisbane’s bayside, leaving up to $500 million worth of potential projects on the table, if a major call is not made by the Brisbane City Council.

Major projects in Wynnum are being put on hold and potential investors are staying away from the area as developers call for council to make changes to the Wynnum Manly Neighbourhood Plan.

The current plan, established in 2009, allows for developments of up to five storeys in some areas of Wynnum Central and projects up to eight storeys in other areas.

But developers say buildings within the levels allowed were no longer financially viable due to a significant increase in construction and supply costs since the Covid-19 pandemic.

Artist impression of the 68-unit project from Simac Enterprises at Wynnum, which has been put on hold.

It is believed the cost of supplies as well as the time it takes for supplies to be transported has increased up to 40 per cent over the past two years causing major issues for developers.

Tom Simac from Simac Enterprises has put his 68-unit project on the corner of Ronald and Andrew St at Wynnum on hold while Justin Ham’s application for a 27-storey apartment complex in the suburb’s CBD for Hambros Pty Ltd is currently being assessed by council.

“What was financially viable three or four years ago, isn’t financially viable anymore,” Mr Simac said.

“Times have changed since the pandemic and if we can’t add more levels and make developments between 15 to 20 storeys than it just makes it impossible.

Artist impression of the $200m, 27-storey development proposal for Wynnum's CBD from Hambros.

“Wynnum has come a long way in recent years but now if this plan isn’t changed and developments aren’t allowed to go higher then it’ll be left behind and might not recover.

“The area will be hosting events at the 2032 Olympics, we should be trying to make the area better for such a massive event.”

Mr Ham, whose development proposal for Charlotte St is worth more than $200 million, said the suburb could lose up to $500 million-worth of projects.

He also said the plans in place from council were not working for Wynnum with little to no developments in the suburb’s CBD in the past 13 years.

Wynnum’s CBD is classified as Charlotte St to Edith St and Clara St.

Artist impression of the $200m, 27-storey development proposal for Wynnum's CBD from Hambros.

“Council said their 20-year plan is working but nothing is happening and developers have stalled projects due to non viability and restrictions in place,” he said.

Mr Ham said there was no reason Wynnum could not replicate other areas like Toowong, which had buildings more than 20 storeys high.

He said changing the plan would also deliver more affordable housing options faster.

Another major developer responsible for many major projects across southeast Queensland said other companies would be holding back from investing in the area because the restrictions meant projects were not financially viable.

He also said it was a problem across Brisbane with development applications submitted to council decreasing significantly — a decrease he believed was around 75 per cent.

But council have maintained their strong stance on the neighbourhood plan, saying there were no plans for it to be reviewed.

Cr Adam Allan. Picture: News Corp/Attila Csaszar

“Brisbane is constantly changing and we work tirelessly to ensure our neighbourhood plans adapt to accommodate growth while protecting the look and feel of our suburbs,” Civic Cabinet Chair for Planning Adam Allan said.

“Each Neighbourhood plan takes between two to three years to deliver and looks at a vision of up to 20 years.”

Labour councillor for Wynnum Manly Peter Cumming said residents were not against development.

“We understand there is a housing crisis but you just can’t have buildings as massive as this going up anywhere you like,” he said.

Labor Councillor for Wynnum Manly Peter Cumming. (AAP Image/Regi Varghese)

“The current Neighbourhood Plan allows for development but importantly it protects the area and its unique character and that’s why we don’t want to see the current guidelines scrapped.”

A spokesman for the Department of State Development, Infrastructure, Local Government and Planning said updates to neighbourhood plans and planning schemes were a matter for local governments.

Should Brisbane City Council consider a review of the Wynnum-Manly neighbourhood plan is appropriate, engagement with their local community forms part of Queensland’s plan making process.