News
12 February, 2025
A new Morayfield rises
Moreton Bay Council has released a draft report intended to help prepare Morayfield and Caboolture South for strong growth over the next 20 years.
Residents are now being invited to provide feedback by March 3.
The Future Directions Report will inform the Morayfield Neighbourhood Planning project, with the current draft report emphasising the need to balance housing demand with the natural environment, along with necessary infrastructure.
According to the draft, Council is aiming to preserve 75 per cent of the city as rural and natural landscapes, free from urban development, while focusing on the availability of different housing options and increased density to meet population and housing objectives.
The draft proposes changing the Planning Scheme to create “mixed-use areas” along and around Morayfield Road to “increase opportunities for higher density residential uses close to services and public transport, including the Morayfield bus station and train station.”
According to the draft report, “increasing residential density within the centre will also increase the diversity of housing types in the neighbourhood, which will better cater for residents as their life and housing needs change.”
The draft also proposes to increase building height in the mixed-use areas to 20 storeys (60-70 metres) in high-density areas, and 11-13 storeys (39 metres) in moderate density areas.
High-density areas are classed as having a minimum of 100 dwellings per hectare (dph), while medium-density areas would have a minimum of 50 dph, and low to medium density areas a minimum of 30 dph.
The report proposes four high-density areas: one south of Torrens Road, one north of Walkers Road, one fronting Jonkers Court and the northern side of Oakey Flat Road, and one for land located west of Kirkcaldy Street adjoining Billabongs - Arthur Allan Park.
“Improve livability for locals in the long run,” he said.
Division 2 Councillor Mark Booth echoed Cr Hain’s support for high-density housing, saying the aim of the report is to increase housing diversity within the project area.
Division 3 Councillor Adam Hain said higher density living would provide more options to the community and it would support Council’s goal to preserve three quarters of the city as rural and natural spaces.
“We understand this will be a big change for some residents, but it’s also a huge opportunity to…
“Housing diversity is important because it creates more options for different stages of life, meaning residents can stay in their neighbourhood for longer,” he said.
“It also means children will have options to buy their first home nearby instead of needing to move further from their families and support network.”
According to Council, regular Moreton Says surveys, which have shaped density and building heights in well-serviced suburbs like Morayfield,” he said.
The draft report, indicate 61 per cent of participants agreed or strongly agreed it is better to have higher density in existing areas, than new small lot housing estates on the city’s urban edges, while 69 per cent agreed or strongly agreed that higher density living is acceptable in the right location (i.e., a centre or close to a train station or the city’s coastal edges).
Mayor Peter Flannery said Morayfield was the perfect suburb to build up, due to its existing access to key services such as jobs, public transport, schools, and more.
“As South East Queensland continues to flourish, it’s time we had a conversation about housing…”
“ShapingSEQ identifies Morayfield and Caboolture as a Principal Regional Activity Centre because it has access to existing services and infrastructure like the Morayfi eld Station, a vibrant commercial and retail precinct, medical facilities, schools, and plenty more.”
Once finalised and approved by Council, the Report will inform changes to the local planning rules and other projects and initiatives.
To view the draft report and/or provide feedback on the report visit moretonbay.link/neighbourhoodplanning-morayfield.
