The 2025 Brisbane Property Think Tank brought together industry experts from finance, planning, and environmental consultancy to explore the evolving challenges and opportunities in Queensland’s property sector. Hosted by Colin Biggers & Paisley, the event featured a keynote from Martin Lakos (Macquarie Private Bank) and a panel discussion moderated by Stephen Webb, Senior Associate in Colin Biggers & Paisley’s Property & Development team. The panel was also comprised of Penny Douglas (Urbis) and Andrew Kita (TRACE Environmental).

Martin Lakos’ keynote, titled “Known Unknowns”, offered a global-to-local economic overview. He highlighted persistent inflation, interest rate uncertainty, and geopolitical instability as key risks, while noting that population growth continues to drive housing demand. However, supply constraints, particularly in construction and planning, are limiting the market’s ability to respond. 

“We’re seeing strong demand, but the system isn’t equipped to deliver at the pace required,” Martin Lakos said, pointing to regulatory hurdles and labour shortages as critical barriers.

The panel discussion, led by Stephen Webb, explored the intersection of environmental regulation, planning reform, and development feasibility. 

• Andrew Kita addressed the impact of Queensland’s zero-tolerance policy on emerging contaminants like PFAS. He explained how even trace levels of contamination can escalate costs dramatically, calling for risk-based legislative reform and smarter site strategies to unlock brownfield development.

• Penny Douglas provided insight into the planning landscape, noting that while the Queensland Government has taken a more pragmatic approach in recent years, particularly in response to the housing crisis and upcoming Olympics, challenges remain. “We’re seeing more flexibility in approvals, but the question is whether projects can actually be delivered,” she said, citing construction costs and workforce limitations.

Both panellists agreed that while planning approvals are improving, the delivery pipeline is constrained by broader economic and structural issues.

The discussion also addressed the broader skills shortage affecting the construction sector. Martin Lakos and Penny Douglas noted that major infrastructure projects are drawing skilled labour away from residential development, exacerbating delays and cost blowouts. In Queensland, the limited number of Tier 1 builders is prompting some developers to establish in-house construction arms, an approach that presents both opportunities and risks.

The panel also discussed the potential of adaptive reuse, particularly in Brisbane’s CBD, where commercial vacancy rates are currently low but expected to rise. While converting office buildings to residential use poses design and regulatory challenges, it was viewed as a viable part of the solution.  

The panel emphasised the importance of balancing realism with optimism, acknowledging the hurdles while highlighting opportunities for innovation and reform.  

As Martin Lakos concluded: “We need to be honest about the challenges, but also clear-eyed about the opportunities. This is a growth market. The demand is there. The question is how we respond.”

While the path forward is complex, the panel agreed that Queensland is well positioned to lead in housing innovation—if policy, planning, and investment can be aligned. For assistance with any property-related matters, please contact our Property & Development team.