Innovative Community Growth Profiles available now

It is by far the biggest growth area, with the next closest being Mackay’s City Centre, forecast to grow by 3408 residents in the next 18 years.

Sarina and Beaches (1889) and Andergrove-Beaconsfield (1795) come in next.

One in every six of the Mackay region’s residents reside in the Northern Beaches and 81.1 per cent of those households are family orientated.

Standalone houses are prominent, with 90.8 per cent of dwellings compared to the region average of 85 per cent.

The Northern Beaches is also one of the highest suburban rental localities in our region, with 39.5 per cent of dwellings rented, compared to the region average of 31.5 per cent.

These fun facts are just snippets of the information which can be readily accessed through innovative new Community Growth Profiles on council’s website.

In all, profiles have been created for 18 areas that will experience population growth in the region.

The profiles combine Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) data, council growth scenarios and local insights for the first time to present a unique growth outlook for each community to 2036.

Mayor Greg Williamson said it was the first time a Queensland council had presented such data for the public.

“We wanted to bring to life a growth story that applies to our communities at a local level, which can be used by investors, visitors, migrants, business and residents,’’ he said.

“We’re one of the few councils producing our own growth modelling projections and for the first time we are using this data in the public arena.”

Cr Williamson said one of the frustrations of recent years was a lot of economic data was based on the 2016 census, which is when Mackay was impacted by the resource downturn.

“That data doesn’t paint a true picture of today’s Mackay region,’’ he said.

“These Community Growth Profiles are much more accurate, and we’ll continue to update the data contained in them going forward.

“The profiles are interactive, smartphone friendly and easily accessible from council’s webpage.”

Cr Williamson said the Community Growth Profiles sat alongside Economy and Community profiles, all produced by REMPLAN, on the council website.

“Those Economy and Community profiles also contain valuable insights for our region,’’ he said.

“The Community Growth Profiles provide an additional tool for the likes of investors, migrants and residents to base decisions on.”