Woolloongabba

Public Notice

Economic Development Queensland (EDQ) is updating the Woolloongabba Priority Development Area (PDA) Development Scheme to better reflect community expectations, industry feedback and government priorities. These changes are focused on improving clarity, removing barriers to housing delivery and responding to technical feedback.

A draft Development Charges and Offset Plan (DCOP) has been prepared to support the Woolloongabba Priority Development Area (PDA). The draft DCOP identifies relevant development charges, how these charges are calculated, levied and administered and the trunk infrastructure required to service the PDA.

All interested parties and stakeholders are invited to view the draft Development Scheme amendment no 1 and DCOP and provide feedback during the 15-business day submission period from 7 August – 29 August 2025.

Questions regarding the proposed Development Scheme and draft DCOP can be directed to Economic Development Queensland via:

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

Key details

The Woolloongabba PDA was declared on 22 September 2023, and the development scheme came into effect on 20 September 2024.

The Woolloongabba PDA comprises an area of approximately 106 hectares, covering parts of Woolloongabba, Kangaroo Point, East Brisbane, and South Brisbane (see Woolloongabba PDA Boundary Map).

The PDA was declared in response to a range of urban regeneration opportunities, including:

  • enabling new homes for up to 24,000 people and supporting 34,000 new jobs
  • major public transport investment in Cross River Rail and the Kangaroo Point Green Bridge
  • alignment with key State priorities
  • opportunities for greater planning integration across precincts and connections to the CBD and major destinations
  • revitalisation of underutilised inner-city areas to support more people living close to public transport, jobs, services, and entertainment hubs

Through its declaration as a PDA, EDQ’s streamlined planning and assessment processes apply, enabling more housing and jobs sooner.

Development scheme

The Woolloongabba PDA Development Scheme is the regulatory document which assists with planning, carrying out, promoting, coordinating and controlling land development within the PDA.

The Woolloongabba Development Scheme came into effect on 20 September 2024. This amendment proposes to change the current Development Scheme.

Woolloongabba Development Scheme open for public consultation

EDQ is seeking community and stakeholder feedback on proposed changes to the Woolloongabba PDA Development Scheme.

Why is the Development Scheme being amended?

The Development Scheme amendment is proposed in response to feedback about the Development scheme requirements and the impact of these requirements on housing delivery. The amendment will also address announcements from the 100 Day Review on the future of the Gabba Stadium and preferred location for a new major indoor entertainment venue, which are not currently provided for within the Development Scheme.

What’s changing?

Proposed amendments to the Development Scheme are designed to improve the scheme legibility, streamline development assessment, and provide greater clarity for industry, investors and the community.

Key amendments include:

  • addressing requirements that add unreasonable costs to housing,
  • removing red tape and duplication,
  • increasing flexibility, and
  • simplifying and rationalising the document.

Read the Woolloongabba PDA Proposed Development Scheme amendment no. 1 for more information.

Infrastructure

Draft Development Charges and Offset Plan (DCOP)

Defining infrastructure charges is important to ensure the area is growth ready and industry has certainty.

A DCOP outlines the larger or shared infrastructure (trunk infrastructure) upgrades planned to service the projected growth and development guided by the PDA development scheme. It includes details on the trunk infrastructure upgrades required, when they are required and how much the infrastructure is expected to cost.

The DCOP seek to unlock a range of benefits for the Woolloongabba PDA:

  • Delivering the right infrastructure at the right time to support an additional 24,000 residents over 40 years.
  • Unlocking land for housing.
  • Providing industry with the clarity it needs, as it works in partnership with government to deliver housing.

Public Notification

Have your say

EDQ would like to hear from residents, homeowners, landowners, business operators, industry stakeholders and the broader community.

Your feedback will help inform the finalisation of the amended Development Scheme and DCOP and provide clarity on the development and responsible growth of the Woolloongabba PDA.

Public notification runs from 7 August 2025 – 29 August 2025.

You can be involved by:

  • Making a submission during the notification period

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 DCOP, and
  • be made to the Minister for Economic Development Queensland.

For further information, visit the Woolloongabba PDA Have Your Say website  to view the proposed Development scheme and draft DCOP.

Development Applications

Economic Development Queensland assesses development applications for this PDA.

Development applications are assessed against the applicable Development Scheme.

Woolloongabba PDA regulatory map

Download the Woolloongabba PDA regulatory map.

Woolloongabba PDA boundary map

Further information

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What is a Development Scheme?

A: Development Scheme is a regulatory document designed to control land use and infrastructure planning. A Development Scheme:

  • establishes the development intent for a PDA and sets the planning policy against which future development applications are assessed
  • provides a framework to coordinate development activities that enable desired outcomes

Before finalising a Development Scheme, the Minister for Economic Development Queensland (MEDQ) invites community feedback about a draft plan for a PDA known as a Proposed Development Scheme.

Q: Who is responsible for assessing development applications in the Woolloongabba PDA?

A: Economic Development Queensland assesses development applications for this PDA. All development applications are assessed against the Woolloongabba PDA Development Scheme.

Q: Why is the Woolloongabba PDA Development Scheme being amended?

A: The Woolloongabba PDA Development Scheme is being amended to refine the planning framework and unlock housing supply in the PDA.  The key drivers for the amendment are:

  • the Government decisions announced at the conclusion of the 100 day review, relating to the former GoPrint site redevelopment for a major indoor entertainment venue and the future transformation of the Gabba Stadium into a lifestyle precinct; and
  • industry and landowner feedback about the complexity of the development scheme and requirements affecting project viability.
Q: What amendments are being made to the Development Scheme?

A:  The amendments to the Development Scheme make the document easier to use and clarify that the scheme is a performance based.  The key amendments relate to –

  • refining precinct provisions for Precinct 1 to provide for a new major indoor entertainment venue and the transformation of the Gabba Stadium site into a lifestyle precinct post Brisbane 2032
  • removing references to the Brisbane Metro Station
  • retaining the existing East Brisbane State school
  • revising how affordable and social housing as well as housing diversity/typology is achieved
  • removing mandated sustainability rating requirements that duplicate and potentially conflict with the requirements of the National Construction Code
  • substituting the requirement for certain sites to deliver ‘privately owned, publicly accessible open space’ or major shaded intersections subtropical planting’ with an opportunity and development bonus where this occurs
  • refining the proposed road hierarchy and the extent of streets identified as subtropical boulevards
  • amending the car parking and bicycle parking requirements.
Q: Can development still occur while the Development Scheme is being amended?

A: Yes.

Property owners who have existing development approvals under the 2024 PDA development scheme can progress development in accordance with their approvals.

Property owners or developers who intend to lodge a new development application under the current development scheme are still able to do so. EDQ will continue to assess applications against the existing 2024 PDA development scheme until such time as an amended development scheme comes into effect. EDQ will also consider the amended development scheme in assessing applications from when it is publicly notified.

Q: What is a Development Charges and Offset Plan (DCOP)?

A: The DCOP supports the Development Scheme in the funding and delivery of key enabling infrastructure for the PDA and provides guidance on infrastructure matters within the PDA.

The DCOP details the larger or shared infrastructure (trunk infrastructure) upgrades planned to service the projected growth and development. The DCOP also includes details on the scope of the trunk infrastructure upgrades, when upgrades or new infrastructure is required and how much the infrastructure is expected to cost for the water, sewer, transport, parks and open space, and community facilities networks.

The DCOP also includes information on development charges which are levied on development and used to pay for trunk infrastructure. Development charge amounts and other policy related to charges, such as how to calculate the charge; when credits apply and when offsets apply, is included in the DCOP.

Q: What is trunk infrastructure?

A: Trunk infrastructure is the high-level, shared infrastructure that services large catchments in and outside PDAs. Trunk infrastructure supports coordinated growth and provides the opportunity to enhance key community services like transport and open space.

Q: What new trunk infrastructure is planned for the Woolloongabba PDA?

A: The DCOP includes a range of trunk infrastructure items which incorporate:

  • Transport upgrades including intersection upgrades
  • Park and open space delivery and upgrades particularly within Precinct 1

Stormwater upgrades at various places including Annerley Road, Stanley Street, Leopard Street, Logan Street, Deshon Street, within and outside of the PDA

Q: How will the community be able to comment?

A: The proposed amended Development Scheme and Draft DCOP will be available for public review and comment for 15 business days from 7 August to 29 August.

All interested parties can make submissions regarding the development scheme and DCOP 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 and DCOP 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 amended development scheme and DCOP.

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 either the amended developments scheme or the DCOP;
  • be made to MEDQ

Last updated: 8 August 2025