Southern Thornlands

Key details

The Southern Thornlands Priority Development Area (PDA) was declared on 4 April 2025 and the Southern Thornlands PDA Interim Land Use Plan (ILUP) came into effect.

The Southern Thornlands PDA covers 890 hectares and will play an important role in addressing Redland City Local Government Area’s (LGA) future housing, infrastructure, and economic needs. Recognised as a priority future growth area in Shaping SEQ in 2023, this PDA supports the region’s future growth.

The Southern Thornlands PDA will deliver:

• Around 8,000 new homes for approximately 24,000 Queenslanders, offering greater housing choice to the community
• $544 million in catalyst infrastructure including $256 million in key road and transport infrastructure, as well as $137 million for sewer upgrades, $29 million to support local water supply and $93 million for open spaces and community facilities
• Over 150-hectares of open space, including 11 neighbourhood recreational parks
• Three new schools to support the local area’s growth, comprising two new primary schools and a new secondary school
• Approximately 100 hectares of land earmarked for economic uses to support local businesses within the retail, essential services and other sectors, as well as creating potentially hundreds of jobs closer to home.

Find out more about the Southern Thornlands PDA.

For information about upcoming engagement activities, please visit the Southern Thornlands PDA Have your say page.

Development Scheme

The proposed Development Scheme (the Scheme) is the statutory planning instrument that will guide land use and development within the Southern Thornlands PDA. It functions as the policy framework which future development applications are assessed with.

The Scheme establishes the vision for Southern Thornland’s long-term growth. It explains how land will be used and developed over time to deliver well-planned neighbourhoods with homes, jobs, centres, schools, parks, services and infrastructure. The Scheme provides clear guidance to ensure development is coordinated, connected and integrated with surrounding communities.

Public notification

Public notification provides an opportunity for you to review the proposed Development Scheme and make a written submission. Submissions received during the notification period will be considered as part of finalising the Scheme.

Public notification period:  3 August 2026 to 15 September 2026

How to make a submission

Submissions can be made to the Minister for Economic Development Queensland (MEDQ) during the public notification period which runs to 15 September 2026.

You can make a submission using EDQ’s submission portal here.

For more information about upcoming engagement activities and how to make a submission, please visit the Southern Thornlands PDA Have your say page.

Infrastructure Activation Fund

The Infrastructure Activation Fund is a $2.4 billion investment by the Queensland and Australian Governments to fast-track homes within key growth areas over the next five years.

Across Queensland, the program will unlock or accelerate 51,368 new homes, with 20,547 supporting first home buyers. Within the Southern Thornlands PDA, this includes supporting the delivery of approximately 6,503 new homes to mid-2034, including 2,601 supporting first home buyers.

Led by EDQ, the program will support the delivery of these homes over the next eight years by investing in key catalyst infrastructure such as roads, water and sewer upgrades. The investment will unlock development ready land specifically in the Waraba, Southern Thornlands and Mount Peter PDAs and other key growth areas.

Further information regarding the program is available on the Infrastructure Activation Fund page.

Southern Thornlands PDA boundary map