Bowen Hills is on track for 27,000 new homes to be fast-tracked as the Queensland Government continues to turn inner Brisbane’s Victoria Park into an Olympic precinct.
The government wants to raise a cap on high-rise apartment buildings in the area from 30 to 50 storeys amid planning changes it wants to make to the suburb’s Priority Development Area (PDA) status.
The proposed new development of the 105-hectare area will include more food and drink outlets near the Brisbane Showgrounds, including boutique breweries and micro-distilleries.
The area is adjacent to Victoria Park, which is now being developed for a new Brisbane Olympics stadium to a new national aquatic centre and the showgrounds.
The government says it will remove red tape and other “unnecessary barriers” to industry that will boost the number of new homes in the precinct by an extra 4000.
The government says a similar planning reform to the Woolloongabba PDA resulted in a 466% increase in housing development applications in less than 12 months.
BOWEN HILLS ‘ON THE DOORSTEP’
Deputy Premier and Planning Minister Jarrod Bleijie says they are using the 2032 Olympic Games to benefit future generations.
“We have a once in a generation opportunity to leverage and grab hold of the halo benefits and city shaping economic legacy that the 2032 Games will unlock,” he says.
“Bowen Hills is on the doorstep of the planned Victoria Park Precinct and will become a thriving place to call home for thousands of Queenslanders, as well as a place for visitors to enjoy and businesses to invest and grow.
UDIA Queensland CEO Kirsty Chessher-Brown claims the planned reform would allow the area to reach its ‘full potential’.
“The revised Bowen Hills PDA reflected a modern and future-focused vision for this critically important inner-city location,” she says.
“The proposed amendments respond to industry’s feedback for a greater focus on the feasibility realities of delivering urban renewal in the current climate. The changes also reflect Bowen Hill’s significant potential to offer a high-quality environment to support homes, jobs, and places to enjoy and relax.
“Unlocking supply is the only solution to the current crisis and the draft changes set a clear and sensible pathway to boosting supply in this important precinct.”
The public can have their say on the proposed planning changes until October 9 by visiting the Economic Development Queensland website here: www.edq.qld.gov.au/projects/bowen-hills/
