2017-04-11 P&E Agenda Attachment 1 to Item 1 Housing Needs Assessment

2.       INFORMATION REVIEW AND ANALYSIS

2.1 Overview of the Noosa Shire Population
Noosa Shire Council’s Community Profile (AEC Group 2015) notes that Noosa Shire is very similar
to South East Queensland (SEQ) and Queensland across many socio-economic indicators;
however, it differs significantly in two areas. Firstly, Noosa Shire’s population is older and aging
faster than the rest of the region. Secondly, Noosa Shire has a greater reliance on tourism for its
economy than SEQ or Queensland. These two factors shape Noosa Shire’s social and economic
structure and will continue to shape its social and economic future.

2.1.1       Socio-Economic Characteristics
The Community Profile outlined the following socio-economic characteristics of the Noosa Shire
population:

          Noosa Shire’s population is relatively small compared to SEQ and Queensland
           (making up only 1.6% and 1.1% of total populations, respectively), however, with an
           estimated resident population of some 53,770 people (estimate at 30 June 2015)
           (Queensland Government 2016a), Noosa has sufficient critical mass to support a range of
           residential and business services locally.
          Since 2001, Noosa Shire’s population has grown at a slower rate than SEQ and
           Queensland (Table 1). While slower, this level of growth is still sufficient to provide an
           ongoing stimulus for economic growth.

         Table 1. Population growth, Noosa Shire, SEQ and Queensland, 2006-2015p

          Area                                   2006                 2011f                2015p

                                                    Population (Average annual growth rate
                                                             for preceding period)

          Noosa Shire (Qld Government             NA               51,267 (NA)          53,769 (1.2%)
          2016a) (ABS Consultancy)

          Noosa Shire (Qld Government        48,082 (2.0%)        51,038 (1.2%)         53,515 (1.2%)
          2016b)

          South East Queensland             3,746,120 (2.4%)     4,187,690 (2.3%)     4,471,303 (1.7%)
          (including all of Toowoomba
          Regional Council area)

          Queensland                       4,007,992 (2.3%)     4,476,778 (2.2%)      4,778,854 (1.6%)

         Source: Queensland Government 2016a (ABS Consultancy); Queensland Government 2016b;
         Notes: f = final estimate, r = revised, p = preliminary.
         The discrepancy between the ABS and the Queensland Government population estimates relates to one
         split SA1 area (3143356) in building up localities (ABS estimate includes the whole SA1).

          Noosa Shire’s population is older than SEQ and Queensland. The median age of
           Noosa’s residents was 45.9 years in 2011. This is 7.8 years higher than the median age of
           SEQ residents (38.1 years) and 9.9 years higher than the median age of residents of the
           State (36.0 years).
          Noosa Shire’s population is aging quickly. Since 1991, Noosa Shire has seen a
           significant increase in the proportion of residents aged 45 years and over. Residents aged
           45 years and over accounted for 39.3% of the population in 1991, 45.3% in 2001 and
           50.9% in 2011. Residents aged 65 years and over have grown from 16.5% of the



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