2015-08-18 Planning and Organisation Committee Agenda

PLANNING & ORGANISATION COMMITTEE MEETING AGENDA                               18 AUGUST 2015


However the Noosa economy is reliant on tourism and population driven industry sectors,
and could benefit from a more diversified economic base that is geared more towards
smart/knowledge based industry sectors.

    The Noosa economy is geared towards tourism and population driven industry sectors.
    Forecast population growth is expected to average 0.7% per annum reaching a
      population of approximately 62,000 people by 2036.
    Noosa’s population is ageing, and a little faster than most. In 2011 the average age
      was 46 years compared to 36years for Queensland and 38 years for the SEQ region.
    Accommodation and foods services, retail and construction are among our top 5
      employment sectors which also include healthcare and social assistance and
      education and training.
    Top 5 employment sectors make up over 60% of total jobs but only deliver 38% of
      value to the economy (GRP).
    Gross Regional Product in 2013-2014 was just under $2.6 Billion, growing at an
      average rate of 2.5% over the previous 5 years.
    Noosa’s three main industries by contribution to gross regional product are
      construction, health care & social assistance and retail.
    Unemployment is at 7.3% just under 1% above Queensland with approximately 1,970
      people looking for work.
    Approximately 7,400 businesses operate from Noosa.
    89.6% of Noosa businesses employ less than five people compared to 88.2% of SEQ
      region businesses and 87.5% of Queensland businesses.
    Significant occupations of employment in Noosa are professionals at 18.5% of all
      employment, technicians and trades at 15.5% of all employment and managers at
      15.5% of all employment.

3.    Tables and Graphs

The following tables and graphs provide an overview of the key economic indicators for
Noosa.

3.1    Population
The Noosa economy is not dissimilar to other lifestyle destinations in that the economy is
geared towards population driven industry sectors.

The Noosa economy experienced particularly high levels of population growth in the period
between 1981 and 1996, ranging between 16.5% and 5.1%. This, Noosa’s high tourism
profile and people’s ability and desire to live in destinations like Noosa that offer such an
enviable lifestyle, have been key economic drivers.

While population growth began to slow in the early 2000’s, Noosa’s reputation as a world
class tourism destination continued to grow strongly, deepening our economic reliance on
tourism, hospitality and retail as key employing industry sectors.

Since 2004 population growth in Noosa Shire averaged 1.2% per annum compared to 2.2%
for SEQ region and 2.1% for Queensland, however forecast population growth is expected to
average only 0.7% per annum in Noosa Shire reaching a population of approximately 62,000
by 2036.




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