Brisbane City Council voted Tuesday to allow high-density apartment buildings near the Upper Mount Gravatt and Chermside Westfield shopping centres, a move proponents say will increase housing supply but critics argue will exacerbate affordability issues.
The precinct plans, approved with bipartisan support from the LNP, Labor, Greens, and independent councillors, will pave the way for taller buildings in areas surrounding the two major shopping destinations. The decision follows the council’s recent efforts to reduce minimum block sizes to 120 square metres and decrease car parking requirements for new developments, part of a broader urban densification agenda aimed at reducing car dependency.
Despite the overall support for increased density, a key point of contention emerged during the debate: affordable housing targets. The LNP rejected proposals from the Labor opposition to mandate a percentage of affordable housing within the new developments. Councillor Adam Allan argued that such targets would undermine the financial viability of projects.
“We necessitate to recognise that housing in this city, 96 per cent of it, is delivered by the private sector,” Allan said. “If you choose to layer on condition after condition to developments, it just doesn’t get built.” He asserted that developers are unable to afford the construction of lower-cost housing options.
Labor Opposition Leader Jared Cassidy countered that the absence of affordable housing requirements would result in luxury apartments inaccessible to working families. “What about the ordinary people? $2 million units don’t really help them, and $900 per week rent doesn’t help them either,” Cassidy stated. He accused the LNP of prioritizing developer profits over the needs of residents.
Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner defended the decision to forgo affordable housing targets, emphasizing that increasing overall housing supply is the primary solution to Brisbane’s housing challenges. He highlighted the proximity of both Upper Mount Gravatt and Chermside to public transport infrastructure – Mount Gravatt’s connection to the Brisbane Metro line and Chermside’s planned future Metro link – as key factors in selecting these precincts.
The approved plans are part of a wider initiative encompassing other areas including Stones Corner, Wynnum Central, Salisbury, Moorooka, and Alderley. The Upper Mount Gravatt and Chermside precinct plans will now be submitted to the Queensland government for approval before returning to the council for finalization. This next stage will involve determining specific rezoning areas and permissible building heights.
According to a recent report from the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, the council’s decision aligns with a broader push for urban densification in the city. The Housing Investment Fund is as well contributing to increased housing stock, with 92 new homes recently announced through the fund, according to a Ministerial Media Statement.