Jobs for the Sunshine Coast
A report reveals more Sunshine Coast workers will be forced to commute to Brisbane under the current Council’s unrealistic planning policy and the State Government’s decisions to hold off on essential investment in infrastructure and health services on the Sunshine Coast.
Figures produced by the Planning Information and Forecasting Unit (PIFU) and the National Institute of Economic and Industry Research(NIEIR)show that during the period 2006-2031 population will grow twice as fast as jobs on the Sunshine Coast (see graph).
In contrast, jobs will grow twice as fast as population in Brisbane, forcing Sunshine Coast residents to commute to Brisbane to find work.
Sustainable Sunshine Coast living is dependent on having a viable economic strategy to encourage local investment and local jobs. But currently the economy is being forgotten in strategic decision making by Sunshine Coast Council and the Bligh government.
Fiona Simpson said that the Sunshine Coast needs an economic strategy that will deliver jobs and plan for the future. “We need a real action plan to deliver jobs and plan for the infrastructure and services that the population will require, rather than sending an anti-growth message to the business sector,” said Ms Simpson.