Plans to allow new apartment towers in Wynnum have cleared their final hurdle, as a new commercial complex in the suburb was announced by the city’s investment fund.
The controversial changes were waved through by council on Tuesday, a month after being approved by the state government. They will now be incorporated into the City Plan.
Buildings up to 15 storeys will be permitted along some streets near the bayside suburb’s station and CBD. Mixed-use developments and smaller towers will be permitted on other streets.
Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner has repeatedly said this will boost local business, provide convenient public transport options for more people, and increase housing supply in the wider push to temper runaway prices.
The plans prompted a fierce and well-organised backlash from some residents, with many saying they would stretch infrastructure thin and completely change their laid-back neighbourhood of weatherboard Queenslanders.
LNP Wynnum-Manly councillor Alex Givney was careful to recognise the concerns of angry constituents before voting for the changes on Tuesday.
“This is an emotive topic for many people … but part of caring deeply about a place is being willing to have honest conversations about its future,” she said.
“Good planning is not just about freezing a suburb in time. It is about carefully managing change so Wynnum is livable and sustainable into the future.
“I understand that some may not agree with this plan, but leadership is not about avoiding difficult conversations and decisions, it’s about balancing the needs of today with the responsibilities we have to future generations.”
The Labor opposition – which is aiming to win back the ward at the next election after a narrow loss in 2024 – voted against the plan, saying they did not believe it would drive down prices.
“The lord mayor has bent a knee to the private property development industry, who seek to exploit the housing and homelessness crisis to maximise profits – and locals pay the price,” leader Jared Cassidy said.
“This council is still not listening to the community’s calls for infrastructure.
“Councillor Givney … your job is to be your community’s representative in this place, not the lord mayor’s representative out in the Wynnum-Manly ward. That’s the fundamental misgiving that we are seeing from the LNP.”
About 500 people lodged submissions to council about the proposal. A handful of changes were made in response, including the reduction of building heights in some areas.
“We have made changes to the plan based on that feedback,” Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner told the council on Tuesday.
“Does that mean that everyone will be entirely happy? Of course not. I have never seen, ever, in the history of this council, or any council, a planning process where everyone is entirely happy, but we are in a severe housing shortage. We are also talking about a part of the city that everyone agrees would benefit from revitalisation.”
Schrinner revealed the City of Brisbane Investment Corporation was preparing to redevelop land it owned in the suburb, saying it would build a new three-storey commercial hub with a medical facility and retail space.
The block is next to Woolworths at the corner of Tingal Road and Florence Street, and would also include 66 new free parking spots.
A development application is yet to be lodged, but the investment corporation said it aimed to complete construction by mid-2027. It released an artist’s impression on Tuesday to align with the council vote.
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