More urban growth and nature ‘corridors’ are among the features of a draft planning report for Narangba East, north of Brisbane.
The report for the Narangba East Rural Residential Investigation Area (RRIA) is now open for public comment and closes on October 9.
Moreton Bay City Mayor Peter Flannery says “it’s no secret that growth is coming” and that parts of Narangba East have long been earmarked as key to future urban growth.
“Our projections show that our city will double in population from roughly 530,000 people today to one million within the next 30 or so years,” he says.
“With those people we’ll also need new jobs so it’s important that we plan for that growth now.”
He says the RRIA covers about 1020 hectares of “prime developable land” in the town centre with its direct access to the Bruce Highway and train station
URBAN GROWTH TARGETED
“The draft (Future Directions) Report features a mix of future housing and employment land uses, environmental corridors, areas to be retained as rural residential land, guiding future infrastructure investment, and a plan for how it could transition into these uses over the coming decades,” he says.
Flanery says the draft report provides clarity about council’s urban plans for Narangba East by outlining proposed land use changes and future infrastructure needs and which will be used to change the planning scheme in future.
Council says a Temporary Local Planning Instrument (TLPI) sits over 443 hectares of the site (taking in Burpengary and Narangba) to pause future developments like new sub-divisions.
The TLPI was approved by the State Government on conditions that council finalises a timetable for changes to be made to the scheme before it expires in June 2028 and to outline future housing developments.
Moreton Bay council Deputy Mayor Jodie Shipway says residents should have their say but they will have a second chance later on.
“There will be a further opportunity to have input when the report progresses to a planning scheme amendment within the next two years,” she says.
Once the consultation is over, proposed changes to the planning scheme will be drawn up for more public consultation before it can be legally ratified.
The updated scheme can then be used by council to rule on future development applications for the area.
2024 FEASIBILITY REPORT
A November 2024 feasibility study into the area’s land use noted there was “very limited opportunity” left for industrial development in southern Moreton Bay.
It said Brisbane City was due to run out of industrial land within 10 years and that sites north of Narangba were too far away from Brisbane Port and airport to be considered economically viable.
Click here to view the draft report on council’s website.
