Northshore Hamilton
Key details
The Northshore Hamilton Priority Development Area (PDA) is a large urban renewal area that is being transformed into a vibrant, mixed-use precinct adjoining the Brisbane River and the suburb of Hamilton.
It covers 304 hectares, has over three kilometres of river frontage and is close to the Brisbane Airport and the Australian Trade Coast precinct.
The PDA was declared on 27 March 2008.
Development scheme
The Northshore Hamilton PDA Development Scheme is the regulatory document which assists with planning, carrying out, promoting, coordinating and controlling land development within the PDA.
Northshore Hamilton PDA Development Scheme open for public consultation
EDQ is seeking community and stakeholder feedback on proposed amendments to the Northshore Hamilton PDA Development Scheme.
Why the Development Scheme is being amended?
The Northshore Hamilton PDA, declared in 2008 and most recently updated in October 2022, is Queensland’s largest waterfront urban renewal project. Spanning 304-hecatres between the Brisbane River and Hamilton, the Northshore precinct is being transformed from former port land into a vibrant, connected and sustainable riverfront destination.
As the planning authority, master developer and major landholder, EDQ has a key role in delivering the long-term vision for the precinct.
Since the last Development Scheme update, a change in government priorities, including the removal of the Brisbane 2032 Athletes Village, has prompted a need to review and revise the planning framework to ensure it remains responsive and relevant.
What’s changing?
We’ve listened to what matters most to the community and industry. The proposed changes aim to reduce red tape and burdensome planning requirements, helping unlock new housing opportunities sooner while maintaining quality outcomes.
Key proposed amendments include:
- Enhancing car parking provisions to ensure appropriate levels of parking for residents and visitors to the PDA.
- Simplifying sustainability requirements allowing resident focused outcomes with more flexible design responses.
- Support for more housing diversity through more flexible planning mechanisms.
- More encouragement for innovative and efficient design and design excellence.
- Ensuring planning measures encourage the delivery of high quality, functional and attractive spaces within the development.
- Include a revised location for the future school, now proposed for the south-east corner of the community hub (near Theodore Street and Macarthur Avenue).
- Remove references to the Athletes’ Village, aligning with the outcomes of the Queensland Government’s 100-day review into the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
Read the Northshore Hamilton PDA Proposed Development Scheme amendment no. 2 for more information.
Have your say
EDQ are keen to hear from residents, local businesses, landowners, developers and anyone with an interest in the future of Northshore Brisbane.
Your feedback will help shape the final Development Scheme and guide planning decisions that affect the long-term future of this major precinct.
Public notification runs from 7 August 2025 – 19 September 2025
To find out more about upcoming engagement opportunities please visit the Northshore Hamilton Have Your Say page.
How to make a submission
Submissions can be lodged to the Minister for Economic Development Queensland (MEDQ) by:
Post: Economic Development Queensland GPO Box 2202 Brisbane QLD 4001
Email: contact@edq.qld.gov.au
A submission should:
- be in writing
- be received during the respective public notification period
- include the submitter’s name and contact details
- include a description of any issues of concern and/or support for specific section of the Development Scheme, and
- be made to the Minister for Economic Development Queensland.
Phone: 07 3452 7880
Email: contact@edq.qld.gov.au
Post: Economic Development Queensland, GPO Box 2202, Brisbane, 4001
Have your Say: yoursay.edq.qld.gov.au
Development assessment
EDQ is responsible for assessing development applications in this PDA.
All development applications are assessed against the Development Scheme.
Infrastructure
The Northshore Hamilton PDA Development Charges and Offset Plan (DCOP) accompanies the Development Scheme. It identifies relevant development charges, how these charges are calculated, levied and administered, and the trunk infrastructure required to service the PDA.
You can also view the Northshore Hamilton PDA Infrastructure Plan Background Report (IPBR). The IPBR outlines technical details and desired standards of service for the infrastructure identified in the DCOP.
Development project
Northshore Hamilton PDA regulatory map
Northshore Hamilton PDA boundary map
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Why is the Northshore Hamilton PDA Development Scheme being amended?
A: The Development Scheme is being updated to reflect the feedback of the community and Government. Specifically, the amendments aim to:
- Align with the outcomes of the Queensland Government’s 100-Day 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Infrastructure Review, including the removal of references to the proposed Athletes Village within Northshore;
- Respond to feedback from State Government agencies to ensure land use planning supports essential infrastructure such as schools and community facilities; and
- Incorporate feedback from industry and the community to remove red tape and reduce regulatory barriers that add to the cost of building new homes.
These updates will bring forward land and housing supply and through the reduction in red tape and regulation help reduce the cost of delivering new homes.
Q: What amendments are being made to the Development Scheme?
A: The Development Scheme is being updated to improve clarity, remove outdated requirements, and better reflect community, industry and government priorities. Key amendments include:
- Amending sustainability requirements, allowing for more flexible and innovative design approaches.
- Removing the requirement for 10% of units to have three or more bedrooms, providing flexibility to meet changing market demands.
- Removing the requirement for 5% social, public or affordable housing, with housing diversity to be supported through broader planning tools and flexibility.
- Removing strict building form controls, including the 30-metre wall length and 10-metre articulation requirements, enabling better design flexibility.
- Relocating the proposed school to a new site southeast of the intersection of Theodore Street and Macarthur Avenue North—safely outside the fuel storage hazard zones.
- Removing references to the Athletes Village, consistent with the Queensland Government’s 100-Day Olympic Infrastructure Review.
These changes aim to streamline planning, support housing delivery and infrastructure needs, and ensure homes in Northshore Hamilton are bought forward.
Q: Can development still occur while the Development Scheme is being amended?
A: Yes.
Property owners who have existing development approvals under the 2022 PDA development scheme can progress development in accordance with their approvals.
Property owners or developers who intend to lodge development applications under the current development scheme are still able to do so. EDQ will continue to assess applications against the existing 2022 PDA development scheme until such time as an amended development scheme comes into effect.
Q: How will the community be consulted during public notification?
A: There will be several opportunities to find out more information about the Development Scheme amendments.
You can also attend one of the public drop-in sessions at The Shed, Dock C, 257 MacArthur Avenue, Hamilton QLD 4007.
- Session One: Wednesday 27 August 2025, 10:30 - 13:30
- Session Two: Wednesday 27 August 2025, 17:00 - 19:30
- Session Three: Saturday 30 August 2025, 09:00 - 12:00
Q: How will the community be able to comment or provide feedback?
A: The proposed Development Scheme will be available for public notification from Thursday, 7 August until Friday, 19 September 2025.
All interested parties can make submissions regarding the proposed Development Scheme during this period.
All submissions received during the submission period will be considered by the Minister for Economic Development Queensland (MEDQ). Amendments may be made to the Development Scheme as a result of matters raised in these submissions.
A submissions report will be prepared summarising the submissions received. The submissions report will be made available to the public on adoption of the Development Scheme. All received submissions will be treated as confidential and reported anonymously in the submissions report.
A submission should:
- be in writing;
- be received during the respective public notification period;
- include the submitter’s name and contact details;
- include a description of any issues of concern and/or support for specific section of the Development Scheme;
- be made to MEDQ.
Last updated: 14 August 2025