Brisbane City Council has announced it will introduce practical changes to support industry in delivering more suburban pub stay experiences.
The Council says the changes will offer residents more options for visiting family and friends to stay closer to home, while also supporting suburban jobs and local businesses.
The changes are part of the Council’s Suburban Pub Stays Strategy, which looks at how existing pubs and taverns could provide accommodation without compromising what residents value about their suburbs.
“Brisbane has many fantastic pubs in our suburbs and there’s great opportunities to make them even better by adding accommodation,” said Lord Mayor, Adrian Schrinner.
“Not everyone wants to stay in the inner-city when they come to Brisbane and the ideal place to add more accommodation is on pubs sites that have a lot of excess space.
“More pub stays in our suburbs will add more choice to Brisbane’s accommodation market and mean visitors will be able to stay closer to their family and friends while they’re here.”
More than 60 Brisbane pubs sit on larger sites, but just 15 currently offer accommodation.
The Council says that if just 20 suitable pubs added accommodation, they could provide hundreds of hotel rooms across Brisbane.
“We can’t force hotels to be built and there are only so many levers we can pull, but we can make sure unnecessary barriers aren’t getting in the way,” said Lord Mayor Schrinner.
“There was a time when suburban pubs had rooms upstairs and there’s an opportunity to bring that idea back in a modern way.
“This is about supporting the right projects in the right places while protecting our incredible lifestyle.”
With a critical need for hotel rooms across Brisbane, a Temporary Local Planning Instrument will be introduced to unlock more rooms, Council stated.
It says industry feedback on the strategy supported simpler and clearer rules for suitable pubs wanting to add accommodation.
That feedback will help shape proposed changes, including:
- Simplifying development applications for accommodation on suitable pub sites to make approvals quicker;
- Allowing extra height where appropriate across multiple zone categories;
- Changes to car parking requirements for suitable sites to reduce costs for delivery;
- Allowing eligible short-term accommodation projects to defer infrastructure charges rather than paying them upfront, making it easier to get projects off the ground before they open for business. This proposal would be extended to hotels across the city.
Brisbane-based urban research and public policy advocacy group, Suburban Futures said several local pubs have already demonstrated the potential for short-term accommodation, including The Brook, The Glen at Eight Mile Plains and The Calamvale Hotel.
“Suburban Futures first proposed this initiative because we saw a significant opportunity to extend this successful model across Brisbane. Many suburban pubs have changed little since the introduction of drive-through bottle shops decades ago and are well placed to evolve again,” said Suburban Futures Director, Ross Elliott.
“Many of these pubs occupy large sites with extensive car parks, creating an opportunity to make better use of the land while introducing new accommodation and facilities for their local communities.
“Short-term accommodation projects have always faced feasibility challenges, and those pressures are even greater in the current construction market. Well-targeted incentives can help unlock new supply – not only for the 2032 Games, but also to improve the quality, diversity and geographic spread of accommodation available across Brisbane.
“This initiative has the potential to create an enduring legacy for Brisbane by meeting the growing need for high-quality short-term accommodation, meeting rooms and visitor facilities in our suburbs.
Hotel outlook research by the Property Council of Australia also highlights the significant accommodation challenge facing South East Queensland, with a projected shortfall of between 5,200 and 7,400 rooms by 2032 if current supply trends continue.
“Meeting that demand will require a range of accommodation options and a range of policy responses. There is no single project or precinct that will solve the challenge on its own,” said Property Council of Australia Executive Director, Jess Caire.
“We know targeted supply-side measures can work. Brisbane’s last major hotel development cycle followed a package of incentives designed to improve feasibility and encourage investment, ultimately helping to deliver landmark projects such as The Westin Brisbane, Emporium South Bank and The Calile Hotel.
“That experience demonstrates that when governments take practical steps to remove barriers and support investment, the market responds. The accommodation industry is not lacking demand, it is facing a feasibility challenge.
“That’s why we welcome this initiative from Brisbane City Council. It is a practical measure focused on boosting accommodation supply and providing proponents with greater certainty to invest.
“Importantly, this approach recognises that increasing Brisbane’s accommodation capacity isn’t just about new CBD hotels. Suitable suburban pub sites can also play a valuable role in delivering additional rooms, supporting local jobs and driving economic activity across the city.
“Visitors increasingly want a range of accommodation experiences, and providing more options closer to family, friends, local centres and tourism attractions will strengthen Brisbane’s appeal while helping address the city’s accommodation shortfall.
“As Brisbane prepares for continued population growth, major events and the 2032 Games, every additional room helps. We are pleased to see Council pursuing practical ways to unlock supply because history shows that when there is a concerted effort to increase accommodation capacity, outcomes follow.”
Queensland Hotels Association CEO, Bernie Hogan is backing the Council initiative.
“The Queensland Hotels Association is happy to support policies like this that encourage people to invest in the future of Brisbane,” he said.
“With more accommodation critically needed across the city, what better way for businesses to reinvest in Queensland, around existing venues the community know and love.”
The proposed planning changes will be considered in the coming weeks before seeking approval from the Queensland Government.
