Greater housing density in Morayfield and South Caboolture is to form part of a new blueprint for planning and managing future growth.
The move is seen as part of a planning blueprint for tackling future housing demand and was endorsed by Moreton Bay City Council at its full meeting on August 13.
Moreton Bay Mayor Peter Flannery says the plan will provide more housing options and better amenities in the long-term.
“While housing density has long been a somewhat of a dirty term when talking about the Great Australian Dream of home ownership, the reality is that it helps provide more housing options,” he says.
“That’s why we have put housing density on the table as part of the solution in already built-up areas of Morayfield, such as existing commercial precincts and around the train station which are currently underutilised.
“These areas already have infrastructure and services in place and can be upgraded over time as more growth occurs,” Flannery says.
The report says the project area is expected to attract another 18,163 residents by 2046, bringing the population to 53,545 by then.
The draft report proposes more buildings up to 75m in height (20 storeys) compared to current maximum of 21m (seven storey) buildings; the new buildings will be grouped along Morayfield Road and around the railway line.
The draft report sees zoning changes to allow for more medium to high density mixed use. This could see at least 100 buildings of six to seven storeys in height per hectare in urban neighbourhoods.
CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE FULL REPORT
Council says that under the state ShapingSEQ plan, they must plan for an extra 308,300 people and 125,800 new homes by 2046 across Moreton Bay.
“We will need to maximise our current urban footprint if we’re going to meet the State Government’s housing targets,” Flannery says.
He claims that natural and rural landscapes will be protected as much as possible.
“We are committed to going green as we grow with a pledge to preserve 75% of the city as rural and natural landscapes for future generations and wildlife to enjoy.
“We’ve also carefully considered the community feedback and made some adjustments to the report – now we’ve endorsed the final version of that plan.”
Councillor Mark Booth says housing diversity is a way to keep residents from moving by catering to their needs.
“Housing diversity means creating more housing options for every stage of life so locals don’t need to move away to find a home that suits their current needs,” he said.
“We want everyone from first home buyers to retirees to have the opportunity to decide where they live rather than be forced out to other suburbs.”
Councillor Adam Hain claims higher density living in built-up areas will result in better services and amenities.
“We understand higher density isn’t going to be everyone’s cup of tea but it will be a great opportunity for many to improve their quality of life and create a more vibrant community around those centres,” he says.
“Through good planning we can increase density in the right places to maximise current infrastructure, which promotes more shops, services, cafes, events, parks and playgrounds within walking distance.”
The changes outlined in the draft report won’t take effect until council can change the Planning Scheme with the state government’s backing.
Once approved, the changes will apply only to new developments, and not retrospectively, council says.
WHAT RESIDENTS SAID ABOUT THE HOUSING PLAN
The draft blueprint also highlights three main points raised by residents during surveys by council:
- 83% of respondents say a sense of community must remain as the population grows.
- 61% agree that it is better to have higher density in existing areas than new small lot housing estates on urban edges.
- 69% agree that higher density living is acceptable in the right location (i.e., town centre, close to a train station or coastal edges).
Click here to find out more about the report from council’s website.
