Indooroopilly, Carindale, Nundah Height Uplifts Mooted

Suburban skylines are poised for a dramatic lift as building heights around three major Brisbane retail hubs increase by as much as three times current limits.

The proposal by the Brisbane City Council targets defined areas surrounding Indooroopilly Shopping Centre, Carindale Shopping Centre and Nundah Village.

It is part of its anti-sprawl strategy to help increase housing supply and counter prevailing feasibility challenges to residential development close to established infrastructure, including train stations, bus interchanges and major retail precincts.

With an estimated 600 people moving to Brisbane each week, it is estimated that city needs 210,800 homes by 2046—90,000 of those before the 2032 Olympics.

Under the latest draft plans, towers of up to 30 storeys could rise around Carindale Shopping Centre—triple the current 10-storey cap—on the city’s southside, marking one of the most significant uplifts in allowable height in the middle-ring suburbs.

The proposed changes also include an increase in building heights from 20 to 25 storeys around inner-west Indooroopilly Shopping Centre, and an additional three storeys from 12 to 15 storeys surrounding Nundah Village on the city’s northside.

“Not only do we need more homes, we need them in the right places and building them close to trains, buses, shops and jobs makes sense,” Brisbane Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner said.

“Encouraging more homes near public transport, shops and jobs means people can live closer to where they need to go, helping ease congestion on our roads.

“By choosing tall over sprawl, we’re also protecting the character of our suburbs and Brisbane’s incredible bushland areas.”

In February, two other major Brisbane suburban centres were earmarked for major zoning uplifts to make way for higher density apartment living—Chermside to the north and Upper Mount Gravatt in the south.

Both areas are anchored by major Westfield shopping centres.