Bold vision for Redcliffe foreshore precinct

EXCLUSIVE

Concept drawings have been created to spark deeper discussion about Redcliffe’s future and what is needed to ensure the foreshore precinct reaches its potential.

Open Architecture Studio Founding Director Michael Bailey has created visions for a new Redcliffe Jetty and Humpybong Plaza, and revitalised Sutton St.

He shared them with Moreton Daily following our story earlier this month about the future of Sutton Street, in which Michael called for a coherent precinct masterplan.

It comes as Moreton Bay City Council conducts a Coastal Building Design Review which includes the Redcliffe Peninsula, Deception Bay and Bribie Island.

Community feedback will be sought on the review’s draft report in 2026.

Mayor Peter Flannery has previously said: “With roughly one third of the City’s population living on the coastline, Council wants to get the design of coastal buildings right while accommodating future population growth”.

Michael says believes adopting the three visions will deliver economic, environmental and community benefits to a maturing city centre.

Redcliffe is a sought-after location, particularly since COVID, with more people choosing to work from home and embrace the bayside lifestyle.

“All of those three projects are about creating spaces for community to connect with each other and with nature,” Michael explains.

“We see them as a really important part of the fabric of the city. As additional people move in, buildings get taller ... you recognise less people. There’s a lot of research to say that if you can get on a train or go to shops and actually recognise faces – even if you don’t know them to talk to – you feel much safer because you see them regularly.”

He says economic, environment and community needs are embedded in each concept.

“They all give people jobs to work locally in, there’s a whole pathway for people to sail boats and take people on tourist trips out to the bay, to work in hospitality. There’s all the way from entry-level to senior management jobs in these proposals,” Michael explains.

“We act as a think tank to help move people’s vision of their own community forward and get them to think ... what does the next 10 or 20 years look like and is this something we can buy into?”

“Sometimes, it’s about setting the benchmark really high and being about to talk about stuff that council can’t ...”

Michael hopes the community will find the concepts compelling, and the design help shape discussion to embrace opportunities for the region.

He also hopes council will “pick this up and work with the State Government to start to unlock some of these opportunities”.

Michael Bailey explains the concepts

Redcliffe Jetty

Redcliffe Jetty is reimagined as an activate waterfront destination that enhances connections and access to Moreton Bay. The project proposes a new multi-purpose jetty that creates a 24/7 hub for swimming, boating, hospitality and tourism - celebrating the Peninsula's heritage while creating new economic opportunities.

The proposed development integrates hospitality and hotel accommodation into the jetty structure, providing around-the-clock activation and natural surveillance. Enhanced facilities include safe swimming access to the bay; improved boating infrastructure that caters for small craft, kayaks and larger tourist vessel berths; hospitality venues; and subtropical landscaping. The design maintains spaces for community traditions and celebrations, while connecting to Queensland's boat harbour network.

Central to the design is the creation of active edges - places to dwell, dine and engage with the waterfront. The jetty offers direct connection to Moreton Bay, beyond passive observation, with activities like swimming, boating, fishing and dining. Welcoming spaces foster social cohesion, providing gathering places for families. Experiences range from ice cream stops to whale watching departures.

The project generates employment from entry-level hospitality positions to management roles in hotel and tourism operations.

This vision builds on Open Architecture Studio's long-standing engagement with the Redcliffe Peninsula community through the Chamber of Commerce and Maritime Alliance.

Timeline: Could be delivered in five years, with Council + State Government investment or public-private partnership.

Humpybong Plaza

This vision for a central plaza in Redcliffe transforms the Humpybong public carpark into a landscaped civic plaza, creating a new community heart for the Peninsula. The project reimagines the area as a gathering place for markets, events, dining and daily social interaction, allowing the creek to breathe again and bring new life to the heart of the CBD.

The proposed plaza replaces existing surface carparks with open civic space, allowing the creek to flow freely into the ocean and preventing flooding of the local area. The parking spaces would be relocated to a multi-storey paid parking structure nearby. Enhanced active transport networks - including cycling and walking paths, e-scooter facilities, and an electric loop bus serving the Peninsula – would reduce parking demand and improve accessibility.

Integrated retail, cafe tenancies and facilities for community events and celebrations activates the plaza, creating active edges through continuous frontages to provide natural surveillance and improve community safety. The plaza accommodates diverse activities from daily dining to festivals.

It would be a catalyst, attracting private investment that triggers larger-scale development and additional economic activity.

Timeline: Could be delivered in five years, but dependent on alternative parking being created.

Sutton Street

The Sutton Street vision transforms this important street in Redcliffe CBD from a secondary service lane into a vibrant pedestrian-focused precinct. The project reimagines the street as an alternative main street, complementing Redcliffe Pde.

The proposed precinct activates ground-level spaces with retail, cafe and small businesses, while ensuring podium-level residential and commercial occupation remains visible from the street. This would provide "eyes on the street" throughout the day and evening, deterring antisocial behaviour.

The use of local materials and retention of the existing mature fig trees provide a shady canopy and reinforce the subtropical character of the street, with pedestrian-priority streetscape offering places to sit.

The project provides alternative commercial frontage for businesses that don't require premium esplanade positioning, with lower rental costs enabling business incubation before graduation to larger spaces.

Timeline: Could be delivered in stages during the next 15 years (visible change within five years), with council investment/framework to ensure cohesive design.