Lord mayor says zoning change could help your online shopping arrive sooner

Sydney Morning Herald

by William Davis

March 3, 2026

AI-Generated Deep Dive Summary

Lord mayor says zoning change could help your online shopping arrive sooner

Brisbane's Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner has proposed rezoning over 200 properties across three key industrial areas to encourage logistics and warehousing developments, aiming to speed up online shopping deliveries. The plan targets sites in Brisbane’s Northern Industrial Area, Australia TradeCoast, and the South West Industrial Gateway, reclassifying them from "General Industry C" to "General Industry B." This change is designed to attract major companies like Amazon, potentially improving delivery times for residents. The rezoning initiative was debated during a tense Brisbane City Council meeting, marked by allegations of corruption and technical issues with the live video stream. Schrinner emphasized the need to adapt to the rapidly evolving e-commerce sector, noting that faster deliveries are in high demand. He highlighted Amazon's local investment as evidence of Brisbane's growing appeal for logistics companies. Opposition from the Labor party criticized the proposal, accusing the LNP of undermining Australian manufacturing while praising foreign tech giants like Amazon. They pointed out the company’s controversial labor practices and questioned the focus on non-unionized industries. Despite these concerns, the plan received support from key stakeholders and has already undergone public consultation, with final approval pending state government review. The council meeting also faced technical challenges, including blurred video feeds of councillors, which sparked allegations of intentional obstruction by the LNP. These issues raised questions about transparency and accountability in the decision-making process. The rezoning amendment aims to streamline logistics operations, but its broader implications for Brisbane's industrial landscape and labor practices remain under scrutiny.

Verticals

worldaustralia

Originally published on Sydney Morning Herald on 3/3/2026