With immigration projected to roar back next year as international borders reopen, the resultant spike in housing demand has prompted both levels of government to move quickly to release more land for housing development.

Deputy Premier and Planning Minister Steven Miles has recently given approval for council to move ahead with planning for Morayfield South, a new suburb that will eventually be home to around 26,000 people.

At the same time the government is ramping up efforts to fast track the alternative route to the Bruce Highway, already choked with congestion as a result of the region’s rampant population growth.

A government map showing a new transport corridor running through the new urban centre of Caboolture West and the merging community of Morayfield South.

The Moreton Bay region has emerged as the prime candidate to absorb much of south-east Queensland’s growth, with the council developing grand plans to double the size of the local economy to $40 billion.

The government is also pursuing a new streamlined planning strategy for new, larger urban centre, Caboolture West, which is set to accommodate another 30,000 houses.

Miles, who is also the local MP, has granted the council a temporary local planning instrument for Morayfield South which will allow it to guide development until a formal planning scheme is adopted.

Moreton Bay Mayor Peter Flannery said the TLPI would help council deliver a more sustainable urban community, with proper planning for things like roads, schools and green space.

“We know the affordability and liveability of our region is fuelling this population boom and with these temporary planning measures in place we can act quickly to ensure a range of housing types are built, that our environment is protected, and that local shops and community connectivity are all considered to give the community greater confidence in our planning,” he said.

Local councillor Tony Latter said the absence of detailed planning for Morayfield South’s development was a major concern for the council.

“There was urgent need for planning policy intervention to appropriately guide desirable planning and development outcomes and identify the necessary infrastructure required to support the future population of Morayfield South,” he said.

The TLPI will give the council two years breathing space to come up with the planning scheme amendment to cover Morayfield South.

A planning scheme for Caboolture West took effect last month.

Development pressures have also hastened the government’s planning for a new transport corridor between Beerburrrum and north Brisbane to cope with population growth and ease congestion on the Bruce Highway.

The preferred route for the first 8.3km section of the new road runs through the Caboolture West development area after branching off from the D’Aguilar Highway and following the high voltage power line alignment south to Caboolture River Road.