Bowen Hills

Public notice

Economic Development Queensland (EDQ) is proposing amendments to the Bowen Hills Priority Development Area (PDA) Development Scheme to fast-track homes by reducing unnecessary red tape and other barriers to housing, while supporting Queensland businesses, investment and jobs. This will be done while maintaining appropriate planning controls.

This will include fast-tracking more than 4,000 homes for thousands of Queenslanders, adding to the 23,000 already planned over the life of the PDA. This increase in housing opportunities complements the Queensland Government’s broader investment in the Bowen Hills precinct.

The proposed amendments aim to unlock the housing and economic potential of the Bowen Hills PDA and align the Development Scheme with recent planning reforms introduced in other Queensland PDAs.

All interested parties and stakeholders are invited to view the draft Development Scheme and provide feedback during the 15-business-day submission period from 17 September to 9 October 2026.

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

Phone: 07 3452 7880

Email: [email protected]

Post: Economic Development Queensland, GPO Box 2202, Brisbane QLD 4001

Have your say: yoursay.edq.qld.gov.au

Key details

The Bowen Hills Priority Development Area (PDA) facilitates the development of a regionally significant mixed-use precinct that is well connected to public transport and the Brisbane CBD.

The PDA includes 108ha of land in the inner northern suburb of Bowen Hills, located 3km from the Brisbane CBD.

Landmark places, including the Brisbane Showgrounds, the Old Museum, Perry Park, Bowen Park, Bowen Hills Railway Station and Exhibition Railway Station, are located within the PDA.

The PDA was declared on 28 March 2008.

Development Scheme

The Bowen Hills PDA Development Scheme is the regulatory document that assists with planning, carrying out, promoting, coordinating and controlling development within the PDA.

The Development Scheme came into effect on 3 July 2009 and was amended on 1 April 2010, 21 June 2019, and 9 December 2022.

Bowen Hills Development Scheme amendments open for public consultation

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

Why is the Development Scheme being amended?

The Development Scheme is being amended to fast-track more than 4,000 homes for thousands of Queenslanders, while better supporting Queensland businesses and jobs, including emerging industries.

The amendments also align the Development Scheme with recent changes made in other PDAs, such as the Woolloongabba and Northshore Hamilton PDAs.

What’s changing?

Proposed amendments to the Development Scheme are designed to streamline development assessment, support emerging industries, and provide greater clarity for the development industry, investors and community.

The proposed amendments include:

increasing building height provisions in parts of the Mixed Use Zone to maximise housing opportunities and leverage significant State investment in the broader precinct
providing more flexibility for performance-based development outcomes
removing restrictive housing provisions
removing restrictive sustainability requirements
removing value uplift charges
removing restrictive urban design requirements
updating the Development Scheme vision and administrative provisions
introducing a new Artisan Food and Drink Industry use definition along with related assessment criteria

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 provide clarity on development within the Bowen Hills PDA.

Public notification runs from 17 September to 9 October 2026.

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: [email protected]
Online: via the submission form

A submission should:

be in writing
be received during the public notification period
include the submitter’s name and contact details
be made to the Minister for Economic Development Queensland.

For further information, visit the Bowen Hills PDA Have your say website to view the draft Development Scheme.

Development assessment

Economic Development Queensland (EDQ) assesses development applications for this PDA.

All development applications are assessed against the December 2022 version of the Development Scheme until the new Development Scheme takes effect.

Infrastructure

Funding and building infrastructure is key to facilitating development within PDAs.

The Bowen Hills PDA Development Charges and Offset Plan (DCOP) accompanies the PDA 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 Bowen Hills PDA Infrastructure Plan Background Report (IPBR).

To claim either a provisional or a final infrastructure offset use the online form. Please refer to the application checklist before completing the online form.

Bowen Hills PDA boundary map

Download the Bowen Hills PDA regulation map

PDF • 1 MB

Last updated: 17 September 2026

South East Queensland

Bowen Hills PDA is located 3km from the Brisbane CBD

108ha

PDA

PDA Regulatory Map

View Bowen Hills PDA Map

Key Information

Proposed Development Scheme

PDF • 6 MB

Development Charges and Offset Plan (DCOP)

PDF • 2 MB

Infrastructure Plan Background Report (IPBR)

PDF • 35 MB

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