Waraba (pronounced ''wa-ra-ba'') is a rural

locality Locality may refer to: * Locality, a historical named location or place in Canada * Locality (association), an association of community regeneration organizations in England * Locality (linguistics) * Locality (settlement) * Suburbs and localitie ...

in the

City of Moreton Bay The City of Moreton Bay, known until July 2023 as the Moreton Bay Region, is a Local government in Australia, local government area in the north of the Brisbane metropolitan city in South East Queensland, South East Queensland, Australia. Estab ...

Queensland Queensland ( , commonly abbreviated as Qld) is a States and territories of Australia, state in northeastern Australia, and is the second-largest and third-most populous state in Australia. It is bordered by the Northern Territory, South Austr ...

, Australia.

History

In April 2023, the

Queensland Government The Queensland Government is the state government of Queensland, Australia, a Parliament, parliamentary constitutional monarchy. Government is formed by the party or coalition that has gained a majority in the Queensland Legislative Assembly, ...

decided to reflect the growing population of the region by creating five new localities named

Corymbia ''Corymbia'', commonly known as bloodwoods, is a genus of about one hundred species of tree that, along with ''Eucalyptus'', '' Angophora'' and several smaller groups, are referred to as eucalypts. Until 1990, corymbias were included in the g ...

, Greenstone, Lilywood, Wagtail Grove, and Waraba by excising parts of the existing localities of Bellmere, Rocksberg, Upper Caboolture, and

Wamuran Wamuran is a rural town and Suburbs and localities (Australia), locality in the City of Moreton Bay, Queensland, Australia. In the , the locality of Wamuran had a population of 3,374 people. Wamuran is known for its roadside stalls selling the ...

. Waraba was created from land formerly within Bellmere and Wamuran. The name ''Waraba'' means ''

burn A burn is an injury to skin, or other tissues, caused by heat, electricity, chemicals, friction, or ionizing radiation (such as sunburn, caused by ultraviolet radiation). Most burns are due to heat from hot fluids (called scalding), soli ...

'' in the Kabi Kabi language and refers to

fire-stick farming Fire-stick farming, also known as cultural burning and cool burning, is the practice of Aboriginal Australians regularly using fire to burn vegetation, which has been practised for thousands of years. There are a number of purposes for doing this ...

, a traditional land management practice of the Kabi Kabi people.

Infrastructure and development

Waraba, formerly known as Caboolture West, was designated as Queensland's 36th Priority Development Area (PDA) on August 2, 2024. This initiative aims to transform approximately 2,900 hectares (approximately 7,166 acres) into a vibrant urban centre, addressing the region's housing needs and supporting economic growth. The development plan includes the construction of 30,000 diverse homes to accommodate an estimated 70,000 residents. A minimum of 25% of these dwellings are designated for affordable and social housing, reflecting a commitment to inclusivity. The project is also projected to generate approximately 17,000 local jobs, fostering economic vitality within the community. Infrastructure development is a cornerstone of Waraba's planning. The Queensland Government has allocated over $100 million to support the delivery of essential services, including water and wastewater infrastructure. An initial investment of $38.5 million is directed toward the suburb of Lilywood, facilitating the early stages of residential development. The comprehensive planning framework ensures that as the community expands, infrastructure and services scale accordingly to maintain a high quality of life. The development strategy emphasises sustainability and community well-being. Mixed-use centres are planned to integrate residential, commercial, and civic spaces, fostering a self-sufficient and interconnected urban environment. The commitment to affordable and social housing aims to create an inclusive community that caters to a diverse population. The Interim Land Use Plan (ILUP) for the Waraba PDA outlines the allocation of land for various purposes, including state primary and secondary schools. This approach is intended to ensure that educational infrastructure is considered from the outset, aligning with the broader objectives of the PDA to provide 30,000 diverse homes and accommodate approximately 70,000 residents. In addition to public educational facilities, the development framework has encouraged the participation of non-public education providers. This has included consultation with private and independent school operators during the preparation of the PDA Development Scheme and the Development Charges and Offset Plan (DCOP) to facilitate a diverse educational landscape that meets varying community needs. The declaration of Waraba as a PDA has allowed for a focused approach to planning, enabling the consideration of various options for delivering identified school sites and assessing the need for additional educational facilities. This process has involved detailed planning work and community consultation to align development with the needs and aspirations of future residents.

Education

There are no schools in Waraba. The nearest government primary school is Bellmere State School in Bellmere to the east. The nearest government secondary school is Tullawong State High School in

Caboolture Caboolture () is a town and suburb in the City of Moreton Bay, Queensland, Australia. It is located on the northern side of the Caboolture River. In the , the suburb of Caboolture had a population of 29,534 people. Geography Caboolture is ...

to the north-east.

References

{{City of Moreton Bay Localities in Queensland City of Moreton Bay