Moreton Bay Project: Developments, Audience & Growth Strategy

Introduction:
The Moreton Bay region in Queensland is undergoing a transformative “Moreton Bay Project – The Mill at Moreton Bay” focused on turning this once quiet area into a vibrant economic hub. Major government-led plans and private investments are reshaping Moreton Bay’s infrastructure, industry mix, and lifestyle offerings. This report outlines the current developments and focus areas of the Moreton Bay project – including key government initiatives and private sector projects – and identifies the primary audience these efforts are attracting.

Current Developments and Focus Areas in Moreton Bay

(Top 10 City of Moreton Bay Infrastructure Developments (2020-2032) – IPS Buyer’s Agents) Aerial view of the Moreton Bay region’s coastal and urban areas, which are the focus of significant new developments.

Government-Led Initiatives Driving Growth

The local government (now the City of Moreton Bay) and Queensland state authorities have launched an ambitious economic development agenda. A cornerstone is The Mill at Moreton Bay, a 460-hectare Priority Development Area in Petrie. Formerly a paper mill site, it is being transformed into a mixed-use innovation and education precinct anchored by the new University of the Sunshine Coast (UniSC) campus (Investment opportunity – The Mill at Moreton Bay) (Top 10 City of Moreton Bay Infrastructure Developments (2020-2032) – IPS Buyer’s Agents). The Mill project, backed by all levels of government, is intended to foster “an innovative and dynamic new employment and innovation hub” over the next 20 years (Precinct milestones – The Mill at Moreton Bay) (Precinct milestones – The Mill at Moreton Bay). Government support – including a PDA declaration to fast-track approvals – gives investors confidence with accelerated development and infrastructure funding (Investment opportunity – The Mill at Moreton Bay). Already, key infrastructure is in place: a new USC campus (opened 2020), a $11.5M public water park (opened 2021), upgraded transport links (the Redcliffe Peninsula rail line), and environmental initiatives like a Koala Management Plan (Precinct milestones – The Mill at Moreton Bay) (Precinct milestones – The Mill at Moreton Bay).

The Moreton Bay Regional Economic Development Strategy (REDS) 2020–2041 provides a 20-year blueprint to “turbocharge” the local economy (Moreton Bay Regional Council plans to ‘turbocharge’ its economy to $40 billion by 2041 – ABC News) (Moreton Bay Regional Council plans to ‘turbocharge’ its economy to $40 billion by 2041 – ABC News). Council’s goal is to more than double the economy from $17B to $40B by 2041, creating 100,000 new jobs and 16,000 new businesses across high-value industries (Moreton Bay Regional Council plans to ‘turbocharge’ its economy to $40 billion by 2041 – ABC News) (Moreton Bay Regional Council plans to ‘turbocharge’ its economy to $40 billion by 2041 – ABC News). This marks a shift from reliance on traditional sectors (construction, healthcare, education) toward priority industries like advanced manufacturing, food and agribusiness, knowledge and innovation, tourism, and major events (City investment opportunities showcased internationally – City of Moreton Bay) (Moreton Bay Regional Council plans to ‘turbocharge’ its economy to $40 billion by 2041 – ABC News). For example, agribusiness and food production are highlighted as key growth areas in the region’s plan (Moreton Bay Regional Council plans to ‘turbocharge’ its economy to $40 billion by 2041 – ABC News). Leveraging the 2032 Brisbane Olympics is another focus – the council is positioning Moreton Bay to host training facilities, sports events, and especially to address surging accommodation demand from the Olympics influx (City investment opportunities showcased internationally – City of Moreton Bay). The Mayor notes that nine major projects (worth ~$1B) are in a strategic pipeline, backed by a “progressive and ambitious economic strategy” to improve infrastructure and quality of life for residents (City investment opportunities showcased internationally – City of Moreton Bay) (City investment opportunities showcased internationally – City of Moreton Bay). Examples of public infrastructure projects include continued upgrades to the Bruce Highway (the main north-south artery) to ease commuting, planning for a new Morayfield–Beerburrum road link (the “Moreton Connector”), and a proposed new Bribie Island Bridge to improve connectivity (Top 10 City of Moreton Bay Infrastructure Developments (2020-2032) – IPS Buyer’s Agents) (Top 10 City of Moreton Bay Infrastructure Developments (2020-2032) – IPS Buyer’s Agents). Transport investments aim to ensure the region isn’t just “the bit in-between Brisbane and the Sunshine Coast,” but a well-connected hub in its own right (Moreton Bay Regional Council plans to ‘turbocharge’ its economy to $40 billion by 2041 – ABC News) (Top 10 City of Moreton Bay Infrastructure Developments (2020-2032) – IPS Buyer’s Agents).

Caboolture West

Another government-driven growth initiative is Caboolture West, declared by the state as a major new growth area. This is essentially a new city being built from scratch on the region’s western flank (Region-Building Projects – Invest Moreton Bay). Caboolture West is a $9.5B master-planned community set to include up to 30,000 new homes for ~70,000 residents, along with schools (three high schools, nine primary schools), a town centre, a TAFE campus, and a hospital (Top 10 City of Moreton Bay Infrastructure Developments (2020-2032) – IPS Buyer’s Agents) (Region-Building Projects – Invest Moreton Bay). This 40-year vision is meant to accommodate booming population growth and is a clear signal that government sees Moreton Bay as a key residential and economic growth node for South East Queensland. Complementing this are investments in public amenities and lifestyle: new sports and events facilities (e.g. an indoor sports centre, expanded stadiums), coastal recreation upgrades, and environmental conservation projects. Council’s “live, work, play” philosophy underpins these efforts – the Mayor emphasizes creating jobs locally so that residents can “live, work and play” in this “hidden gem” region rather than just commute elsewhere (Moreton Bay Regional Council plans to ‘turbocharge’ its economy to $40 billion by 2041 – ABC News). In short, government initiatives in Moreton Bay concentrate on building enabling infrastructure, education hubs, transport links, and pro-business policies to attract investment in diversified industries.

Private Sector Projects and Investments inc The Mill at Moreton Bay

The private sector has quickly followed suit, launching several large-scale developments that align with Moreton Bay’s growth vision. One headline project is North Harbour in Burpengary East – a $2.7 billion master-planned marina community on 785 hectares (Region-Building Projects – Invest Moreton Bay). North Harbour will feature a 400-berth marina, a new residential village with ~4,700 homes, extensive parklands, and a mixed industry/business zone (Region-Building Projects – Invest Moreton Bay). This development explicitly targets tourism and lifestyle appeal: waterfront dining, recreational boating, and marina tourism are expected to make it a regional destination, while also drawing marine industry investors and property buyers (Region-Building Projects – Invest Moreton Bay). Another private initiative is the planned Brendale Data Supernode, a $2.5 billion high-tech data center complex intended to position Moreton Bay as a digital economy powerhouse (Top 10 City of Moreton Bay Infrastructure Developments (2020-2032) – IPS Buyer’s Agents). With the new Sunshine Coast international submarine internet cable landing just to the north, the region offers Australia’s fastest telecommunications link to Asia – a selling point for tech companies and remote-work infrastructure (Investment opportunity – The Mill at Moreton Bay). The Brendale project will deliver cutting-edge data storage and IT infrastructure, attracting global tech firms and creating skilled jobs (Top 10 City of Moreton Bay Infrastructure Developments (2020-2032) – IPS Buyer’s Agents).

Residential and commercial real estate investment is also booming. Besides Caboolture West and North Harbour, developers are expanding suburbs and building new housing estates (e.g. Central Springs in Caboolture, Burpengary East developments). Council’s inclusion in federal housing acceleration programs (e.g. a fast-track scheme for new housing estates) has enabled private developers to bring hundreds of new housing lots to market to meet demand. New retail and commercial precincts are being built around growth centers like North Lakes and Morayfield. Notably, the Moreton Bay project is sparking interest in hospitality investments: the Council identified capacity for at least 10 new hotels (adding ~1,500 rooms) and has actively courted hotel developers (City investment opportunities showcased internationally – City of Moreton Bay). Singaporean investors, for example, have shown particular interest in hotel opportunities in the area (City investment opportunities showcased internationally – City of Moreton Bay) (City investment opportunities showcased internationally – City of Moreton Bay). Private capital is also flowing into advanced manufacturing and food processing – an example being strong interest from Japanese firms in local food & beverage manufacturing during a recent investment roadshow (City investment opportunities showcased internationally – City of Moreton Bay). These private-sector initiatives complement the government’s efforts by providing the actual projects (homes, marinas, business parks, hotels, factories) that translate the Moreton Bay vision into reality.

In summary, the Moreton Bay project’s focus areas can be seen in two broad streams:

(1) Economic innovation and diversification – building hubs for education, technology, and new industries (exemplified by The Mill at Petrie, the data supernode, and agribusiness projects) – and

(2) Urban growth and lifestyle development – creating new communities, improving transport, and boosting tourism (through projects like Caboolture West, North Harbour marina, new hotels, and recreational infrastructure).

Together, government and private players are investing billions to transform Moreton Bay into a “thriving destination” that can sustain its rapid population growth and elevate it into a major economic center (Top 10 City of Moreton Bay Infrastructure Developments (2020-2032) – IPS Buyer’s Agents) (Top 10 City of Moreton Bay Infrastructure Developments (2020-2032) – IPS Buyer’s Agents).