Gold Coast population: Stunning new figures show boom is accelerating

Extraordinary new figures show the growth of the Gold Coast’s population is picking up pace, raising urgent questions about housing and transport. SEE THE DATA

The Gold Coast’s population has almost certainly already passed the 700,000 mark, with new data showing the rate of migration to the city continues to accelerate.

A Queensland Government Statisticians Office report seen by the Bulletin shows the city became home to 19,170 more people in the 12 months to June 30 last year.

The growth, which was the biggest of any SA4 (statistical) area in Queensland, took the city’s total estimated population to 682,490.

If the same amount of people have arrived in the current financial year, which has three weeks left to run, then the city’s population will already have tipped over 700,000.

Growth at the same rate in coming years would also result in the city’s population reaching one million people by 2037.

That’s ahead of official projections that the one million mark would be reached by 2046.

The Statisticians Office report shows that by far the bulk of the city’s population growth came from overseas migration, which accounted for 14,530 of the 19,170 new residents with interstate migration – a primary driver of growth during the height of the Covid-19 pandemic – contributing just 2,220 new residents.

The contrast was even more stark in Brisbane, where net overseas migration brought 35,370 new residents, but the Queensland capital actually lost 1700 people to internal migration.

The figures come after Premier Steven Miles last month called on the Albanese government to cut immigration, linking Queensland’s booming population to road congestion and a lack of housing.

“The massive overseas and interstate migration we have seen is directly contributing to congestion – 229,000 more daily trips on our roads, trains, buses and active networks over the last five years,” he said.

“This is exactly why I have called on the federal government to moderate migration, to ensure our infrastructure keeps pace with growth.”

The report shows the Gold Coast experienced the most population growth in Queensland across not just the last financial year, but the last decade.

It also reveals the Gold Coast Local Government Area is now home to a greater share of Queenslanders, with 12.2 per cent of the state’s residents now living in the Gold Coast, compared to 11.6 per cent a decade earlier.

Next door Logan has also grown strongly, while Brisbane’s share has shown a small decline.

The revelations come as debate rages on the Gold Coast about how best to deal with increasing road congestion.

Queensland Premier Steven Miles and Deputy Premier Cameron Dick during a visit to the Coomera Hospital project site on the Gold Coast last week. Picture: Dan Peled / NewsWire

Ahead of the state election in October, the LNP has said it will “put the brakes” on plans to extend the city’s light rail system to Gold Coast Airport and conduct a review which would consider alternative options.

However Deputy Premier and Treasurer Cameron Dick has accused LNP leader David Crisafulli of planning to redirect funding for the light rail to a promised heavy rail project on the Sunshine Coast.

“Why does the Sunshine Coast get direct heavy rail and the Gold Coast just get a comprehensive review of Gold Coast light rail stage four?,” Mr Dick said.

“They get a review and the Sunshine Coast gets a brand new rail line, no ifs, no buts, no maybes.”

LNP leader Jarrod Bleijie has since rejected that accusation, accusing Mr Dick of “playing politics” and spreading “lies and misinformation”.

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