Southern Thornlands PDA — development & planning

Priority Development Area · development area · independent overview

By Ian Piggott · Farming Domains Last verified: 16 September 2026 · Independent summary · How we work

People searching for southern thornlands pda, southern thornlands priority development area, or southern thornlands housing development usually want the same thing: a calm summary of what the State has declared, where comments were invited, and where the official map and documents live. That is what this page covers — without sales language.

More map detail, schematic and edge notes: Location · Southern Thornlands PDA map.

What is the Southern Thornlands Priority Development Area?

Plain-language: What is a PDA? · Timeline

Southern Thornlands was declared a Priority Development Area (PDA) on 4 April 2025 under the Economic Development Act 2012. A PDA is a formal development area designation used by the Queensland Government to coordinate planning and development where significant long-term growth is intended.

Covering approximately 890 hectares in Redland City, QLD, the Southern Thornlands PDA is intended to help address future housing, infrastructure and economic needs in the Redland local government area. Long-term capacity is commonly described around ~8,000 homes and in the order of 20,000–24,000 people depending on the source wording. That is planned capacity over decades — not a guarantee of when any particular street or stage is built.

Planned housing development (capacity, not marketing)

Searches for “southern thornlands housing development” usually mean the PDA’s long-term housing role. Public EDQ and government material describe housing at a planning scale: dwellings and population capacity, infrastructure sequencing, and open-space networks. This website does not sell property, list projects, or promote developers. For applications, precinct rules and live notices, use EDQ only.

• Indicative long-term dwellings: around 8,000
• Indicative population capacity: around 20,000–24,000 people
• Early-release / Precinct 1 context: east of Springacre Road (see below)
• Staging: often described over roughly two decades

Southern Thornlands PDA map

The authoritative Southern Thornlands PDA map (Map No. PDA 23) is published by EDQ. A local copy of the regulatory PDF is embedded above and on the location page. Google Maps helps with roads and centres only — it does not draw the legal PDA boundary.

Who decides what?

Redland City Council no longer holds formal plan-making or development-assessment control inside the PDA boundary in the ordinary local-scheme sense. Council may still comment, advocate and deliver municipal services. For the precise split of roles, rely on EDQ and Council official statements.

Interim Land Use Plan and Development Scheme

An Interim Land Use Plan (ILUP) currently regulates development while a full PDA Development Scheme is prepared. The listed written-submission window for the proposed Development Scheme was 3 August 2026 to 15 September 2026. That listed window has ended. EDQ’s project page already says submissions received during the notification period will be considered as part of finalising the Scheme. This site does not invent the Minister’s decision — confirm current process on official pages.

Early release / Precinct 1

Public material describes an early-release context for land east of Springacre Road (often referred to as Precinct 1 / Eastern Early Release Area), allowing certain development applications to proceed under the ILUP ahead of the broader scheme. Individual applications have their own notification periods and documents. Search EDQ Have Your Say and the project page for current application notices rather than relying on older media summaries.

Infrastructure (high level only)

Government announcements have referred to catalyst funding and staged delivery for roads, sewer, water, open space and community facilities. Sequencing is intended to move with growth over many years. This site does not publish a capital works program or promise opening dates for individual roads or schools.