ShapingSEQ review puts housing supply and infrastructure first
Queensland has begun the first full review of the SEQ Regional Plan in over a decade, targeting well-serviced growth areas, employment land and an embedded infrastructure plan.
Photo: MooncowQLD, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Queensland has begun the first full review of the SEQ Regional Plan in over a decade, targeting well-serviced growth areas, employment land and an embedded infrastructure plan.
- First comprehensive review of the SEQ Regional Plan (ShapingSEQ) in over a decade
- Housing supply in well-serviced locations is the stated priority
- A regional infrastructure plan will be embedded in the regional plan for the first time
- Rural subdivision restrictions to be reconsidered in targeted locations, with no change decided
- Early feedback closed 17 July 2026; formal consultation expected later in 2026
What's happening
The Queensland Government has opened the first comprehensive review in more than ten years of the South East Queensland Regional Plan. The current version is ShapingSEQ 2023, the statutory plan that sets the framework for growth across Brisbane, the Gold Coast, the Sunshine Coast and the surrounding region, and which council planning schemes must align with. The Good Builder reported the review on 19 June 2026, and noted that "housing supply is the stated priority".
The stakes are high. More than 80% of Queensland's future population growth is expected in the south east, and the region is expected to take a large share of the government's target of one million new homes by 2044. The article notes that the region's population has grown by hundreds of thousands while the plan has stayed largely the same.
The key details
The review is organised around a handful of focus areas. For the first time, the government says a regional infrastructure plan will be built into the regional plan itself, linking growth to roads, transport, schools and services.
- Increasing housing supply in well-serviced locations
- Identifying future growth areas that infrastructure can unlock
- Increasing the land available for business and jobs
- Considering whether long-standing rural subdivision restrictions still suit targeted locations
- Embedding a regional infrastructure plan in the regional plan
On rural subdivision, the article says the government has described a "balanced approach rather than a wholesale loosening", and no change has been decided. The review links to other state programs: the reset of the State Facilitated Development pathway earlier in 2026, the Land Activation Program that brings underused state land to market, and the Securing Our Housing Foundations Plan. The article also notes that Queensland house approvals recently reached their highest level since August 2021.
Timeline and next steps
- June 2026: comprehensive review announced
- 17 July 2026: early feedback from councils, industry and the public closed (via the Queensland planning portal)
- Later in 2026: formal consultation expected
- Until a new plan takes effect: ShapingSEQ 2023 rules continue to apply
Why it matters for developers and landowners
The regional plan sets the big-picture settings that decide whether land can be urbanised, including the urban footprint, growth areas and rural subdivision limits. Changes at this level can have a bigger effect on land value over time than almost any local rezoning, particularly for holdings on the urban fringe.
No outcome is decided yet, and the article stresses that moving from consultation to a statutory plan takes time. Landholders who think the review may affect them should follow the formal consultation later in 2026, consider making a submission, and get professional planning advice rather than acting on speculation.
Frequently asked questions
What is ShapingSEQ?
ShapingSEQ 2023 is the statutory South East Queensland Regional Plan that guides growth across the region. Council planning schemes must align with it.
Is the government changing rural subdivision rules in SEQ?
The review will consider whether rural subdivision restrictions remain fit for purpose in targeted locations, but no change has been decided.
When can I comment on the SEQ Regional Plan review?
Early feedback closed on 17 July 2026. Formal consultation is expected later in 2026.
Source: The Good Builder, published 19 June 2026. This article is an independent summary and commentary by GC Prestige based on the original report — read the source for full details.
The Good Builder
Read the original article →This is an independent summary written by GC Prestige for general information. All facts are attributed to the original publisher above — please refer to the source for full details. Not financial or planning advice.
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