When I first presented growth forecasts to the Chamber over a year ago, I emphasised that the Fraser Coast’s future would be far bigger than many were planning for. The figures remain compelling, and they show both the challenge and the enormous opportunity before us.
By 2046, the Fraser Coast is projected to welcome around 55,000 new residents—an increase of nearly 50% in just two decades. That’s the equivalent of adding another Maryborough to our region every 20 years. Importantly, the majority of this growth will be centred along the coast, with Hervey Bay as the dominant driver. To accommodate it, we’ll need approximately 1,200 new homes each year, yet current frameworks are only planning for about 700 annually. That gap—close to 19,000 homes by 2046—is not a crisis if we act now, but rather a chance to rethink how and where we build.
Growth on this scale doesn’t just mean more houses. It means a larger workforce, stronger local businesses, and the ability to attract investment and infrastructure that would never come to a smaller community. But for this to happen, our planning needs to shift gears—embracing housing diversity, infrastructure upgrades, youth retention, and a long-term vision that balances lifestyle with opportunity.
The Fraser Coast is blessed with natural beauty, lifestyle appeal, and a strong sense of community. If we get our thinking right today, these 55,000 new residents will not be a strain—they’ll be the energy that drives a new era of prosperity. It’s worth pausing to reflect: the decisions we make now will determine whether growth is something we react to, or something we harness to create a brighter, balanced future for the next generation.
