SEQ builds momentum toward 2032 with smart planning

South East Queensland is entering a decisive delivery phase as projects tied to the Brisbane 2032 Games accelerate alongside ongoing residential demand. The region’s construction ecosystem is resilient and optimistic, yet capacity is tight, fewer active builders, stretched programs, and elevated costs are shaping decisions from Brisbane to the Gold Coast. Navigating this environment will reward those who plan early, coordinate deeply, and invest in people.

Market signals are clear. Apartment demand in Brisbane remains strong while supply lags: recent launches sit at roughly 52 percent of the 10-year average and construction starts are around 32 percent, pointing to an extended undersupply. Over the next three years, Brisbane is expected to produce about 1500 apartments annually, below stated targets, while the Gold Coast is forecast to deliver about 2300 apartments a year, nearly twice its historical average. At the same time, delivery costs in Brisbane are estimated to be close to 50 percent higher than in Melbourne, underscoring the need for disciplined feasibility and sharp procurement.

Productivity is the biggest lever within the industry’s control. Many sites report effective output closer to 2.5 days per week, which compounds schedule and cost pressure. Practical steps, earlier design coordination, locked-in procurement, and digital clash detection, help keep site time focused on value. Offsite manufacturing, modular and prefabricated elements can further compress programs, improve quality, and reduce exposure to weather and access constraints. These are not cure-alls, but in combination they lift predictability and confidence.

Sequencing will be critical between 2028 and 2032 when delivery windows are likely to be most congested. Developers can de-risk by either moving non-Games projects earlier or lining them up for the first waves after major venues and transport links are completed. Contracts that reward outcomes, realistic contingencies, and strategic partnerships with tiered supply chains will keep programs moving when competition for trades and materials is fiercest.

Policy settings matter too. Streamlined planning pathways and pragmatic building legislation can remove time and cost that ultimately land with buyers. Taxation is a major component of project cost, often 30 to 40 percent when all charges are counted and reform of transaction costs such as stamp duty would support feasibility and speed the market’s response to demand. National levers around labour and immigration can also help deepen candidate pools for critical roles.

Above all, the differentiator will be talent. Supervisors, estimators, planners, contract administrators, safety leaders and specialist trades will be in high demand. The most successful builders and developers are already building workforce strategies that blend apprenticeships, targeted upskilling, and skilled migration with retention programs that keep hard-won knowledge on the job.

The next cycle is underway and tailwinds are gathering. With disciplined sequencing, productivity gains, thoughtful adoption of prefab, and sensible reform, South East Queensland can deliver on today’s pipeline while laying down the capability to thrive well beyond 2032.