GOLD COAST LEADING WAY

THE powerhouse that is the southeast Queensland economy is not in question.

And the importance the tourism capital and increasingly diversified Gold Coast plays in helping drive that is not in question either.

They are among the fastest-growing regions and cities in the country and ongoing transformational projects will only hasten that growth.

Projections out today and published in the Bulletin as part of our Future SEQ series exploring the area’s growth potential show some staggering numbers.

Southeast Queensland’s population is tipped to surge by more than two million – from 3.5 million to 5.5 million – within the next 25 years.

The Gold Coast alone is expected to see its population soar by 76 per cent, an increase of 427,000, to about a million

Think about that in the context of transport systems right now and how, for instance, the M1 is working (or not).

Demand on the main conduit between here and Queensland’s capital city Brisbane is only going to increase.

As new Destination Gold Coast CEO Annaliese Battista points out today in the Bulletin it is crucial to the ongoing success of our tourism economy.

Her predecessor Martin Winter pointed out earlier this year it remained the biggest threat to visitor growth in this city if gridlock blockages were not alleviated in the next few years.

Federal and State governments have finally shaken hands on substantial funding to get things moving but time will tell if the billions of dollars to be spent are enough.

Innovative thinking on new transport methods and public systems must continue to be considered.

Mayor Tom Tate loves to repeat the phrase when the city’s economy hums, the rest of Queensland purrs. Or something like that. We know what he means. And in this case he is absolutely bang on – but a freeflowing M1 is critical to future prosperity.