The Fraser Coast is growing—and faster than many realise. With a current population of over 120,000, we’re adding more than 2,500 new residents each year. If this continues, we won’t stop at 151,000 by 2046—we could be tracking closer to 170,000.
But it’s not just how fast we’re growing. It’s who we’re attracting.
Our biggest net migration group is people aged 60 and over. Between 2021 and 2046, the number of residents aged 85+ is forecast to nearly triple. Meanwhile, young adults (18–24) continue to leave the region, in net negative numbers, chasing education and employment elsewhere.
Here’s the crunch: Health care and social assistance already makes up 21% of all local jobs—the largest sector by far. It’s both our greatest strength and our biggest risk. As demand for health services escalates, who will staff our hospitals, clinics, and aged care facilities?
Between 2027 and 2031, the region is expected to see more deaths than births. We’re not replacing our population naturally or through youth migration—we’re ageing in place.
So what happens if we keep growing in the same direction?
This isn’t about blame. It’s about vision. At what point do we start talking seriously about attracting and retaining young people, diversifying our employment base, and rebalancing the local economy?
The numbers are telling us something. Are we listening?
