The full extent of Queensland’s pandemic population surge has been revealed, with new data finding some areas have absorbed as much as 24,000 new residents in three years.
High levels of interstate migration saw Queensland defy any population fallout during Covid-19, KPMG’s analysis of the fastest growing regions Australia-wide found, with 238,000 more residents added to the state between 2019 and 2022.
The rise was only slightly lower than the previous three years (253,000) – a feat not many states have been able to boast about during the pandemic.
The popularity of the Sunshine State was so strong with interstate migrants that KPMG demographics expert Terry Rawnsley found population growth in Brisbane during the Covid-19 period continued along much the same line as it had the previous three years – despite international immigration bans and lockdowns impacting numbers elsewhere.
“Many high growth regional areas have seen strong growth as residents have been attracted by local amenity and affordable housing,” Mr Rawnsley said.
“Due to this strong growth most of the fastest growing areas in Greater Brisbane had population growth in line with the previous three years.”
“The greenfield housing provided across areas like Springfield – Redbank and Jimboomba are more affordable than other parts of Brisbane and are also more affordable than other comparable greenfield sites in Sydney and Melbourne.”
Springfield-Redbank, which topped Brisbane and was second in Queensland, made the national top 10 fastest growing regions list – with 14,300 more residents during the three year period, a rise of 4.6 per cent.
Jimboomba saw 11,300 new residents (up 6.3 per cent), Brisbane Inner had 10,900 people added to the area (4.2 per cent), Caloundra was up by 10,700 individuals (3.8 per cent), Browns Plains added 9,600 (3.4 per cent), North Lakes 9,200 (3.5 per cent), Caboolture 8,100 (3.4 per cent), Toowoomba 7,300 (1.5 per cent), Sunshine Coast Hinterland 7,200 (4.2 per cent), Mackay 5,700 (1.5 per cent) and Nambour 4,900 (3.3 per cent).
In the past year to the end of December, Qld’s population grew 2.1 per cent, the highest of the states and territories, with 110,000 more residents and an estimated population of 5.4m people.
Fastest growing regions in Greater Brisbane 2019-2022
Springfield – Redbank up 14,300 (4.6 per cent)
Jimboomba up 11,300 (6.3 per cent)
Brisbane Inner up 10,900 (4.2 per cent)
Browns Plains up 9,600 (3.4 per cent)
North Lakes up 9,200 (3.5 per cent)
Caboolture up 8,100 (3.4 per cent)
(Source: KPMG)
Fastest growing regions in regional Queensland 2019-2022
Ormeau – Oxenford up 24,500 (5.3 per cent)
Caloundra up 10,700 (3.8 per cent)
Toowoomba up 7,300 (1.5 per cent)
Sunshine Coast Hinterland up 7,200 (4.2 per cent)
Mackay up 5,700 (1.5 per cent)
Nambour up 4,900 (3.3 per cent)
(Source: KPMG)
Article source: www.realestate.com.au