Plan Predicts Population Boost

December 18, 2023

The population in the Wide Bay Burnett region is expected to grow by an extra 48,467 people by 2046.

The figure is contained in a key planning document, released last week, which aims to guide the development of the local region over the next 25 years.

The Wide Bay Burnett Regional Plan covers the Bundaberg, Cherbourg, Fraser Coast, Gympie, North Burnett and South Burnett council areas.

According to the State Government, the region currently has a population of 310,728 with 119,745 dwellings and 113,314 jobs.

The increased population is expected to be predominantly drawn to the coast, although Gympie and Kingaroy are also expected to get a population boost.

The plan says local councils and developers will need to work hard to ensure new urban development reflects the needs of current and future residents.

“This includes the need to provide diverse, affordable and social housing and services capable of supporting the Wide Bay Burnett’s existing ageing population and vulnerable people, while catering to the needs of new, young families and working age cohorts looking to move to the region,” the plan states.

“The lack of housing choice, particularly smaller housing products, is contributing to housing availability and affordability pressures.

“This has been further compounded by the COVID-19 pandemic during which unprecedented internal migration contributed to housing shortages and limited rental availability within the region.”

The plan also notes that centres such as Kingaroy will need to balance increasing demand for industrial land with increasing community growth and expectations.

Digital connectivity has been identified as a critical infrastructure priority, including a future NBN “uplift” for Cherbourg, Kingaroy and Nanango, and establishing fibre links between Tarong and Kingaroy.

“In terms of digital connectivity opportunities, the region could consider its ability to leverage back haul capability by use of the State’s dark fibre network, for example, the Tarong to Kingaroy Transformation Project,” the plans states.

It describes the KTP as “a once-in-a-generation opportunity to transform Kingaroy’s town centre and build ‘smart country’ capacity into all infrastructure upgrades, enabling high-speed data for businesses and residents to make the most of future technological advances and the Internet of Things”.

The Kingaroy Airport precinct is also identified as a future opportunity to develop an aviation manufacturing and servicing cluster.

Future expansion and intensification of horticulture and animal husbandry are predicted to occur in existing agricultural hubs such as Kingaroy and Gayndah.

The Wide Bay Burnett Regional Plan was prepared after consultations with local councils and regional businesses.

Community feedback was also sought along the way.

It has been under development for at least four years.

In November 2019, the State Government announced that work to prepare a Draft Regional Plan would begin soon, to be released in six to nine months.

However, after the COVID-19 pandemic hit, the draft was not released for feedback until November 2022.