North Harbour to Anchor Jobs, Homes, and Hope

A bold new chapter is unfolding in Queensland’s Moreton Bay region with the Queensland Government officially declaring North Harbour at Burpengary East as a Priority Development Area (PDA). Backed by a $2.74 billion masterplan, this visionary project promises to transform the area into a vibrant mixed-use community that blends lifestyle, tourism, and economic opportunity, bringing new energy and optimism to the construction and development sector.

The North Harbour PDA is set to deliver big. With 3,700 new homes, a 400-berth marina, hotel and tourism precincts, maritime infrastructure, and supporting commercial developments on the cards, the project is expected to inject a significant $456 million annually into the regional economy. Even more exciting is the forecasted creation of approximately 2,000 jobs, offering a welcome boost to local employment and flow-on effects across multiple industries.

An early release area of 200 homes has already been identified and fast-tracked under an Interim Land Use Plan, an encouraging sign that the gears are already in motion. This move aligns with the Queensland Government’s broader goal of delivering one million new homes by 2044 and underscores the urgency and opportunity within the state’s growing housing market.

The project is being spearheaded by Economic Development Queensland (EDQ) in collaboration with the City of Moreton Bay, developers Port Binnli and Trask Land, and the local community. Together, they aim to shape a thriving waterfront precinct that supports both economic growth and liveability.

For those of us in construction and infrastructure recruitment, this is the kind of announcement that brings a genuine buzz. It’s more than just numbers. It’s a sign of confidence in the future of South East Queensland. The ripple effect from such a large-scale development will reach far beyond Burpengary East, creating increased demand for trades, project managers, engineers, estimators, and support staff across multiple sectors including civil, residential, and commercial.

The marina and maritime infrastructure elements are particularly exciting, signalling a diversification of projects that will require niche skillsets and specialist contractors. Meanwhile, the residential component offers stable, long-term opportunity in the volume home building space, a welcomed development in a climate where housing affordability and supply remain pressing issues.

Community consultation and the broader development scheme are slated for the next 18 months, with full community input expected in 2026. But with the Early Development Area now active, recruitment and workforce planning will need to keep pace.

At Marble, we see first-hand how major infrastructure projects like this breathe new life into regions, not just by stimulating jobs, but by creating communities people are proud to live and work in. North Harbour is a prime example of what’s possible when government, private enterprise, and local communities align around a shared vision.

We’ll be keeping a close eye on the progress of the PDA and look forward to helping our clients and candidates seize the opportunities this project presents. Whether it’s connecting skilled professionals with new roles or supporting builders and developers to grow their teams, we’re here to help make this vision a reality.