Growth pain before gain
GROWING pains and lagging infrastructure in the city’s northern suburbs are not in vain, with traders saying the upside to rapid growth is a boost in the number of businesses and investment.
As one of the fastest growing population centres in the state, the northern Gold Coast has seen big changes in the past five years, from a 30 per cent increase in residents at Pimpama to a dozen new schools across Ormeau, Coomera and Helensvale.
But even though infrastructure is lagging in some areas, Gold Coast North Chamber of Commerce secretary Gary Mays said there was a silver lining.
“We are seeing the population impact the number of businesses in the area, and have seen new shopping centres like the one at Pimpama and the new Coomera Westfield arrive,’’ he said.
“Obviously larger developments have a filter-down effect to other businesses in the area when you think about it.’’
From 2015-17 the Gold Coast recorded a 9.8 per cent jump in its number of businesses, with more than 5800 new entries.
“Builders, accountants and food vendors in the area are all able to profit, and with the population comes new businesses. The list of things just goes on and on and on,’’ he said.
Mr Mays said the region would settle as road infrastructure caught up with demand created by the population boom.
Small business owners Ruth Canning and Thai Lynch see the growth firsthand through their business Unique Wrap.
The pair supply logos, prints, car wraps and more for businesses, and say they are at the front line of the region’s growth.
“In our line of work we do help a lot of businesses when they start up so we are certainly seeing more from this area,” Ms Canning said. “There are also plenty of businesses that are marketing online, which allows them to grow at home.”
John Geros, who runs a maritime engineering business – Davco Winch and Davit Systems – with his son welcomed the increased confidence but did not put it all down to population.
He said jobs encouraged population growth, not the other way around.
“I have lived here for over 40 years and there are big changes to keep up with,’’ he said. “More people in an area isn’t a bad sign, that’s for sure.”
I HAVE LIVED HERE FOR OVER 40 YEARS AND THERE ARE BIG CHANGES. MORE PEOPLE ISN’T A BAD SIGN, THAT’S FOR SURE