Hosted by Colin Biggers & Paisley, the event demonstrated that the Gold Coast is not waiting politely for the future to arrive. It is trying to build it. The coast is booming, but growth without delivery was described as meaningless without results.

Nadia Czachor, Partner in our Planning, Government, Infrastructure & Environment group opened the evening by welcoming a community determined to shape a liveable, sustainable coastal city. She acknowledged charitable partner The Kids’ Cancer Project and set the tone for a session focused on courage, collaboration and commercially grounded solutions.

Acting Mayor Mark Hammel addressed concerns directly and acknowledged the current system is "slow, overly complex and resistant to urgent reform".

Hammel called for what he labelled “crisis-calibre government" and "an end to planning theatre". He challenged state leadership to make decisions that prioritise delivery over caution and to set consistent minimum lot sizes across Queensland, rather than allowing each council to reinvent density rules. "Approval numbers mean little unless they convert into homes that people can actually live in" Hammel said.

"The city will lean harder into feasibility-led planning", he confirmed, so zoning reflects real-world viability rather than theoretical yield. He also foreshadowed the use of emerging state planning tools to unlock strategic sites more quickly and indicated the Gold Coast intends to lead, not follow, in adopting modern construction methods.

Hammel closed by commenting "If we are serious about treating housing as a crisis, we must stop acting like it is merely a policy inconvenience. It's time to listen to the experts in the room. Otherwise, we won’t see change".

Stephen Webb, Senior Associate in Property & Development group at Colin Biggers & Paisley, moderated a fast-paced panel discussion with Cr Mark Hammel, Acting Mayor of Gold Coast City Council, UDIA Queensland CEO Kirsty Chessher-Brown, Murray Bell, founder and Director of Murray Bell Planning Co.

No-nonsense themes dominated the discussion, including an emphasis on directness and practicality.

Feasibility above theory

Kirsty Chessher-Brown noted that planning that does not consider feasibility realities is inadequate and will not deliver the dwelling supply our region urgently deserves. Infrastructure coordination, faster utility responses and consistent economic assumptions are now essential, not optional.

Medium-density isn’t a nice-to-have

Murray Bell advocated for substantial reform to parking ratios and zoning incentives so small-to-mid-tier builders can re-enter the market. He emphasised that the future, is not just about high-rise buildings and believes that cities must also focus on the 'missing middle', that cities quietly forgot how to produce.

Labour: the next bottleneck

Kirsty Chessher-Brown warned "while policy settings matter, labour supply may determine our future chances of success just as much. With the Olympics pipeline looming, Queensland must attract and retain skilled workers now, not after a capacity crunch hits".

Industrial-scale building innovation

Hammel continued to reinforce the city’s ambition for local precast manufacturing capability commenting "Innovation is not a buzzword here, it is a delivery mechanism".

The Gold Coast Property Think Tank emphasised that this industry is exhausted by circular debate and is ready for practical action. The Gold Coast does not see housing growth as a burden; it sees it as a responsibility and an opportunity.

True collaboration can at times mean discomfort and difficult conversations. It also means embracing feasibility as a planning language, welcoming construction innovation and pushing state and federal leaders to match the urgency felt on the ground.

True collaboration demands candour, decisive action and a shared commitment to practical outcomes.

The coast has momentum. The challenge now is to convert momentum into homes, communities and investment certainty.

For assistance with any property-related matters, please contact our Property & Development team.