“If we reframe SEQ as the Brisbane City-Region, we can move beyond a geographical descriptor to build a sense of place and identity around an identifiable brand that will help national and international visitors locate us,”- Jen Williams, CEO- Committee for Brisbane.

As part of The Courier-Mail’s annual Future Brisbane campaign, the concept of rebranding SEQ as the ‘Brisbane city-region’ was floated. This idea was flagged in the Council of Mayors (SEQ) ‘Benchmarking SEQ’ report, launched at a Committee for Brisbane event in March.

While ensuring the individual identities and brands of local cities and places are not lost, the imperative of ‘hunting as a pack’ and ‘collaborating to compete’ when acting on a global stage was reinforced.

Related The Courier-Mail polling showed net support for the concept- more on this here.

Committee for Brisbane CEO Jen Williams provided an op ed in The Courier Mail, noting- along with other political leaders and industry figures- the need to build a cohesive identity for the city-region. You can read the more on this here.

For a full video of the Future Brisbane event, and further polling information, please visit here.

Did you know that 1 October 2025 marked 100 years of Brisbane? A city that continues to lead with vision, creativity and collaboration. A city that’s shaping its own future with confidence and purpose.

It was on 1 October 1925, the ‘greater’ Brisbane Council came into effect under Mayor William Jolly, following the amalgamation of 20 local authorities and joint boards under the City of Brisbane Act 1924.

It is timely for us to reflect on how far we’ve come, and to look ahead to an even more inclusive, dynamic and globally connected city.

At the Committee for Brisbane, we’re proud to work alongside our members and partners to advance the ideas and initiatives that will define our region’s next decade. Our focus is on creating a shared city vision, building lasting legacies from the Games, driving connected and sustainable mobility, and championing innovation and new ideas that keep Brisbane at the forefront of opportunity.

On 1 October every year, let’s make sure we mark Brisbane Day- celebrating our city: our home, our future, our opportunity.

As Brisbane steps onto the global stage, the city’s nighttime economy is under fresh focus. At our recent Committee for Brisbane event, we brought together experts and representatives from four generations to unpack what makes a “good night out” — and what’s needed for Brisbane to truly shine after sunset.

From bubble tea to rooftop bars, and from safe transport to extended trading hours, the discussion revealed that Brisbane’s nightlife is about far more than entertainment. It’s about creating a vibrant, inclusive and connected city that reflects our unique character rather than mimicking other capitals.

Our panellists; Sam O’Connor MP, John ‘JC’ Collins, Anna Campbell, Tyron Simon, Chris Paterson, Charlie Cush, Tony Young, Sophie Hogben, Bec Mac and Jack Hutchinson shared bold ideas on how to build a nightlife that’s diverse, safe, and sustainable.

The event gained significant media coverage- including a front page story–  as the city was prompted to consider the impact of its early closing hours, and whether locals would support later dining hours.

A special thanks to our event sponsors Populous and Hutchinson Builders for supporting this important conversation. The discussion continues at our upcoming Inner-City Vitality Report launch on 6 November, where we’ll explore what’s driving Brisbane’s growth story in 2025 and beyond.

Check out the photos from the event here. 

Register for the Inner-City Vitality Report launch: Inner-City Vitality Report 2025- Increasing diversification in our geographic and economic reach – The Committee for Brisbane

On 14 October, the Committee for Capital Cities officially launched the Federal Parliamentary Friends of Cities group, and announced the incoming Co-Chairs:

• Simon Kennedy MP – Federal Member for Cook, NSW
• Kate Chaney MP – Federal Member for Curtin, WA
• Senator Richard Dowling – Senator for Tasmania.

The Committee for Capital Cities is a collective of the nation’s civic advocacy groups, based in the capital cities of Brisbane, Greater Hobart, Perth, Melbourne, Adelaide and Sydney.

Australia’s capital cities are home to two-thirds of the population and generate nearly 70% of the nation’s GDP. They are the engines of innovation, growth, and community – driving national ambition while delivering local impact.

As part of the online launch event, Co-Chair Simon Kennedy MP talked to the importance of place-based, connected thinking around the future of the nation’s cities, along with the important role the Federal Government plays in supporting liveability and productivity.

The Parliamentary Friends of Cities has been supported by the Council of Capital City Lord Mayors (CCCLM), with the City of Sydney joining the online launch event to further the discussion around the importance of place-based thinking.

The online launch event was the precursor to the Committee for Capital Cities delegation to Canberra in late October, culminating in an event in Parliament House on 30 October.

More on the delegation, event and our shared advocacy will feature in next month’s newsletter.

On 24 October, the City of Moreton Bay’s 27 elected representatives from federal, state and local government were invited together to discuss key challenges and opportunities in one of the fastest growing cities in Australia.

The Business Luncheon provided key city stakeholders, business leaders and members of the community with an opportunity to engage with these elected officials and hear their vision and priorities for the City of Moreton Bay.

The City of Moreton Bay also launched its ‘City of Tomorrow’ advocacy strategy, setting its top priorities as the city grows, welcoming around 12,500 residents per annum up to 2046, and also planning for a future population of 1 million people over the next 30 years.

The keynote speaker was futurist and former Mayor of Adelaide Mr Stephen Yarwood, who spoke to the demographic challenges and opportunities facing a key part of the Brisbane city-region.

For a copy of the City of Tomorrow document please visit here.

For the very first time, Towards the Games – Brisbane 2032, the local podcast hosted by The Courier-Mail’s Chris Jones and Nova’s David ‘Luttsy’ Lutteral, was recorded in front of a live audience, proudly supported by the Committee for Brisbane.

Held at Griffith University, this special episode explored the role of the Brisbane River in shaping our city’s identity and its potential as a central legacy of the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games. From water taxis and floating markets to native otters, biodiversity, accessibility and urban play, the discussion was as bold as it was imaginative – reimagining how the Brown Snake could become Brisbane’s beating heart before, during and after the Games.

A huge thanks to our panel of river champions — Luke Fraser (Howard Smith Wharves), Louise Bezzina (Brisbane Festival), John Sharpe (Riverlife Brisbane), Piet Filet (Griffith University), Meredith Hartigan (Tract) and Sarah Delahunty (Queensland Trust For Nature) — and to the engaged live audience who brought energy and ideas to the conversation.

If you missed being part of history, you can listen to the live episode here:
Towards the Games – Brisbane 2032 on Apple Podcasts

Have a look at the event photos here. 

The Queensland Government has launched its plans for the former Visy Site at South Brisbane.

The 7.1 hectare site along Montague Road is proposed to become a mixed used precinct, with the concept of a South Bank 2.0 now put aside in favour of private sector-led proposals, focused on high density housing.

It is hoped the site can support up to 4000 apartments, with adjacent parkland and other amenities including promenades, event lawns, community spaces, and with the potential for new buildings up to 247 metres (around 80 storeys) high.

Proponents have been asked to submit proposals to Economic Development Queensland (EDQ), with shortlisting soon to follow.

For more information visit EDQ here.

EDQ continues its customer engagement and transparency reforms.

This includes its monthly Development Applications (DA) report card, ongoing reviews of development schemes, one stop shop assistance with referral agencies and a regular customer feedback survey.

Other notable enhancements, to be implemented from 3 November, include:

• A new online portal to lodge DAs electronically – including providing real-time application tracking.
• Faster, integrated and more responsive development assessment service tailored to provide greater coordination and clearer points of escalation.
• Improved pre-lodgement experience providing greater certainty and clarity.

For further information on the online portal please visit EDQ here.

On 8 October, Suburban Futures hosted its annual Industry Leaders and Legends ‘Future of Suburbia’ event at Customs House.

This year’s lineup included a range of speakers, and industry leaders and ‘legends’.

Sharing their insights were the Deputy Premier the Hon Jarrod Bleijie, Springfield City Group’s Bob Sharpless, EDQ CEO Julian Simmonds, City of Moreton Bay Mayor Peter Flannery, and many others.

This year’s keynote was Canadian planner, film maker, columnist and YouTube star Uytae Lee, who discussed a range of issues relevant to greater-Brisbane’s future, including polycentric urbanism, suburbanisation and the future of cities.

For further event and other information on Suburban Futures click here.