What’s happening?
Redland Bay’s housing market is set to grow with the launch of Villawood Properties’ $250 million Baya development. Assistant Minister for Planning and Member for Redlands Rebecca Young MP turned the first sod on the project this week. Construction is now underway to deliver 224 new homes and 700 local jobs, while supporting frontline workers with a unique grant program.
Why it matters
As population growth continues to drive demand, Redlands faces an urgent need for affordable housing. Housing approvals in Queensland have dropped by 36 per cent in recent years, intensifying the pressure. Projects like Baya will help address this shortage and offer frontline workers meaningful financial support to secure a home close to where they work.
Rebecca Young MP said, “It’s great to see new and affordable housing finally coming online—especially after housing approvals dropped by 36 per cent in recent years under Labor, despite Queensland’s rapid population growth.”
Local Impact
Beyond bricks and mortar, Baya will support essential community services through Villawood’s Care Worker Support Program. The initiative offers a $20,000 saving to eligible teachers, nurses, emergency staff and other frontline workers buying into the community.
Villawood Properties CEO Alan Miller said: “Getting people into housing in locations where they work is really the most important thing. The whole issue is the whole of southeast Queensland is pretty unsupplied with housing options.”
The region’s growing healthcare sector is a key factor. Mr Miller added: “We targeted [Redland Bay] because it’s a major growth corridor in Queensland. Very strong demand and supply was very restricted – we thought we could bring something to the market that other developers weren’t bringing.”
Stage one of Baya is now on the market, with construction expected to take 18 months.
By the numbers
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224 homes will be delivered as part of the $250 million Baya development.
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700 local jobs will be created during the life of the project.
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$20,000 grants will be available to essential workers through the Care Worker Support Program—already used by over 400 workers nationally.
Zoom In
Baya is designed as a thoughtfully master-planned community, featuring parks, walking tracks, cycleways and green open spaces. It reflects Villawood’s broader approach of combining liveability with community value.
The program has already seen success at Villawood’s Beaudesert development, Eucalee, and now brings this support to Redland Bay—an area undergoing significant transformation, including a $300 million expansion of the local hospital.
“This is exactly the kind of support our region needs,” Rebecca Young MP said. “I’ll keep working hard to make sure local families, first-home buyers and essential workers have a fair shot at a place to call home.”
Zoom Out
Queensland’s population boom continues to challenge housing supply, particularly in Southeast Queensland growth corridors like Redlands. Developments like Baya play a vital role in meeting demand and easing the housing crisis, while fostering community connections and affordability for those who serve the region daily.
What to look for next?
Watch for progress on Stage one of Baya, with homes expected to be ready in 18 months. Essential workers are encouraged to explore eligibility for the $20,000 Care Worker Support Program as the project advances.
