Getting the Balance Right in a Growing City

Laura Bos, General Manager SCAQ

Strata living is not a trend. It is the future of Brisbane.

More and more Queenslanders are choosing to live in community titles schemes. At the same time, Brisbane is stepping onto the global stage. We are a major events city. We are preparing for 2032. We are growing up.

Those two realities now intersect in a very real way through short stay accommodation.

This week SCAQ lodged its submission in response to Brisbane City Council’s proposed short stay accommodation reforms. As always, our focus has been simple: protect liveability, support good governance, and make sure strata communities are not left to carry the consequences of unclear policy.

For too long, bodies corporate have been managing short stay activity without consistent regulatory support. I have sat in enough committee meetings to know what that feels like.

The tension is rarely about visitors. It is about uncertainty. About not knowing who is accountable. About not having a clear framework to lean on when something goes wrong.

Clarity changes behaviour.

Transparency is not punishment

We have strongly supported the introduction of a registration system, enforceable operating conditions and a mandatory 24-hour contact person.

That is not about being anti short stay. It is about being pro accountability.

If a lot is operating as short stay accommodation, there should be visibility. If guests are staying in a residential building, there should be clear expectations. If something goes wrong at 10.30 pm on a Saturday night, someone should answer the phone.

That is not heavy-handed regulation. That is basic responsibility in shared living environments.

Registration and a Code of Conduct strengthen transparency. They support Council’s policy objectives. And importantly, they give committees and strata managers something solid to stand on.

But balance matters

Where we have urged caution is around zoning bans and mandatory Development Approvals in certain areas.

Brisbane is not static. We are already seeing accommodation shortages around Riverfire, State of Origin and the Ekka. That is before we even start talking seriously about the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Short stay accommodation is not the whole answer. But it is part of the mix.

In many cases it provides something traditional hotels do not: kitchens, laundries, parking, space for families, space for longer stays, space for medical visitors near hospitals and precincts.

We need to protect residential amenity. Absolutely. I have never wavered on that.

But we also need to be careful not to unintentionally shrink supply or push activity into a handful of high intensity areas simply because the planning settings become too blunt.

The goal is not prohibition. The goal is calibration.

Working with, not against

One of the things I am genuinely proud of is how our sector has leaned into this conversation.

We worked closely with Airbnb on the Queensland Strata Hosting Guide and supporting resources. That was not about endorsement. It was about responsibility.

If short stay accommodation is happening in strata communities, then we need clear guidance around building rules, neighbour communication, safety, insurance and complaint pathways. We need hosts to understand that strata is not just another property asset. It is a shared community.

That Guide would not exist in its current form without our members.

To those who took the time to provide feedback, share case studies, point out practical risks and offer grounded advice, thank you. Your insight ensured the resource reflects the real world, not theory.

This is how I believe reform should work. Government sets the framework. Industry lifts standards. And we collaborate where we can to make it better.

The bigger picture

Brisbane is growing up. With that comes complexity.

More people in strata. More visitors. More pressure on infrastructure. More competing expectations.

Our job as the peak body is not to take extreme positions. It is to hold the centre. To advocate for strong standards and thoughtful policy. To protect the quiet enjoyment of residents while recognising the economic and social realities of a global city.

I want Brisbane to be ready for 2032. I also want the residents in our strata communities to feel safe, respected and heard.

Those two things are not mutually exclusive.

Getting the balance right is harder than taking sides. But it is leadership.

And that is what we will continue to do.

You can read our full submission here