Gold Coast Council Eyes 14-Hectare Southport Industrial Land Rezoning

Gold Coast City Council has received a formal application to rezone 14 hectares of land along Ferry Road in Southport from light industrial to mixed-use residential and commercial zoning, potentially allowing up to 950 dwellings.

The timing aligns with sustained population growth on the Gold Coast and renewed demand from downsizers seeking single-level homes near transport links. Tourism recovery has lifted visitor numbers above 2019 levels, pushing rental vacancy rates in central suburbs below 2 per cent and adding pressure on existing housing stock.

Proximity to Broadbeach and Surfers Paradise

The site sits 800 metres from the Southport Park Shopping Centre and within walking distance of the G:link light rail station at Southport. Residents would also gain direct road access to the Gold Coast Highway, cutting commute times to Broadbeach markets and the Burleigh Heads foreshore to under 15 minutes by car. The proposal includes 25 per cent affordable housing units tied to the council’s inclusionary zoning targets introduced in 2024.

Current Gold Coast median house prices sit at $1.05 million, with Southport units trading at an average of $685,000 according to CoreLogic data released in June 2026. The rezoning would add capacity for 950 dwellings on land currently assessed at $42 million in unimproved capital value, a scale comparable to the 1,300-home redevelopment approved for Sydney’s inner west earlier this year.

Consultation and Timeline

Public exhibition of the planning scheme amendment runs until 22 August 2026, with council officers scheduled to report back to the planning committee in October. Property owners within 200 metres of the site have received direct notification letters, and a community information session is listed for 29 July at the Southport Community Centre. Interested buyers should monitor the council’s online planning portal for updated traffic and flooding studies before the final vote.