It’s time to talk about growth, Moreton Bay
Published 03 February 2025
City of Moreton Bay is forging ahead with its plans to minimise urban sprawl and protect its rural and natural spaces, while meeting demands for housing supply, through the Morayfield Neighbourhood Planning project.
A draft Future Directions Report has been developed to guide growth in Morayfield and parts of Caboolture South over the next 10-plus years, with building heights and increased density a key part of the recommendations.
The draft report is now publicly available for residents to provide their feedback until the consultation period ends on 3 March, giving residents an opportunity to help shape the future of their neighbourhood.
Mayor Peter Flannery said Morayfield was the perfect suburb to build up, due to its existing access to key services such as jobs, public transport, schools, and more.
“As South East Queensland continues to flourish, it’s time we had a conversation about housing density and building heights in well-serviced suburbs like Morayfield,” he said.
“Under the ShapingSEQ plan, City of Moreton Bay must plan for an additional 308,300 people and 125,800 extra homes by 2046 to meet growing housing supply demands and tackle the housing crisis locally.
“That’s a significant increase from our current population of more than 500,000, so we need to find places to house those people without encroaching on the beautiful rural and natural spaces that make City of Moreton Bay a desirable place to live.
“Residents have told us that it’s important to maintain a sense of community as our population grows, while also supporting higher density living in the right locations.
“ShapingSEQ identifies Morayfield and Caboolture as a Principal Regional Activity Centre because it has access to existing services and infrastructure like the Morayfield Station, a vibrant commercial and retail precinct, medical facilities, schools, and plenty more.
“This doesn’t come without its challenges though, and we know that infrastructure will be a key part of this conversation.
“That’s why road upgrades like the Buchanan Road corridor are so vital to providing better access to the Bruce Highway and relieve congestion.
“This is where we need State and Federal Government’s to stump up and provide funding for critical infrastructure, so we can continue to meet our housing supply needs.”
Councillor Mark Booth (Division 2) said the Future Directions Report aimed to increase housing diversity within the project area.
“Housing diversity is important because it creates more options for different stages of life, meaning residents can stay in their neighbourhood for longer,” he said.
“It also means children will have options to buy their first home nearby instead of needing to move further from their families and support network.
Councillor Adam Hain (Division 3) said higher density living would provide more options to the community and it would support our goal to preserve 75% of the City as rural and natural spaces.
“We understand this will be a big change for some residents, but it’s also a huge opportunity to improve livability for locals in the long run,” he said.
“Higher density living promotes more shops, services, nightlife, cultural experiences, events, parks, and playgrounds all within a closer proximity to your home.
“It encourages healthier lifestyles by giving residents the option to walk, cycle or catch public transport to those services, which in turn takes cars off our roads.”
Morayfield and Caboolture South residents within the project area can now read the draft Future Directions Report and provide feedback by visiting our website before 3 March.
There will also be opportunities to speak to staff and councillors face to face at three pop-ups at Morayfield Shopping Centre.
All feedback will be tabled and considered for amendments to the report, which will then go to Council for approval once finalised.
If the report is approved by Council, it will guide future changes to the local planning rules. It will only be applicable to new homes, so residents won’t see change in their neighbourhood immediately.
To read the report and provide your feedback, visit our website.