The Gold Coast covers approximately 1,400 square kilometres in total and is one of the fastest growing municipalities in Australia with a population of approximately 509,000 residents (as at 30th June 2006). plus approximately another 4,000,000 visitors per year.

The city of the Gold Coast is growing by approximately 2.7% per annum and by the year 2011 it should have a population of between 563,400 and 584,900.

With the projected population growth of approximately 13,000 people per annum, this equates to a medium size suburb needed to house the growing population each year.

Visitors to the Gold Coast per year (approximate figures)

	4.3 million in total
	18% (784,000) international
	82% (3.5 million) domestic
	11,780 visitors per day

Between 2001 and 2002 the Gold Coast Airport at Coolangatta accommodated approximate 1.7 million passengers. Between 2002 and 2003 there was an increase of approximately 29% or 2.2 million passengers.

International tourists account for approximately 18% of the visitor nights spent on the Gold Coast with the number rapidly growing thanks to the new Government promotional initiatives.

The demand for permanent accommodation is so strong that approximately 115 new dwellings are needed each week to keep up with demand.

Employment in Queensland continues to strengthen thanks to increasing activity in the housing and retail sector. Queensland recorded annual job growth of 3.6%, which is double the rate of the rest of Australia at 1.2%.

The baby boomers, aged from 42 to 57, are continuing to support the market. The demand for coastal areas for their retirement is increasing as they look towards a preferred ocean side, lifestyle “sea” change.