Significantly taller residential towers are one step closer in three Brisbane suburbs, with updated plans now set to go from council to the state government for approval.
As part of the Schrinner administration’s “tall-not-sprawl” approach to planning, Indooroopilly, Carindale and Nundah were chosen for increased heights due to their proximity to shops and public transport.
“These are places we believe could, and can, accommodate more homes,” Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner told Brisbane City Council on Tuesday.
His office said some changes were made after public consultation, with about 200 submissions lodged.
While the original proposal would have allowed 30-storey buildings around Carindale Shopping Centre and the future transport interchange – up from the existing 10-storey cap – this was reduced to 25 storeys following feedback from residents.
Up to 10 storeys would also be allowed east of Carindale Street, towards Bulimba Creek.
In Indooroopilly, up to 25 storeys would be allowed in some areas around that suburb’s shopping centre and close to the train station and bus interchange.
The plan would halve the lot size needed to build to maximum height – from 4000 square metres to 2000 square metres.
In Nundah, up to 15 storeys would be allowed in areas around the major centre east of Sandgate Road, near Nundah Village and the train station.
The limit would increase to 10 storeys in other areas.
The Labor opposition argued that public transport and other infrastructure in the suburbs would struggle to cope with dramatic population increases, while pointing out the planning system meant taller buildings could still be constructed if developers convinced council they could be justified.
“Given Brisbane’s performance-based planning system, we’ll see developers coming in and saying, ‘you told us it needed to be 25, but we can only stack it up with 30. So can we do it?’ and the LNP will say, ‘sure’,” leader Jared Cassidy said.
The opposition abstained from voting on the proposal.
A document published on the council website suggested the majority of residents who chose to submit feedback on the plan were opposed to it.
Of the 195 submissions, 20 supported the proposed amendments, 57 supported them in part, 119 opposed them, and 22 neither supported nor opposed them but provided general feedback.
The proposed changes will now go to the state government for approval, before returning to council to be included in the City Plan.
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