A land use plan for 800 homes in the first stage of the Southern Thornlands Priority Development Area (PDA) has been advertised for public consultation with submissions required by 3 October 2025.
When announcing the PDA on 5 April 2025, the State Government designated an area east of Springacre Road as Precinct 1 with a temporary planning framework to immediately “unlock” 900 homes. The land use plan for Precinct 1 put forward by developer Mirabel Thornlands Pty Ltd anticipates a total residential yield of “up to 800 dwellings at full development” – an 11% reduction from what the Government announced.
The proposed Precinct 1 Land Use Plan shows areas for residential development, mixed use development and open space with an average net density of 25-35 dwellings per hectare including detached housing, apartments, terraces and duplexes. About 250 of the 800 dwellings will be built on multiple dwelling lots and there will be 550 single dwelling lots.
The State Government’s target is for 20% of Precinct 1 housing to be affordable for low to moderate income households, first home buyers and “key workers”. Within this 20% target, 5% of total dwellings are to be social housing which the developer says “can be delivered by the Department of Housing or community housing providers”. With 800 dwellings at full development in Precinct 1, there should be 40 social housing dwellings and 120 affordable housing dwellings.
Precinct 1 will include an area designated for ‘mixed use’ with building up to six storeys high for purposes such as food and drink outlet, health care service, office, shop, shopping centre, childcare, residential and sales office.
Water and sewerage for the Southern Thornlands PDA
The developer is proposing interim solutions for water supply and sewerage while the State Government prepares strategies for the whole of the Southern Thornlands PDA. Water supply from the existing main in Springacre Road will service the “initial stages” of the subdivision. A new sewage pump station will be established within the site with a rising main connected to the existing Redland City Council sewer network.
Environmental impacts of Precinct 1
A Terrestrial Ecological Assessment by consultants BAAM says:
While the site is predominantly cleared with prior disturbances noted across the study area, the landscape is known to support Koalas, and formulation of the land use plan has incorporated ecological input resulting in the inclusion of ‘open space’ sited in part to retain a majority of the existing bushland habitat, including retaining vegetation associated with the Eprapah Creek corridor.
It is noted the ST PDA Precinct 1 has previously obtained an approval under the Commonwealth Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 for a development layout which generally aligns with the concept layout. Therefore, matters of National Environmental Significance have been previously assessed by the relevant regulator and therefor, are not further addressed within this report.
A large number of trees will be cleared to make way for development in Precinct 1, as shown by the red and yellow dots in BAAM’s Tree Retention Plan below. A Google Earth image prepared by Redlands2030 shows trees at risk more clearly.
Traffic matters
Plans by the State Government to spend $4 million upgrading the Springacre and Boundary Road were announced in April 2025. Since then, no details have been made available about the scope of works or project timing.
A report submitted by the developer (see Appendix K) notes that of the six state controlled road intersections nearby, three are currently operating at or over capacity and a fourth intersection will be at or over capacity by 2029.
To support early delivery of Precinct 1 the developer proposes the following works at Boundary Road / Springacre Road intersection:
- Extension of the existing left-turn from Springacre Road into Boundary Road
- Extension of the existing right-turn lane from Boundary Road into Springacre Road.
In its planning for Precinct 1 the developer has flagged that the speed limit along Springacre Road needs to be reduced from 80 to 60 kmh.
About the Developer of Precinct 1 in Southern Thornlands
The developer of Precinct 1 is Mirabel Thornlands Pty Ltd. This company was registered on 27 August 2024 and is jointly owned by two companies: Harridan Consolidated Pty Ltd and URBEX 124 Pty Ltd.
The directors of Mirabel Thornlands Pty Ltd are: Wade Richard Mellish, Michael Colin Mellish, Craig Allen Mortenson and Scot William Power. Michael Colin Mellish is the registered owner of one of the five major land parcels in Precinct 1.
Application for Southern Thornlands Land Use Plan Precinct 1
Several documents, plans and reports have been submitted by the developer to the State Government agency known as Economic Development Queensland (EDQ) which will be assessing the land use plan application. Because the EDQ website is not very user friendly Redlands2030 has provided below links to all of the publicly available documents.
- DEV2025-1656- Notice of properly made application to applicant – 221.0 KB
- Southern Thornlands Precinct 1 – Covering Letter – 215.3 KB
- Southern Thornlands – Precinct 1 – PA Report – 2.7 MB
- Appendix A – Certificates of Title, Forms and Consent – 1.6 MB
- Appendix B – Proposed Precinct 1 Land Use Plan – 1.1 MB
- Appendix C – Landscape Intent – 63.7 MB
- Appendix D – Civil Services and Engineering Report – 31.5 MB
- Appendix E – Geotechnical Assessment – 18.4 MB
- Appendix F – Bushfire Management Plan – 5.6 MB
- Appendix H – Economic Technical Note – 757.1 KB
- Appendix I – Housing Strategy – 823.9 KB
- Appendix J1 – Traffic Report – Springacre Road – 22.7 MB
- Appendix J2 – Springacre Road Speed Limit Review – 2.7 MB
- Appendix K Traffic Report Precinct 1 State Controlled Roads.pdf – 25.8 MB
- Appendix L – Preliminiary Contaminated Site Assessment – 71.8 MB
- Appendix M – Cultural Heritage Assessment – 7.2 MB
- Appendix N – Traffic Noise Assessment – 6.5 MB
Response to Information Request
- Precinct 1 PA Development Controls Aug 25 – 99.0 KB
- DEV2025 1656 – Information Response – 150.2 KB
- Amended Ecological Assessment Report – 15.9 MB
Notice of Application
Yarabilba Priority Development Area
To get an idea of what might happen in Southern Thornlands when it is fully developed, look at the current state of the Yarabilba Priority Development Area in Logan City.
Have your say about the Southern Thornlands Land Use Plan for Precinct 1
You have until 3 October 2025 to provide comments about the Southern Thornlands Land Use Plan for Precinct 1.
Comments and submissions referencing Application Number DEV2025/1656 may be emailed to pdadevelopmentassessment@edq.qld.gov.au
I vehemently oppose the removal of all these trees. This council claims it takes measures to protect Koala population. If they are honest and true to their claims they will not allow such destruction.
There are also risks for koala (and other native animals) movements through residential yards containing dogs. I like dogs but many can be territorial and aggressive towards other animals entering their space.
I am also opposed to the tree removal- but even more than that the infrastructure is not there to accommodate this increase in population and the access roads to the region are seriously lacking currently- what will happen when you add all those residents?
Only 5% for social housing. So that’s about 40 homes for people who really need housing assistance. Trees destroyed. Koala habitat lost. Birdlife habitat lost. Inadequate infrastructure. More than likely inadequate car parking. Odds on that available public transport didn’t get looked at.
Once again capitalism and the motor vehicle win out against people in need, the environment and animals that depend on it, the impact of climate change, our carbon emissions, and the lifestyle of Redlands residents.
And Redlands will continue to promote itself as a place of stunning natural beauty, unique wildlife, respectful of all cultures, nature based experiences, and a relaxed, connected community lifestyle.
That increased traffic congestion and those increased rates and water bills, will be coming our way.
Social housing is sorely needed. Predicted is that many aged over 50 will be living alone in need of accommodation close by public transport. we know is poor in Redlands. Town planning needs to change. Capalaba is gateway to Thornlands where thousands of houses are being built and is nearing gridlock week days from/to 4-way intersection peak hours beginning around 2:00 p.m. When Moreton Bay Rd was built from cnr Old Cleveland/Finucane Rds past Redland Bay Rd past Capalaba Park shops across Mt Cotton Rd towards Chandler, under then Premier Beattie’s watch, an overhead roadway was to be built bypassing Capalaba CBD to alleviate congestion. CBD has two major shopping centres in one place and is yet to have a high rise building in middle of it. Do politicians think about a liveable environment for people when planning new estates? Former Palasczcuk govt was spending almost $40m on saving endangered species, including $24.6m going towards South East Queensland koala strategy, $14.7m towards threatened species program. Treasurer Cameron Dick said of the almost $40m allocation, $24.6m would go towards the South East Queensland koala strategy, $14.7m towards threatened species program and that it is the most comprehensive and detailed of its type”. It will also protect and restore key koala habitats while working to increase koala populations”. Remembering comments made by Member of Redland Sporting Club some years ago, i.e. that the ‘Redlands koala is doomed,’ where do we stand on protecting and enhancing koala habitat in Redland City today?!”
We need them, build them.