Principle 1: Create a city of neighbourhoods

In the past, jobs were in factories, office towers, and CBDs. As the connectivity of our world increases, the need to decentralise cities is necessary. Work where we live, live where we work.
Samuel, Annerley

Our diverse city is richer for its unique local communities. Rejuvenating these neighbourhoods and improving their amenity will ensure residents are close to the services they need and the lifestyle and leisure options they want.

How we'll get there

1.1 - Improve the amenity of local retail villages with upgraded paths, trees, seating and lighting.

1.2 - Partner with local businesses to bring unused space and laneways to life.

1.3 - Bring more markets to the suburbs by expanding the Brisbane Food Trucks program.¹

1.4 - Incentivise social enterprises and start-ups to locate in empty suburban shop fronts.

1.5 - Expand the number of places people can celebrate Brisbane’s outdoor lifestyle and have a drink while enjoying large public spaces.

Brisbane Food Trucks is an initiative that allows mobile food businesses to trade from Council land subject to obtaining a Gourmet Food Truck Approval.

Track Council's progress on this principle

Our progress

Action 1.1: Improve the amenity of local retail villages with upgraded paths, trees, seating and lighting

Village Precinct Projects

Council's Village Precinct Projects breathe new life into local shopping centre precincts, drawing people into the hub of their suburb, close to the services they need and the lifestyle and leisure options they want. Village Precinct Projects include Ashgrove, Aspley, Carina, Darra, Gaythorne, Hamilton, Jindalee, Inala, Paddington, Seven Hills, Sunnybank, Wavell Heights and Wilston.

Read more about the Village Precinct Projects.

Local Business Partnership Initiatives

Council's Local Business Partnership Initiative enables business owners and operators to collaborate with Council to identify opportunities that will improve investment and create sustainable local economies. Local Business Partnership Initiatives include Sandgate, Stones Corner, Wynnum, Nundah and Moorooka.

Read about Local Business Partnership Initiatives.

Action 1.2: Partner with local businesses to bring unused space and laneways to life

Outdoor Gallery

Council has partnered with artists and collaborated with the creative industry to create the Outdoor Gallery. The Outdoor Gallery transforms Brisbane's laneways and city streets into imaginative, curious and engaging spaces. Comprising of light boxes, banners and evening projections, the Outdoor Gallery displays art outside in city streets instead of inside gallery walls. 2019 Outdoor Gallery programs included the Women's Work exhibition, Indigenous Art Program exhibition Shared Connections, the 9th Asia Pacific Triennial of Contemporary Art (APT9) and APT9 Kids exhibition artwork.

Creative lighting

Council’s creative lighting projects aim to activate the city, bring people together to celebrate our enviable lifestyle, support small businesses and create a strong local economy. Creative lighting projects delivered in 2019-20 include Corinda, Inala, Milton, Spring Hill, West End and Wynnum.

Read more about Council’s creative lighting projects.

Find out about the lighting up of other Council assets including Story Bridge and Brisbane City Hall.

Temporary Art Program

Council’s Temporary Art Program is an artistic program that transforms the city’s outdoor public spaces through a series of temporary creative activations. Activation locations included Spring Hill Reservoir, New Farm Park, South Bank Parklands, Queen Street Mall, Howard Smith Wharves and the Brisbane River.

Village precinct activations

As part of Council's Village Precinct Projects, Council partnered with the local community and businesses to celebrate community, showcase local businesses and activate underutilised spaces for residents and visitors to enjoy. Activation locations have included Brisbane CBD, Gaythorne, Inala, Jindalee and Wavell Heights.

Action 1.3: Bring more markets to the suburbs by expanding the Brisbane Food Trucks program.

Brisbane Food Trucks Initiative

Council’s Brisbane Food Trucks Initiative aims to support the Gourmet Food Truck industry and provide residents with unique and creative food experiences that celebrate our cultural diversity and subtropical climate.

In June 2019, Council opened a new site at Biami Yumba Park, Fig Tree Pocket for Gourmet Food Trucks and are currently reviewing other locations to support the growth of Gourmet Food Trucks across Brisbane. Council has made changes to the Food Truck Guidelines (PDF - 6.5Mb) improving the eligibility criteria and the booking process for premium sites, making it easier for Gourmet Food Trucks to operate across the city. More than 50 Gourmet Food Trucks now take advantage of Council’s Brisbane Food Trucks Initiative.

Read more about Brisbane Food Trucks including how to start a Gourmet Food Truck business or find a Gourmet Food Truck near you.

Council commenced small business fee cuts on 1 July 2019. Discounts of 10% are available for some fees and charges that existing businesses may pay, and higher discounts of 50% and 100% are applicable to other fees and charges typically paid by new businesses, encouraging Brisbane start-ups to thrive and grow. This discount applies to eligible food trucks and other small businesses.

Council also continues to work with the Queensland Government to make it easier for Gourmet Food Trucks to trade on trust parkland dedicated for community purposes.

Action 1.4: Incentivise social enterprise and start-ups to locate in empty suburban shop fronts

New business initiatives are bringing our suburbs to life

In October 2019, the Lord Mayor announced that Council is developing a pilot program to encourage property owners with a vacant space or premise in suburban retail precincts to allow temporary use for emerging small businesses.

Read about all the opportunities for small businesses in Brisbane.