South East Queensland — Council Development Profile

City of Gold Coast

Australia's largest projected population growth, with greenfield land running out

The Gold Coast has the largest forecast population increase of any Queensland LGA, yet its greenfield land supply is close to exhausted. That combination makes infill apartment and mixed-use development — along the light-rail spine and in centres such as Southport, Broadbeach and Surfers Paradise — the dominant development opportunity, supported by major transport investment and 2032 Olympic exposure.

Surfers Paradise skyline and beach, Gold Coast

Photo: Kgbo, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Planning & Zoning

The City Plan (2016, as amended) governs development, with ongoing "Our City Our Plan" updates. Key fronts and instruments:

Southport Priority Development Area — the city's CBD / health-and-knowledge precinct and only declared PDA
Coomera–Pimpama northern growth corridor — the last major greenfield release
Yatala–Stapylton enterprise and industrial area (a ShapingSEQ potential future growth area)
Coastal-strip densification at Surfers Paradise, Broadbeach, Chevron Island, Robina and Varsity Lakes

Growth & Demographics

The Gold Coast's estimated resident population reached 681,389 in 2024 and is projected toward roughly 1.0 million by 2046 — the largest absolute growth of any Queensland LGA. As a land-constrained LGA under ShapingSEQ 2023, the dwelling-diversity target shifts significantly toward attached medium- and high-rise housing as greenfield supply nears its limit.

Development Pipeline & Approvals

Major catalysts include:

Gold Coast Light Rail — Stage 3 (Broadbeach–Burleigh) plus a northern extension toward the Gold Coast University Hospital
"The GC" rapid-transit corridor (Robina–Varsity–Burleigh–airport–Coolangatta)
New and upgraded hospitals, the Yatala film-studio complex, M1 upgrades and Brisbane–Gold Coast faster rail

City Plan amendments continue to refine industry, rural-residential and low-medium-density zoning, against a strong unit and apartment DA pipeline.

Investment Angle

The Gold Coast pairs the largest forecast population increase in Queensland with a near-exhausted greenfield land bank — making infill apartment and mixed-use development along the light-rail spine and in major centres the dominant play. Major transport investment plus 2032 Olympic exposure underpins long-run demand, while record unit prices and tight coastal supply support development feasibility.

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