Queensland’s state government has made official its objectives of a more usable, liveable and accessible South East Queensland (SEQ). In its first planning update since 2017, ShapingSEQ (the South East Queensland Regional Plan) has tasked the region with providing almost 900,000 new homes and about 1m new jobs by 2046.
The ShapingSEQ 2023 website says: “Every SEQ resident should have access to a safe, secure and affordable home that meets their needs and enables participation in the social and economic life of this prosperous state.” Those living and working in the region – or hoping to in the future – have a rapidly increasing need for more housing and different types of housing, improved infrastructure and employment opportunities.
The plan – available to read online – sets a long-term vision for the region. It outlines proposed strategies and interventions for more efficient land use that will support rapid population growth. So, how does this look in practice?
Building a future that meets fast-changing needs
Over the past 20 years, SEQ has grown consistently by an average of 2.2% per year. Today SEQ is home to about 3.8 million people, up from 2.4 million in 2001. However, the government acknowledges that future growth will look significantly different from past growth, “presenting challenges and opportunities of a complexity beyond those faced by the region to date”.
Among these, it notes increasing fiscal uncertainty, pressures relating to housing affordability and accessibility, and the need to quickly adjust to meet changing needs as the population expands.
The plan’s priorities reflect the challenges of having an expanding population with diverse needs. For example, SEQ has a growing number of single-person households, a decline in families with dependent children, but more extended families living together and an increase in couple-only families.
Importantly, ShapingSEQ also addresses a major reason for the population explosion: the lifestyle, community and environment that make SEQ an attractive place to live. While accommodating future growth, the 2023 plan also intends to “sustainably enhance and maintain” the appeal of the region.
A focus on housing availability and choice in urban growth
To meet housing needs, SEQ will need to provide a mix of traditional, single block, detached Queenslanders, and attached homes, such as townhouses, apartments, terrace houses and small lot houses. The ShapingSEQ plan recognises that the solution isn’t as simple as building more houses – they must be fit for purpose, recognising the diversity of family structures, and the need for access to employment, services and amenities, connected by appropriate infrastructure.
Households in SEQ are increasingly smaller and more diverse, signalling a change in the type of housing needed to support the population and its preferences. The government says there is growing demand for attached housing.
Different proposed housing types, models and higher densities are planned in well-located and well-serviced areas. The government also intends to “unlock new models and diverse forms of homes” for sustainable growth, including build-to-rent, co-housing and micro-housing.
Creating a SEQ that caters to everyone
The plan identifies that the creation of new housing alone is a false benefit if it doesn’t also make it possible to get to work, school and other essential locations. ShapingSEQ focuses on ensuring “people who work in key roles in our community” can access affordable housing options close to where they work, while identifying necessary changes to transport mode priorities, including prioritising more sustainable options such as through promoting investment in “active transport infrastructure, public transport enhancements and innovative mobility services”.
The plan also includes a high amenity areas framework that supports collaboration between government agencies, infrastructure providers and local councils, to align both existing and planned infrastructure with growth and changing land use. As part of the application of this framework, stakeholders will work together to ascertain where additional population growth can be supported.
Aligning transport infrastructure with planned density and dwelling growth will result in an increased emphasis on improvements to streets, roads and stations, alongside more investment in local facilities and amenities to encourage communities to live, work and play close to home.
A home for every South East Queenslander
Effective support for a growing population must address issues of housing inequity for more at-risk members of the community. ShapingSEQ sets a combined social housing and affordable housing target that it says would support housing availability for vulnerable people, those on low and moderate incomes, and essential workers. Houses provided as part of this target will be made up of non-market housing – subsidised housing that’s sold or rented at less than market value – and market housing, such as not-for-profit developments and lower-cost options.
In addition to the above targets, the plan also sets housing diversity sub-targets to promote different forms of housing being built across the region. These targets are set at a more granular level for each local government area (LGA), to encourage appropriate diversity in housing types that consider local residents’ needs.
The plan also calls for increased access to safe housing choices for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
With a wide spectrum of housing planned, ShapingSEQ reflects the aspiration that “done well, growth is an opportunity to expand and enhance our already great communities and support the different needs and lifestyles of all Queenslanders”.
ShapingSEQ Regional Plan priorities
A sustainable growth pattern.
More homes, faster – supply, diversity and affordability.
More social and affordable homes.
Well-designed communities.
Integrating land use and infrastructure.
New economic opportunities and jobs.
A sufficient pipeline of industrial land.
Incorporating Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander knowledge, culture, traditions and aspirations.
Regional approach to natural hazards.
Better biodiversity outcomes for growth areas.
