Significant population growth and increases in high value exports have supported the Sunshine Coast to become the second highest performing regional economy in the state of Queensland.
The House Standing Committee on Infrastructure, Transport and Cities will travel to the Sunshine Coast tomorrow to conduct a public hearing examining how this growth is being accommodated in a socially and environmentally sustainable manner.
Committee Chair, Mr John Alexander OAM MP said that the public hearing is one of the last to be conducted as part of the Committee’s inquiry into the development of cities.
"The Committee is visiting a number of regional centres as we near the conclusion of our inquiry, in recognition of their importance to Australia’s ongoing liveability and prosperity," Mr Alexander said.
"Capital cities have hit upon a number of liveability and sustainability issues as they have expanded to accommodate growing populations and we’d like to ensure smaller cities learn from these mistakes and reorient urban development to best practice approaches."
In a submission to the inquiry, the Sunshine Coast Council noted that "the region experienced a 10.1 per cent growth in population over a five year period (2008-2013)" and significant future growth is forecast.
It noted that, "the way of accommodating growth on the Sunshine Coast will change, from the historic pattern of being accommodated through urban expansion, to a pattern of growth being primarily accommodated through urban consolidation and infill development (which is predicted to accommodate 62% of all population growth)".
Public hearing details: 9.00 am – 2.30 pm, Thursday, 3 May 2018, Council Room, Chancellery, Building C, University of the Sunshine Coast, 90 Sippy Downs Drive
9.00 am: Sunshine Coast Council
9.40 am: University of the Sunshine Coast
10.40 am: Coast2Bay Housing Coop
Stockland
OSCAR
12.30 pm: Sunshine Coast Chamber Alliance
Sunshine Coast Business Council
Visit Sunshine Coast
Maroochydore Chamber of Commerce
1.30 pm: RAIL Back on Track
Sunshine Coast Airport ---
