Optimism for SEQ’s future

Residents reckon life will only get better for south east

THE overwhelming majority of people are happy with life in south east Queensland and most of them expect it to get even better over the next 25 years.

An exclusive poll, commissioned by The Chronicle, shows eight in 10 residents rate the quality of life as good or very good.

That satisfaction is evenly spread across the region, with the Gold Coast slightly higher at 83 per cent and Toowoomba a little less at 72 per cent.

Looking forward, 42 per cent of south east Queensland residents believe the overall quality of life will improve over the next 25 years — strongly outnumbering the quarter who feel it will deteriorate.

Brisbane residents were the most upbeat about the future, and people on the Sunshine Coast the least positive.

Millennials are the most optimistic, with 56 per cent expecting things to get better, compared with just 35 per cent of Generation X and one in four Baby Boomers.

The YouGov Galaxy survey of 1659 respondents was conducted as part of The Chronicle’s Future SEQ series, which is examining the opportunities and challenges facing the region between now and 2043 ahead of developing an action plan of ideas. The series will culminate in a major event addressed by leading demographer Bernard Salt and infrastructure leaders on October 23.

The research did highlight worries among people over some issues as the region’s population grows by an expected two million in 25 years, YouGov Galaxy managing director david Briggs said.

“Very few expect to see an improvement in congestion or overcrowding,” he said.

More than 70 per cent of coast dwellers fear overcrowding will worsen, compared to 61 per cent in Brisbane and 58 per cent in Toowoomba.

Gold Coast and Toowoomba residents were the most optimistic about the economy.