Big increase in homes planned for northern Brisbane suburb

Brisbane City Council plans to boost the number of homes in Alderley after the northside suburb was unveiled as the latest focus of the Lord Mayor’s precinct renewal program.

The suburb will join Stones Corner, Wynnum and Mount Gravatt in having development streamlined as part of the Suburban Renewal Precincts Program.

Full details have not been fleshed out, but possible changes would be centred around the South Pine Road and Enoggera Road corridor from Railway Street to Moran Street.

“This area has all the ingredients to support more homes,” Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner said in an announcement on Tuesday.

“This plan will create more housing choice and affordability, while supporting small businesses and revitalising the local economy.”

Chairman of the Better Suburbs Initiative, Ross Elliott, said plans for Alderley were in the early stages, but with community consultation would aim to improve local infrastructure while boosting density.

“People are looking for more opportunities to do things closer to home ... whether that’s work or shopping or entertainment or healthcare or schooling,” he told this masthead.

“The idea of suburbs just being dormitories where people live and then asking them to keep travelling very long distances to access the things they need, I think that’s what we’re trying to change.”

The Labor opposition said it did not believe the program has been an effective tool to combat housing shortages in Brisbane.

“We made the decision to support changes to the City Plan on the assurance from the LNP that they would lead to increased supply of housing,” leader Jared Cassidy said.

“Two years have passed since these precinct plans and glossy strategies were first introduced and they have failed to produce affordable housing.

“In fact, there is not one single reference to affordable housing targets in any of these plans or strategies.”

In Stones Corner, a council proposal announced last year would allow apartment buildings up to 20 storeys on some blocks. Total dwellings were projected to climb from about 800 to 2000 by 2046.

On Tuesday, Elliott said the changes in Alderley would likely differ from those proposed for Stones Corner.

“The thing to keep in mind is that each of these suburban precincts is very different,” he said.

“It’s about what’s best suited ... it’s very much a horses-for-courses approach. There’s no one-size-fits-all approach to suburban renewal.”

Start the day with a summary of the day’s most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. Sign up for our Morning Edition newsletter.