Brisbane City Council proposes suburban pub height increases for accommodation

The Brisbane City Council is developing a temporary planning instrument to increase short-term accommodation capacity across the city. The initiative aims to address potential room shortages ahead of the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games by making it easier for suitable suburban pubs and taverns to add accommodation.

Under the proposal, the maximum building height for existing pubs in Major Centre zones—such as Carindale, Nundah, Mitchelton, and Indooroopilly—could increase from 10 to 12 storeys. This strategy is intended to provide more options for visitors to stay near transport hubs and local attractions rather than being concentrated solely in the CBD.

Councillor Alex Givney clarified that the Waterloo Bay Hotel in Wynnum will not see any additional height increases under this specific strategy. Because the hotel is zoned as Mixed Use rather than a Major Centre, the proposed 12-storey limit does not apply; its height provisions were previously addressed through the Wynnum Centre Precinct Plan, which set an eight-storey limit.