The State Government is seeking community feedback about its proposed Southern Thornlands PDA Development Scheme which, if adopted, would transform a large area of semi-rural land into small lot housing.
The Government’s proposed Southern Thornlands PDA Development Scheme anticipates that this 890 hectares priority development area (PDA) will have 8,000 new homes accommodating 24,000 people.
Keep in mind that for the 12 months to June 2025, more than 90% of population growth in the Redlands was due to internal immigration from elsewhere in Australia and net overseas migration. The natural increase in Redland City’s population (births minus deaths) was just 171 people for the same period – about 6% of population growth in the Redlands.
Much of the housing is proposed to be on small blocks with a proposed residential density of 25 dwellings per hectare. After allowing for roads and other infrastructure, it’s likely that the average size of housing blocks will be less than 300 m2 and this will include many blocks sized around 100m2.
The Government claims to have included “over 150-hectares of open space, including 11 neighbourhood recreational parks” in the proposed Development Scheme.
Very little open space has been retained for conservation other than watercourses such as Eprapah Creek. Where will the wildlife live?
Provisions have been made in the proposed development scheme for new schools, and an area is planned to be retained for new sporting fields.
As well as small lot housing, about 100 hectares is proposed to be zoned for industrial/commercial activities. It’s difficult to imaging that this will generate enough employment for the expected 24,000 people this is likely to be another dormitory suburb adding to urban sprawl in the Redlands.
The State Government has flagged a plan to provide funding of $$544 million for new infrastructure e.g. water and sewerage but this does not include any major upgrades to major roads linking the new dormitory suburb to areas where people will likely be going to for work.
Drop in consultation sessions begin on 15 August 2026
From 15 August to 22 August, state government representatives will be in the Redlands to provide information about the Southern Thornlands PDA Development Scheme at three ‘drop in’ sessions. There will be no public presentations or discussion. Instead, officers will “chat with locals, share updates and support the community with information on how to complete a submission”.
Drop in community consultations have been scheduled as follows:
- Saturday 15 August, 12pm – 2pm at Victoria Point Community Hall Corner Link Road and Colburn Avenue, Victoria Point 4165
- Monday 17 August, 5pm – 7pm at Thornlands Dance Palais Corner Cleveland Redland Bay Road & Island Outlook Avenue, Thornlands 4164
- Saturday 22 August, 12pm – 2pm Victoria Point Community Hall Corner Link Road and Colburn Avenue, Victoria Point 4165
Further information about the Southern Thornlands PDA development scheme
Before heading off to a consultation session it’s worth browsing through the proposed Southern Thornlands PDA Development Scheme.
Here are links to more stories published by Redlands2030 about Southern Thornlands:
- 800 dwellings planned for Southern Thornlands first stage – 10 September 2025
- Eprapah Creek and the Southern Thornlands Priority Development Area by Lynn Roberts – 25 April 2025
- Southern Thornlands PDA declared by the LNP State Government will add 20,000 to Redlands population – 7 April 2025
Have your say about the Southern Thornlands PDA
You can have your say about the Southern Thornlands Development Scheme until 15 September 2026.
Written submissions can be lodged to the Minister for Economic Development Queensland (MEDQ) by:
- Post: Economic Development Queensland, GPO Box 2202, Brisbane QLD 4001; or
- Email: contact@edq.qld.gov.au
Alternatively, comments and submissions can be made through an online submission portal.
