2015-11-10 - P&O Agenda - Item 18, Attach 1&2 - Draft Noosa Shire Local Economic Plan

12. Appendix 1
SUMMARY ECONOMIC PROFILE – Prepared by the AEC Group
     POPULATION
     The Noosa economy is not dissimilar to other lifestyle destinations in that the economy has
     historically been 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% on an annual basis. This population growth and
     Noosa’s high tourism profile have in the past 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
     0.8% per annum in Noosa Shire reaching a population of approximately 62,000 by 2036. This is
     consistent with the Noosa Plan which identified the optimum carrying capacity for our community.
     Noosa LGA Historical and Projected Population

                  70,000                                                                                      3.0%



                  60,000
                                                                                                              2.5%



                  50,000
                                                                                                              2.0%


                  40,000
     Population




                                                                                                                     % Growth
                                                                                                              1.5%

                  30,000


                                                                                                              1.0%
                  20,000



                                                                                                              0.5%
                  10,000



                      0                                                                                       0.0%
                           2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2016 2021 2026 2031 2036

                                    Noosa        Noosa % Growth      SEQ % Growth       Queensland % Growth


     Noosa’s population is ageing, albeit faster than many other regions. In 2011, the median age for the
     shire was 46 years compared to 38 and 36 years in the SEQ region and Queensland respectively.
     Residents aged 45 years and over accounted for 39.3% of the population in 1991 and 50.9% at the
     2011 census.
     While the aging population going forward implies a smaller workforce will produce less in economic
     terms, it also indicates there will be demand for a range of goods and services specific to an older
     demographic.




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