JayT
March 3rd, 2005, 03:45 AM
Population primed to head north
Malcolm Cole
11feb05
FAR north Queensland faces a population boom over the next 20 years, exceeding the growth predicted for Brisbane and raising concerns about infrastructure for communities outside the state's southeast.
State Government projections show the far north's population is expected to grow by 43.1 per cent between 2001 and 2026, compared with 38.9 per cent in Brisbane.
The Moreton region, including Ipswich, will experience the strongest growth over the 25 years, with its population tipped to swell by 81.3 per cent.
But all coastal regions are expected to grow by at least 30 per cent, prompting concerns the southeast region is receiving too much funding for infrastructure and growth compared with other areas.
Nationals transport spokeswoman Fiona Simpson said there were growing concerns in northern Queensland "that the future growth funding will all be dumped into Ipswich to build their mega-city, and future growth funding won't be available for the other regions".
"There's a major issue of equity in what's in the Government's plans for the future," Ms Simpson said.
State Development Minister Tony McGrady this week called for public comment on a development plan for Townsville, saying the Government was keen to manage growth in that area.
In total, Queensland's population is projected to grow from 3.6 million people in 2001 to 5.3 million in 2026 and 6.5 million in 2051.
The Courier-Mail's State of the State series has found Queensland's communities to be more culturally and economically diverse than at any other time in the state's history.
The previous economic strengths of agriculture and primary industries have given way to the retail trade and the service sectors, where most Queenslanders are now employed.
More than 17 per cent of the state's population was born overseas, with most of the recent arrivals coming from New Zealand, the UK, South Africa, the Philippines and Taiwan.
About 3.1 per cent of Queenslanders have an indigenous background, with 77.4 per cent of this group identifying themselves as Aboriginal, 14.6 per cent calling themselves Torres Strait Islander, and 8 per cent identified as both.
As in other areas, the image of the traditional family is fading, with couples delaying parenthood and a growing number choosing to remain childless altogether.
Queenslanders prefer the movies over the theatre, but also enjoy botanic gardens, zoos, aquariums and libraries.
http://www.couriermail.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5936,12210715%255E39135,00.html
jt
Malcolm Cole
11feb05
FAR north Queensland faces a population boom over the next 20 years, exceeding the growth predicted for Brisbane and raising concerns about infrastructure for communities outside the state's southeast.
State Government projections show the far north's population is expected to grow by 43.1 per cent between 2001 and 2026, compared with 38.9 per cent in Brisbane.
The Moreton region, including Ipswich, will experience the strongest growth over the 25 years, with its population tipped to swell by 81.3 per cent.
But all coastal regions are expected to grow by at least 30 per cent, prompting concerns the southeast region is receiving too much funding for infrastructure and growth compared with other areas.
Nationals transport spokeswoman Fiona Simpson said there were growing concerns in northern Queensland "that the future growth funding will all be dumped into Ipswich to build their mega-city, and future growth funding won't be available for the other regions".
"There's a major issue of equity in what's in the Government's plans for the future," Ms Simpson said.
State Development Minister Tony McGrady this week called for public comment on a development plan for Townsville, saying the Government was keen to manage growth in that area.
In total, Queensland's population is projected to grow from 3.6 million people in 2001 to 5.3 million in 2026 and 6.5 million in 2051.
The Courier-Mail's State of the State series has found Queensland's communities to be more culturally and economically diverse than at any other time in the state's history.
The previous economic strengths of agriculture and primary industries have given way to the retail trade and the service sectors, where most Queenslanders are now employed.
More than 17 per cent of the state's population was born overseas, with most of the recent arrivals coming from New Zealand, the UK, South Africa, the Philippines and Taiwan.
About 3.1 per cent of Queenslanders have an indigenous background, with 77.4 per cent of this group identifying themselves as Aboriginal, 14.6 per cent calling themselves Torres Strait Islander, and 8 per cent identified as both.
As in other areas, the image of the traditional family is fading, with couples delaying parenthood and a growing number choosing to remain childless altogether.
Queenslanders prefer the movies over the theatre, but also enjoy botanic gardens, zoos, aquariums and libraries.
http://www.couriermail.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5936,12210715%255E39135,00.html
jt