Gold Coast’s population blowout and where it will hurt most

Shock new figures show the Gold Coast’s population is growing much faster than previously thought, meaning the city will be home to a million residents sooner than you might think. Find out the suburbs which will grow the most

THE Gold Coast’s population will reach one million by 2045 with new figures showing a blowout in projected growth for the city.

Senior councillors yesterday called on the State Government to “keep up their end of the deal” by providing much needed infrastructure and upgrading the Pacific Motorway.

New figures released by Treasury predict the Coast will grow by 14,670 people annually for the next 25 years, up from the average of around 10,000 per year.

Traffic congestion near Coomera on the Pacific Motorway M1.

The 2015 projections forecast that 621,751 people will be living in the region by 2021 but the latest prediction says there is likely to be 650,349 residents.

A report presented to councillors today shows the biggest growth will be in Coomera, Pimpama, Surfers Paradise, Southport North and the Upper Coomera-Willowvale areas.

Molendinar, Currumbin Waters and Broadbeach Waters had the lowest predicted growth rte, reflecting a lack of land supply.

Hinterland Councillor Glenn Tozer says the population increase will be massive.

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The age of residents is also likely to change with the number of people aged 65 and older tipped to increase from 15 per cent of the population to 20 per cent by 2041.

The figures stunned some councillors with Mudgeeraba’s Glenn Tozer at a planning meeting telling colleagues that “it’s a big change”.

Outside the meeting, the hinterland councillor told The Bulletin: “I’m surprised by the figures. The projections we had in 2015 have grown by five per cent in three years.

“If you look at the year 2021, the projections done in 2015 were around 621,000. The 2018 projections is more than 650,000, it’s gone up by almost 30,000.

“That is a massive increase. It has significant implications for infrastructure like roads.”

Planning committee chair Cameron Caldwell believes the Coast has greenfield sites in the north to cope with the growth but admitted the Government must provide infrastructure.

“The Gold Coast is a wonderful place to live, work and play. So we are going to continue to attract new people to our city from interstate and overseas. Those numbers of growth are very strong,” he said.

Gold Coast City Council planning chair Cameron Caldwell urges the State Government to provide infrastructure like upgraded roads to help plan for the growth.

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Cr Caldwell said council was now aware the city could expect up to 15,000 new arrivals each year and must plan for the increase yet continue to “preserve the wonderful Gold Coast lifestyle”.

“We know we are going to continue to grow. We need to make sure we are continuing to see housing for those people, well located near jobs, infrastructure and recreational opportunities,” he said.

The report said Coomera’s population would increase by almost 62,000 from 13,807 in 2016 to reach 75,606 by 2041.

Pimpama will increase by almost 31,000 people across the same period, Surfers Paradise by 25,000 and Southport by 22,000.

Cr Caldwell believes long term planning meant Coomera could handle the growth, being close to the M1 and heavy rail. He suggests “sensible infill development” in south will help.

“We will continue to see stronger growth in the outlining suburbs where there are green field opportunities,” he said.

“We would call on the state government to make sure they keep up their end of the deal (regarding infrastructure).”

In 2041 the Coast is expected to have 943,686 residents, second to Brisbane with 1,551,149.