Thornlands declared PDA as housing pressure mounts in Qld

The state has unlocked 900 hectares of land in Southern Thornlands for housing, declaring it a Priority Development Area, after years of lobbying from developers and landowners.

The state government has opened a massive tract of bayside land for housing after it was locked away from developers hoping to subdivide it for more than a decade.

In a major move to address Queensland’s growing housing crisis, the state government has unlocked more than 900 hectares of semirural land in bayside southern Thornlands, where landowners have begged for a decade to be allowed to subdivide and build up to 8000 homes.

The area, known as Southern Thornlands, was declared a Priority Development Area (PDA), on Friday, allowing developers to bypass Redland City Council’s usual planning processes to expedite housing.

It is anticipated to accommodate up to 20,000 people and approximately 8000 dwellings including social and affordable housing and include lots less than 300 sqm, as well as duplexes and other higher-density housing options.

A Redland City Council map showing the Thornlands Potential Future Growth Area.

Deputy Premier Jarrod Bleijie said one of the solutions to the housing crisis was “supply, supply, supply”.

“And you don’t have to be rocket scientists to work out its supply, that’s the issue we’ve had across Queensland,” Mr Bleijie said.

“With this declaration of Southern Thornlands being a priority development area, EDQ will take over the development of this site.”

Mr Bleijie said they were going to do everything they could to ensure homes started “coming up out of the ground as soon as possible”.

BMD Group CEO Scott Power said they were “extremely pleased” to be able to work with the state government and congratulate the state government on declaring it a priority development area.

The move follows years of lobbying by developers and property owners frustrated by delays despite the land being placed in the state’s urban footprint, and then later removed.

Premier David Crisafulli confirmed the PDA designation this week and announced that the next community cabinet meeting would be held in Redlands on April 14.

“We’re delivering on our promise to tackle housing affordability and open up land that’s been unnecessarily locked away,” Mr Crisafulli told parliament.

“This is about getting Queenslanders into homes faster.”

The new PDA is located between Boundary Rd, Mount Cotton Rd, Eprapah Creek, and Springacre Rd.

The new housing estate area marked in red stripes.

It forms part of the broader South East Queensland Regional Plan, which has identified the need for nearly 900,000 new homes by 2046.

Major landholders Urbex and Harridan welcomed the announcement, saying it was a long-overdue response to critical housing supply issues in the Redlands.

“There’s just not enough houses for young Redlands families starting out, or for retirees wanting to downsize,” Urbex general manager Carl Bruhn said.

“This declaration is a crucial step forward.”

Redland City councillor Paul Golle has opposed the opening up of the land in the area.

Bruhn said land bordering Springacre Rd could be released early, subject to approvals, and promised a mix of lot sizes and housing types, including affordable and higher-density options to suit the area’s evolving needs.

But the state’s announcement was met with backlash from some Redland City councillors and the mayor Jos Mitchell, who warned of significant infrastructure shortfalls and a lack of financial support from the state government.

Councillor Paul Golle, whose electorate covers the area, expressed alarm at the PDA designation, likening it to the state-imposed Yarrabilba development in Logan, which burdened local council with expensive infrastructure demands.

“This will be market-led housing with minimal social housing, and the costs will fall on our ratepayers,” Cr Golle said.

“It’s reckless to forge ahead without sewerage, roads, or schools in place.”

Cr Rowanne McKenzie estimated infrastructure costs could exceed $1 billion, questioning how the gap between state developer charges and actual costs would be funded.

Redland Mayor Jos Mitchell said the new estate would be bigger than Shoreline and had concerns about the cost of infrastructure including sewerage, which is yet to be built at Shoreline, pictured above.

Mayor Mitchell said the PDA was more than twice the size of the city’s largest housing development, Shoreline estate, and urged the government to fund essential services, including the duplication of the Cleveland rail line and the extension of the Eastern Busway.

“This is the largest proposed development in Redlands’ history, and unless the state funds the infrastructure, our residents will be left footing the bill,” she said.

Despite opposition, the council says it will work with Economic Development Queensland to advocate for necessary infrastructure and ensure the development aligns with community expectations.

Originally published as Thornlands declared PDA as housing pressure mounts in Qld