Draft plans to allow apartment buildings of up to 15 storeys in Ferny Hills and Arana Hills are open for community feedback, as a new industry report warns of growing delays to apartment supply across south-east Queensland.
Read: Residents in Arana Hills and Ferny Hills Asked to Weigh In on Rezoning Plans
The City of Moreton Bay put the proposals out for public consultation in March, targeting two precincts currently dominated by single-storey detached homes. The rezoning is part of a broader response to a 2023 regional planning report that called on south-east Queensland councils to accommodate hundreds of thousands of additional residents by 2046. The consultation period has been extended and closes on 24 April 2026.
Pipeline Pressure
A report by urban consultancy firm Urbis warns that the region’s apartment supply is at risk. Beyond 2027, around 35 per cent of the pipeline is considered to carry a moderate to high risk of delay. Urbis points to two main pressures: escalating construction costs and the expected pull of subcontractors and tradespeople toward Olympic infrastructure projects ahead of Brisbane 2032.
Urbis partner Paul Riga has said apartment completions are expected to remain “well under the targets that are needed” over the next three to five years.
Those figures coincide with significant population growth in Queensland. Property analytics firm Cotality reports that Queensland absorbed more than a quarter of Australia’s total population growth between early 2020 and the end of 2025, more than any other state. New home completions in Queensland over that same period accounted for less than 20 per cent of the national total.
Local Concerns
Residents have formed a community group, Ferny Hills Futures, which has publicly stated it does not oppose greater housing density in principle. However, the group has flagged gaps in the draft documentation, including a lack of detail on master planning, design, infrastructure upgrades, and natural hazard mapping. The group cited those gaps as contributing to the mixed response from the broader community.
Read: Arana Hills Playground Upgrade Expands Inclusive Play Space
Council Response
City of Moreton Bay councillor Matt Constance has described the rezoning process as being at the “very early stages” and identified infrastructure as a “key challenge” and “priority focus” for the council. He said a detailed infrastructure plan would be developed in consultation with the state government and utility providers once the final rezoning report is complete.
Residents can lodge feedback on the draft plans via the City of Moreton Bay website before the consultation period closes on 24 April 2026.
Published 17-April-2026
CLICK ANY LOGO TO SEE PUBLICATION
