Cornubia recorded 199 development applications in our database. The highest of any suburb in Australia. Ahead of every inner-city postcode, every coastal hotspot, and every other growth suburb in the country.
So what's happening in this south-east Brisbane suburb that's generating more building activity than anywhere else?
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Total DAs | 199 |
| Top category | Subdivision of existing acreage lots |
| Typical acreage lot size | 2,000 to 10,000 sqm |
| Council | Logan City Council |
| Typical lot sale price | $350,000 to $450,000 |
| Key advantage | Highest DA count of any suburb in Australia, with established infrastructure keeping costs below greenfield areas |
Why Cornubia Is Growing
Cornubia sits at the intersection of the M1 Pacific Motorway and the Logan Motorway, roughly 30 kilometres south of the Brisbane CBD. It falls within Logan City Council, one of the fastest-growing local government areas in Queensland.
The suburb has historically been characterised by large acreage properties, many between 2,000 and 10,000 square metres. The land profile is now its biggest asset. As South East Queensland's population grows (ShapingSEQ 2023 projects an additional 2.2 million people by 2046, requiring almost 900,000 new homes), established suburbs with subdivisible lots become prime targets for residential development.
Logan City Council has been proactive about enabling this transition. Zoning changes have opened up previously low-density land for medium-density housing, and the infrastructure investment along the motorway corridor has made the area more accessible.
Cornubia also benefits from being adjacent to Cornubia Forest and the Daisy Hill Conservation Park, giving new developments a nature-adjacent selling point that appeals to families.
Cornubia's development pattern: large acreage lots (2,000-10,000 sqm) being subdivided into 6-8 smaller residential allotments, with new houses rising alongside cleared and graded sites.
What's Being Built
The DA activity in Cornubia is overwhelmingly residential. The dominant application types include:
Subdivision of existing lots. Large acreage blocks are being split into smaller residential allotments. Many of these are two-into-four or three-into-eight style subdivisions, where a single owner carves their property into a small estate. Our subdivision process guide walks through the steps involved.
New dwelling construction. Once lots are subdivided, the building approvals follow. Single-storey and two-storey houses make up the bulk of new build applications.
Dual occupancy and duplexes. Some landowners are building two dwellings on their existing lot rather than subdividing, especially on blocks that sit along main roads or near the local centres.
Civil and infrastructure works. Subdivision brings road construction, stormwater drainage, sewer connections, and earthworks. These civils packages often appear as separate DAs.
Commercial or industrial activity? Minimal compared to neighbouring suburbs like Meadowbrook. Cornubia's pipeline is almost entirely residential.
For Tradies
If you service new residential construction, Cornubia should be on your radar. With 199 DAs, the volume of upcoming work is unmatched nationally.
Earthworks and civil contractors have the earliest opportunities. Subdivision requires bulk earthworks, road base, kerbing, and drainage before any houses go up.
Concreters and slab specialists follow closely behind. The volume of new house slabs in the suburb is substantial, and many are on relatively flat sites that allow straightforward raft slab construction, the kind of repeatable work where you can schedule a pour every day or two across adjacent lots without losing time to site prep complications.
Plumbers, electricians, and HVAC installers are needed for every new dwelling. With subdivisions producing clusters of 4 to 8 lots at a time, you can pick up multiple jobs on the same street.
Fencers, landscapers, and driveway contractors come in at the tail end. New estates need boundary fencing, turf, garden beds, and concrete driveways. The volume means repeat work in a concentrated area.
The key advantage here is density of work. Five or six active subdivisions within a few kilometres of each other means minimal travel time between jobs. Browse all QLD leads to see what's coming through.
For Developers
Cornubia presents a classic acreage-to-subdivision play. The economics work because:
Land acquisition costs remain below inner-city levels. While Brisbane and Gold Coast inner suburbs command premium prices, Cornubia's larger lots can still be acquired at rates that make subdivision financially viable.
Yield potential is strong. A 4,000 sqm block subdivided into six or eight lots, each selling for $350,000 to $450,000, can deliver strong returns against a purchase price in the $1 million to $1.5 million range. These are indicative figures based on recent comparable sales; your actual numbers will depend on lot configuration, frontage, and slope. Factor in QLD stamp duty on the acquisition to get an accurate total cost.
Approval pathways are established. Logan City Council has processed hundreds of similar applications in this corridor. No surprises. The planning framework supports this type of development, which reduces approval risk and timeline uncertainty.
Infrastructure is already there. Sewer, water, and power trunk services run through the suburb. Connection costs are generally lower than in true greenfield areas like Yarrabilba.
| Factor | Cornubia | Typical greenfield (e.g. Yarrabilba) |
|---|---|---|
| Trunk infrastructure | Already in place | Requires new trunk mains |
| Connection costs | Lower (existing services) | Higher (extension charges) |
| Approval risk | Low (established pattern) | Variable (new planning frameworks) |
| Lot yield (4,000 sqm block) | 6-8 lots typical | Depends on master plan density |
| Indicative lot price | $350,000-$450,000 | $280,000-$380,000 |
| Acquisition price range | $1M-$1.5M | Often lower entry |
Before committing, run the numbers through a feasibility analysis to confirm your site stacks up. Check zoning constraints, lot yield potential, and infrastructure contribution charges specific to your parcel.
You can also explore Logan City Council's full DA pipeline to see what else is being approved in the area and where competitor projects are concentrated.
The Bottom Line
Cornubia is Australia's busiest suburb for development activity. The pipeline shows no sign of slowing. Subdivisible land, strong transport links, a council that supports growth: the combination makes it a standout for both tradies looking for work and developers looking for sites.
Explore QLD development insights or search Cornubia leads to stay ahead of the pipeline.
