“Social Housing is Not Always About Density”

For us, master planning in this space starts with a different question: not how many dwellings, but how well a place can support people over time.

In Townsville, we have had the privilege of working alongside Yumba Meta on projects that place community at the centre of every decision.

At Riverway Drive, Rasmussen, the master plan forms part of a broader strategic vision to deliver community support services with a focus on First Nations peoples. The framework has been developed to evolve over time, responding to future funding opportunities and changing community needs.

In Oonoonba, the delivery of 44 affordable detached homes continues that commitment, providing housing that supports stability, connection and long-term wellbeing.

As a not-for-profit organisation delivering housing and support services across the Townsville region, Yumba Meta brings a deep understanding of community needs and aspirations.

It is projects like Riverway Drive and Oonoonba that demonstrate the relevance of this year’s World Architecture Day theme and remind us that master planning is not only about buildings and infrastructure. We’re grateful for the opportunity to contribute to work that serves people, place and community.

World Architecture Day 2026

This year’s theme, Housing is a Human Right. Build It., is a reminder that architecture is not only about the built environment, but the role it plays in supporting people’s needs. Access to safe, stable and appropriate housing is about more than shelter alone; it is about creating places that support people, strengthen communities and provide the foundations for long-term wellbeing.