Queensland Writes a Planning Rule to Unlock Church and Charity Land for Housing

• Queensland released a Model Code for community housing on church and charity land
• It is an opt-in tool for councils, co-designed with 14 councils
• It supports community housing in community facilities zones
• The Catholic Archdiocese of Brisbane welcomed the speed of delivery

Churches and charities in Queensland, Australia, have a new planning tool to help them build housing on their land. In July 2025 the state government released a Model Code designed to enable community housing on church and charity-owned land.

The code is an opt-in tool for councils, co-designed with 14 of them. It supports community housing in community facilities zones, where many church properties sit, and streamlines approvals for not-for-profit organisations.

“This is about turning intent into action – giving councils the tools they need to deliver more homes, in the right locations, with the flexibility to suit local needs,” said Deputy Premier Jarrod Bleijie. Alison Smith, chief executive of the Local Government Association of Queensland, said: “This is the kind of partnership our members want to see – where local knowledge is embedded in policy planning from the start.”

Mayors welcomed the tool. “With the Model Code now finalised, it offers councils another tool to support local housing delivery,” said Gladstone mayor Matt Burnett, while Moreton Bay mayor Peter Flannery said the working group gave councils “the opportunity to shape a practical tool.” Cathy Uechritz of the Catholic Archdiocese of Brisbane said: “To see that commitment delivered in under 12 months is a testament to what’s possible.”

Much church land in Jamaica is zoned or used for worship, schools and community purposes, which can make housing approvals slow and uncertain. Queensland’s approach, a ready-made planning code that councils can adopt, is one Jamaica’s planning authorities and municipal corporations could study. For churches and diaspora investors, clearer rules would make it easier to plan homes on idle church land.

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