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The Activate! Sandgate concept

What the Sandgate Bayside Chamber of Commerce's "Activate! Sandgate" concept is, and why it matters to the Precinct Plan conversation.

Brighton Rd as shown in the Chamber of Commerce concept aerial view.
Brighton Rd as shown in the Chamber of Commerce concept aerial view.

What is the Chamber of Commerce’s ‘Activate! Sandgate’ concept?

On 9 April 2026, the Sandgate Bayside Chamber of Commerce launched their concept for the future of Sandgate’s town centre, which they call “Activate! Sandgate” (see sandgatebayside.com.au/activatesandgate). One thing we immediately noticed in the aerial view of their concept was that there is no trace remaining of the current main street (they have clarified that the Town Hall and Post Office building would be spared). This puts their concept directly at odds with the widespread view in the community that new higher density development must achieve a balance with the existing historical character of the town centre.

When their concept was launched we were left in no doubt that it was the Chamber’s “goal” and “long-term vision”, but over the course of about a month after the launch they softened the wording on their web page not once but twice, to portray their concept as being more of a conversation starter (no doubt they had noticed the negative community response to their concept). Since these wording changes on their web page were made quietly and without explanation, it is unclear whether there has been a genuine change of heart or just a change in optics.

This is not a Council plan

The most important thing to understand about Activate! Sandgate is that it is not a Brisbane City Council plan. The Chamber of Commerce is a private business organisation, and Activate! Sandgate has no official planning status.

However their concept is likely to carry significant weight and influence over Council’s draft plan, which is why we have to take it seriously and address it in our submissions to Council.

Why is the ‘lagoon parkland upgrade’ included in their concept?

Leaving aside the question of whether we actually want the lagoon parkland to look like Southbank, it is important to realise that their proposed parkland ‘upgrade’ (as also shown in their aerial view) has nothing to do with zoning changes in general or the Precinct Plan in particular. They are just blurring the two together to use the parkland idea as a ‘sweetener’ to get people on board about whatever zoning changes their concept will require. This is the same tactic they used during the neighbourhood planning process. If they really wanted a park upgrade, they could have been pursuing that anyway instead of only ever bringing it up when they want to entice the community into supporting particular zoning changes.