Across South East Queensland, conversations about housing, density and planning are becoming more common. Arana Hills is one of the suburbs at the centre of that discussion, with City of Moreton Bay releasing the draft “Arana Hills precinct Planning Future Directions Report for Community Consultation March 2026” (the draft report). The draft report could reshape parts of Arana Hills, Ferny Hills and Everton Hills (The Hills District) over the coming decades. Community feedback on the draft report is open until 4pm Thursday 9 April, since early 2026, with City of Moreton Bay.
So how did we get here and what could this planning process mean for the future of the area?
HOW did Arana Hills and surrounds reach this point?
The simple answer: population growth (see how we reached this point here)
South East Queensland is experiencing significant growth, and planning authorities are preparing for that reality. Under the Queensland Government’s “ShapingSEQ 2023” (Regional Plan), City of Moreton Bay must accommodate around 308,300 additional residents and 125,800 new homes by 2046.
To manage this growth responsibly, councils are increasingly looking at established suburbs that already have infrastructure — such as transport, shops, schools and parks — rather than continuing to expand outward into greenfield areas.
Arana Hills ticks many of these boxes. The suburb already has:
- Access to two nearby railway stations (Grovely and Oxford Park)
- An existing commercial centre and services
- Nearby parks, recreation spaces and community infrastructure
Because of this, planning authorities see Arana Hills as a location capable of supporting additional housing options and higher density living, particularly close to existing services and transport corridors.
WHY is this being considered only now?
While growth pressures have existed for some time, planning frameworks and processes take time, with community feedback usually obtained during the process and are typically revisited in response to updated trends and forecasts.
The current discussion is largely driven by the latest regional planning strategy, ShapingSEQ 2023, which directs councils across South East Queensland to increase housing supply and diversity to accommodate future population growth.
As part of this process, the City of Moreton Bay launched the Arana Hills Precinct Planning Project in 2025. The project aims to create a long-term framework for how development should occur in parts of Arana Hills and neighbouring Ferny Hills and Everton Hills.
Rather than reacting to individual development proposals, the intention is to plan for growth in a structured way that aligns infrastructure, transport and community needs.
WHAT are the biggest resident concerns?
Proposals for increased density have sparked community discussion.
One of the most debated elements of the draft plan is the potential for significantly taller buildings near the Arana Hills commercial centre. In some locations closest to the centre, buildings of up to fifteen storeys (around fifty metres) have been proposed.
Other areas surrounding the centre may allow mid-rise development of up to around eight storeys, acting as a transition between higher-density hubs and traditional suburban streets.
It is worth noting that the community consultation process is open until 4pm Thursday 9 April 2026. To date, feedback has included:
- Maintaining the leafy suburban character in the Hills District
- Impacts on traffic and infrastructure
- Changes and any impacts on privacy, views and sunlight
- Improving access to shops, parks, transport and community spaces
- Existing services continuing to support the projected population growth
For some locals, the debate isn’t just about housing. It’s about how much change a traditionally low-density suburb should absorb.
What could this mean for the area in 20 years?
If elements of the precinct plan are adopted, Arana Hills could gradually evolve into a more diverse urban centre.
That doesn’t mean the entire suburb becomes high-rise. Instead, planning typically works on a “transition model” which can include
- Increased diversity in housing options, including affordable housing
- Higher-density housing clustered near commercial centres and services
- Mid-rise apartments and townhouses surrounding these hubs
- Traditional low-density housing retained in established neighbourhood streets
Over the next two decades, this could mean:
- A more active and coordinated town centre with additional shops, services, and community facilities
- More housing choice for downsizers, young professionals, and smaller households
- Greater focus on pedestrian and transport connections
- New community infrastructure designed to support a growing population
The intention, according to City of Moreton planning documents, is to guide growth while still protecting the identity of the Hills District and maintaining access to parks and natural spaces.
The Bigger Picture
Whether people welcome or oppose change, one thing is clear: Arana Hills, Ferny Hills and Everton Hills are now part of a broader regional conversation about how South East Queensland grows sustainably.
Population growth is inevitable. The real question communities are grappling with is where that growth should occur and what it should look like.
For residents of the Hills District, the coming months of consultation will likely play a significant role in shaping the outcome.
