The Gold Coast is currently the fastest growing region and the 6th largest city in Australia and will soon overtake Victoria as the 2nd largest in the country. An additional 15,000 new residents per year relocate here and population figures double every seven to ten years.
There are tremendous employment opportunities with many large companies transferring their headquarters to this wonderful area.
As at 30 June 2006, the population for Gold Coast City was estimated to be 497,568 persons, being the second largest Local Government Area (LGA) in Australia in terms of numbers. The population is expected to increase to 683,568 residents in the year 2021.
A recent Real Estate Institute of Queensland survey showed rental vacancy rates are only 1.42 % for houses and only 0.89 % for units.
These rates are extremely low and suggest an undersupply of rental properties on the Coast.
The Gold Coast has the highest rents in Queensland, our rent level have soared well above Brisbane's with rises of 10 to 15 % over two years.
Future growth is assured due to the scarcity of land, interstate migration, overseas migration and investors. Growth will increasingly occur both in the city of the Gold Coast joining residential areas and the corridor between Gold Coast and Brisbane alongside the new 8 lane Pacific Motorway. They will soon join to form one continuous urban area with a combined population of over 2 million people.There are tremendous employment opportunities with many large companies transferring their headquarters to this wonderful area.
Education
When considering investing or moving to a new area, education is a very important factor. The Gold Coast offers a wide range of state owned and independent schools, which are some of the very best in Australia. The cost of secondary private education is significantly lower than schools in inner Sydney and Melbourne. Featuring more than 140 schools with 70,000 students (including 17 high schools, 39 pre schools and 28 private institutions) a college of technical education (TAFE) the campuses of Bond, Griffith and Central Queensland universities. Vocational educations centers teaching everything from beauty, tourism, marine studies and medicine are also centrally located.
More than 70,000 students per year from overseas are choosing to study on the Gold Coast, security of the region being the underlying factor.
Preschools
Helps prepare four and five year old children before further education at primary school.
Primary schools
Seven years of compulsory education.
Secondary schools
Provides educational programs and offers a further opportunity to undertake two years of non-compulsory education.
Gold Coast Institute of TAFE
Four campuses from Coolangatta to Southport and is the region's largest provider of Occupational Education & Training. It enrolls over 15,000 students a year and employs over 600 staff members.
Universities
There are 4 high-tech universities on the Gold Coast, they are: Griffith University
The largest in the region with over 10,000 students and 500 staff members. More than $100 million has been invested in facilities incorporating leading edge, international standard technologies.
Bond University
Australia's first private university, most students complete a six-semester Bachelor's Degree in just 2 years. Students can choose between Diploma, Bachelor, Graduate Diploma, Masters or PhD courses in a number of subjects.
Central Queensland University
One of Australia's most dynamic and innovative universities with over 35 years of experience in the provision of tertiary education. Specialises in small lectures and tutorial classes.
Southern Cross University
Caters to a diverse range of students from school leavers to mature aged students as well as domestic and international students with the opportunity to study on or off campus.