Gracemere population expected to surge by thousands over next 15 years

Rockhampton council has applied for a hefty grant after crunching the numbers and discovering an area in the region is destined to see a huge surge in population in coming years.

The town of Gracemere is projected to attract 42.1 per cent of the region’s growth of 12,136 persons between 2021 and 2036 and council is seeking State Government funding to support the area’s urgent planning challenges.

One of the Rockhampton region’s fastest growing areas is the focal point of a new housing action plan that is expected to cost $300,000.

The town of Gracemere is projected to attract 42.1 per cent of the region’s growth of 12,136 persons between 2021 and 2036 and council is seeking State Government funding to support the area’s urgent planning challenges.

Council this week voted to apply for $225,000 from the Queensland Government Scheme Supply Fund which supports projects that improve planning to increase and fast track housing supply, meaning council’s contribution would be $75,000.

The South Gracemere Local Area Plan will take 18 months to complete and involve a consultant providing planning and guidance on the type of residential development needed to allow potential projects to be assessed more quickly and efficiently.

This map from the updated Rockhampton Planning Scheme shows where the new housing suburbs are going as the town prepares for strong growth.

Cr Grant Mathers said the South Gracemere plan was timely given the strong growth there and the State election promises for a long-awaited Gracemere high school from both the LNP and Labor that would further boost population growth.

Mayor Tony Williams said council would be compelled to pay for the $300,000 South Gracemere plan regardless of whether its bid for state government funding was successful.

The Gracemere plan comes as the council adopted its 10-yearly review of the Rockhampton Region Planning Scheme (RRPS) amid an ongoing accommodation crisis with rental vacancy rates down to 0.7 per cent in August.

The RRPS population projections indicate the Rockhampton Regional Council population would increase from 86,104 persons in 2021 to 98,237 persons in 2036, representing average annual growth of 0.9 per cent per annum.

Rockhampton Regional Council mayor Tony Williams.

The planning scheme identified Parkhurst - Kawana as the other area which will absorb the bulk of that population increase with 49.6 per cent of the growth.

Cr Williams said they were also planning for the increases there as they gauged the impact of the $1.7 billion Ring Road which is currently under construction.

“That will have a big bearing there for connectivity from North Rockhampton through to Gracemere to open up a multitude of different options,” he said.

“There has been a lot of work done in the Parkhurst area over the last few years and around CQUniversity with the housing in that space as well.”

He said the proposed sporting precinct precinct on Norman Road was another exciting venture that would enhance lifestyle options in the area.

Originally published as Gracemere population expected to surge by thousands over next 15 years