NEW QUEENSLAND COUNCILS WELL PLACED TO MEET THE DEMANDS OF THE POPULATION BOOM
Published Wednesday, 22 August, 2007 at 02:53 PM
JOINT STATEMENT
Premier and Minister for Trade
The Honourable Peter Beattie
Minister for Local Government, Planning and Sport
The Honourable Andrew Fraser
Premier Peter Beattie said today an analysis of the latest Census shows the new local government boundaries will ensure Queensland’s councils are better placed to manage extraordinary population growth occurring across the State.
“Analysis of the 2006 Census shows Queensland continues to lead the country with the South East, the resources corridor and regional cities experiencing historically high population growth,” Mr Beattie said.
“The new council boundaries are centred on the regions where population growth is at its highest.
“It’s essential we continue to analyse and monitor our population increases.
“Comparison of maps demonstrating population growth and the new council boundaries demonstrates how closely aligned the local government changes are to growing regions
“Growth is phenomenal in our regional cities, in the areas north and south of Brisbane and in our resources corridor where essential council reform is now underway.”
The Census data shows annual population growth in South East Queensland between 2001 and 2006 averaged 66,000.
“That equates to adding a city the size of Rockhampton to the area every year,” Mr Beattie said.
Brisbane, with 19,100 new people every year and the Gold Coast with 16,700, recorded the largest annual average growth of any local government area in the nation.
Other key growth areas include:
- Caloundra at 4.1%
- Maroochy at 3.7%
- Mackay at 3.5%
- Hervey Bay at 4.9% and
- Thuringowa at 3.6%
Local Government and Planning Minister Andrew Fraser said the fastest growth areas were outside of the South East region – in areas where critical local government reform is now underway.
“These are some of our fastest growing areas – areas like Weipa with an annual growth rate of 6.9% and Nebo with growth of 5.1%,” Mr Fraser said.
“The independent Local Government Reform Commission quite rightly used population growth along with future population projections in reaching its recommendations which have lead to the historic council reform we are now undertaking.
“The area immediately north of Brisbane, for example – which will be incorporated in the new Moreton Bay Regional Council – will accommodate about 11% of SEQ’s future population and housing growth over the next 20 years.
“Similarly Logan will be home to 10.5% of our new arrivals over the same period.
“Together those two areas will accommodate a huge part of the growth in the South East corner.”
Mr Beattie said it was important that the government continue to study and analyse the state’s population growth.
“This is critical information for strategic planning, an essential part of which is building stronger, more sustainable councils,” he said.
“It speaks volumes that our fastest growing areas were in our resources corridor where we will create more robust councils – councils with more grunt – able to cope with the resources boom,” Mr Beattie said.
Wednesday August 23, 2007
For more information:
Premier’s Office – 3224 4500
Minister’s Office - 3227 8819
“Analysis of the 2006 Census shows Queensland continues to lead the country with the South East, the resources corridor and regional cities experiencing historically high population growth,” Mr Beattie said.
“The new council boundaries are centred on the regions where population growth is at its highest.
“It’s essential we continue to analyse and monitor our population increases.
“Comparison of maps demonstrating population growth and the new council boundaries demonstrates how closely aligned the local government changes are to growing regions
“Growth is phenomenal in our regional cities, in the areas north and south of Brisbane and in our resources corridor where essential council reform is now underway.”
The Census data shows annual population growth in South East Queensland between 2001 and 2006 averaged 66,000.
“That equates to adding a city the size of Rockhampton to the area every year,” Mr Beattie said.
Brisbane, with 19,100 new people every year and the Gold Coast with 16,700, recorded the largest annual average growth of any local government area in the nation.
Other key growth areas include:
- Caloundra at 4.1%
- Maroochy at 3.7%
- Mackay at 3.5%
- Hervey Bay at 4.9% and
- Thuringowa at 3.6%
Local Government and Planning Minister Andrew Fraser said the fastest growth areas were outside of the South East region – in areas where critical local government reform is now underway.
“These are some of our fastest growing areas – areas like Weipa with an annual growth rate of 6.9% and Nebo with growth of 5.1%,” Mr Fraser said.
“The independent Local Government Reform Commission quite rightly used population growth along with future population projections in reaching its recommendations which have lead to the historic council reform we are now undertaking.
“The area immediately north of Brisbane, for example – which will be incorporated in the new Moreton Bay Regional Council – will accommodate about 11% of SEQ’s future population and housing growth over the next 20 years.
“Similarly Logan will be home to 10.5% of our new arrivals over the same period.
“Together those two areas will accommodate a huge part of the growth in the South East corner.”
Mr Beattie said it was important that the government continue to study and analyse the state’s population growth.
“This is critical information for strategic planning, an essential part of which is building stronger, more sustainable councils,” he said.
“It speaks volumes that our fastest growing areas were in our resources corridor where we will create more robust councils – councils with more grunt – able to cope with the resources boom,” Mr Beattie said.
Wednesday August 23, 2007
For more information:
Premier’s Office – 3224 4500
Minister’s Office - 3227 8819