EDQ's Halls Creek scheme plans up to 12,000 homes
The proposed scheme covers 1,231 hectares of rural land and more than 48 hectares of employment land, with an EPBC approval dated 22 May 2026.
- Source Briefing
- Public record
Economic Development Queensland’s (EDQ) Your Say page for the Halls Creek Priority Development Area (PDA), Sunshine Coast, lists public notification of the proposed development scheme as running from 15 September to 28 October 2026, with the scheme to be finalised in December 2026. The page carries no last-updated date, so the timing of this latest change to it is not stated.
Why it matters
The page says the PDA was declared by regulation on 17 July 2026 and covers 1,231 hectares of rural land in the Sunshine Coast local government area. It describes housing for up to 12,000 homes and about 30,000 people, “subject to infrastructure”. It also sets out more than 48 hectares of employment land, a future Town Centre and neighbourhood centres, and about 633 hectares for open space, recreation and environmental protection.
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EDQ runs similar processes elsewhere in the south-east, including North Harbour in Moreton Bay. The Halls Creek page also says the South East Queensland Regional Plan marks the area as a Potential Future Growth Area. For Sunshine Coast landowners and builders, the page says the Interim Land Use Plan stops applying once the development scheme takes effect.
The numbers
The page lists infrastructure to be planned for the area: transport links, water, sewerage, stormwater, energy, telecommunications, parks and possible school sites. It says EDQ is working with the Department of Education on State primary and secondary schools.
On approvals, the page states that an approval under the Commonwealth EPBC Act was granted on 22 May 2026 (reference 2023/09548) and that all future development must align with it. An Interim Land Use Plan is in effect and, according to the page, prevails over the Sunshine Coast Council Planning Scheme 2014 within the PDA until the development scheme takes effect.
The page’s timeline marks July 2026 (declaration) and August 2026 (the integrated land use and infrastructure planning phase) as complete. Notification is shown as active and the December 2026 finalisation as incomplete. The introduction, however, says notification “will commence shortly”, which does not match the timeline. EDQ’s page does not explain the difference.
What’s next
Submissions had to be in writing, received during the notification period and addressed to the Minister for Economic Development Queensland, the page says. They could be lodged through the online portal, by email or by post to GPO Box 2202, Brisbane QLD 4001. The page lists a webinar on 8 October 2026 from 6pm to 7pm, and drop-in “Meet the Planner” sessions at Baringa Community Centre on Wednesday 14 October (5pm to 7pm) and Saturday 17 October (10am to 11:30am).
The documents listed in the library are the proposed development scheme, a public notification factsheet, the Interim Land Use Plan and a boundary map. The next dated step on the page is the finalised scheme in December 2026.
Quick answers
What is the latest on Halls Creek Priority Development Area, Sunshine Coast?
The proposed scheme covers 1,231 hectares of rural land and more than 48 hectares of employment land, with an EPBC approval dated 22 May 2026.
What are the key numbers for Halls Creek Priority Development Area, Sunshine Coast?
homes: 12,000; PDA area: 1,231 ha; open space: 633 ha.
Where does this information come from?
This story cites Economic Development Queensland, including the public record (Economic Development Queensland). Every source is linked on the page.
On the record
EDQ's page lists public notification from 15 September to 28 October 2026 but its introduction says notification will commence shortly.
Public record · yoursay.edq.qld.gov.au
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