GYMPIE: Qld's New Growth Story - Finding tomorrow's hot property, TODAY - Gympie Regional Council
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Finding tomorrow’s hot property, TODAY
GYMPIE:
Qld’s New Growth Story
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GYMPIE REGION
Message from the report author
Terry Ryder, founder and managing
director, hotspotting.com.au
Gympie is a regional city with a big future.
Its current performance on most measures -
economic, real estate, community and lifestyle
- is impressive, but it is destined for a bigger and
brighter future.
Here is why I think so ...
My career as a researcher, writer and author on real
estate issues spans four decades.
In the past 15 years with the hotspotting.com.au • Good transport connections to those nearby
website business, I have visited regional towns and major economies (the Sunshine Coast and
cities across Australia. Brisbane) via road and rail.
I have often been a speaker at conferences and • A diverse residential lifestyle, including town,
seminars organised by local councils, chambers Hill Change and Sea Change offerings.
of commerce, community organisations and
• An appealing level of housing affordability.
businesses - at venues in every state in Australia.
Few regional centres can offer such a comprehensive
I have been impressed by the spirit and ambition in
blend of civic, commercial, residential and natural
towns ranging from Bairnsdale to Portland in Victoria,
features.
from Newcastle to Broken Hill in New South Wales, and
from the Sunshine Coast to Townsville in Queensland. This comment from a new resident is one among
But I have not experienced a regional community many which explains the appeal of the Gympie
with such passion and commitment to its future as I lifestyle: “We decided that this is where we wanted to
have in Gympie. bring up our family. Schools were a huge attraction
for us, because Gympie has a huge range of schools.”
Most regional cities around the nation have something
to offer residents, businesses and investors, but As another resident who moved to Gympie said: “We
Gympie is a standout for its compelling combination had a long list of criteria and it ticked all the boxes.”
of multiple attractants:- But the most compelling element I see in Gympie is
• A vibrant and ambitious business community. its community spirit and the drive of local residents
and businesses to grow the local economy, attract
• A local council which is passionate about its city
investment and new residents, and create jobs for
and its region.
its younger citizens.
• A city which has a nationally-ranked growing
Gympie also stands out as a growth property
local economy and is well-connected to large
market. It features in our current edition of the Top
economies nearby.
5 Queensland Regional Hotspots 2020 report and in
• An industry employment sector that includes the current edition of the National Top 10 Regional
national businesses and other major enterprises. Hotspots 2020 report.
• A resilient business sector, with key businesses It is a perfect fit for the dominant trend sweeping
increasing output during the pandemic. Australian real estate: The Exodus to Affordable Lifestyle.
GYMPIE Regional Queensland 2
GYMPIE
Contents
Executive Summary 4
Introduction 6
Economy and Amenities 8
Property Profile 12
Future Prospects 14
Mayor’s Message 18
Testimonials 19
Current Projects 22
“From a government point of view, preparedness
is everything. Being shovel-ready is so important.
In Gympie, we already have Nestle, Nolan Meats,
Laminex Industries - we have the big industries here
already and that is a big attraction to others.”
Federal Member for Wide Bay, Llew O’Brien
“Government investment in infrastructure is one of
the keys to Gympie’s future. That upgraded highway to
the Sunshine Coast has been crucial. That has been a
catalyst to private investment in our region.”
State Member for Gympie, Tony Perrett
GYMPIE Regional Queensland 3
GYMPIE
Executive Summary
THE ECONOMY Gympie Gold Mining and Historical Museum is a
welcome beacon at the city’s southern approach.
Gympie is the economic heart and administrative
centre of the Gympie Regional Council area and the Gympie has gained national renown for two major
broader Wide Bay-Burnett region. festivals held each year: the Country Music Muster
in August and the Gold Rush Festival in October.
The region encompasses agriculture, conservation
and tourism, taking in Tin Can Bay, Rainbow Beach Another event to take visitors back in time is a trip on
and the Great Sandy National Park. the Mary Valley Rattler. The restored historic steam
train journeys through the picturesque Mary Valley.
It’s well located for transport, being on the Bruce
Highway as well as Queensland Rail’s northern link, Gympie has an impressive list of educational facilities,
providing daily Citytrain services to Brisbane. beginning with a campus of the University of the
Sunshine Coast and the Wide Bay Institute of TAFE.
“The City Report” published in June 2020 ranked
Gympie No.13 among Australia’s 101 largest cities There are four private schools in the region. Gympie
and towns for economic growth. High school, with 1,100 students, has special
programs in rural industries, sport, science, maths
Manufacturing is a $217 million industry with the and technology. James Nash State High School is an
production of a diverse range of goods. independent co-educational public secondary school
Nestle’s Gympie factory, established in 1953, is home with an enrolment of 1,200. The Gympie LGA has 23
to the company’s soluble coffee powder production, primary schools as well as the Gympie Special School
making it the primary supplier of coffee to the whole and Barambah Environment Education Centre.
of Australia and New Zealand. Another important piece of infrastructure is the
Nolan Meats has its own feedlots in the Wide Bay Roadcraft Driver Training Facility. Not only does
region where 100,000 head of cattle are raised each the purpose-built facility run courses on defensive
year. Reportedly Gympie’s largest private employer, driving for the general public, it holds the contract to
the company employs around 400 people. train all Queensland ambulance officers.
Timber logging and forestry has played a large part Gympie has a new $17 million Aquatic and
in Gympie’s history as timber was initially used in Recreation Centre with a heated pool, water slides,
the construction of mine shafts. There are still many gym and play area.
saw mills in the Gympie area. There are three major shopping centres - Gympie
Complementing the timber industry is a regional Central, Woolworths Gympie Southside and
forestry centre which is home to the Gympie District Goldfields Plaza, while lovers of collectables and
Forest Office, a Regional Research Station, a Training old wares can find curiosity pieces at several antique
Centre and a Forestry Museum. stores in the CBD.
Laminex Australia recently took over the Carter Holt PROPERTY PROFILE
Harvey particleboard plant with a view to expanding Gympie’s proximity to the Sunshine Coast means it
its operations. Laminex already had a processing is sharing the benefits of the high level of investment
plant at Toolara and together they employ 300. in infrastructure in the Sunshine Coast region. It
Gympie has an 81-bed hospital and medical unit also benefits from the affordability comparison.
managed by Queensland Health. It employs 46 With the upgrades to the Bruce Highway, coast
doctors, 261 nurses and 33 specialists. Gympie has residents are moving to the Gympie area and
five aged-care facilities and three retirement or ‘over commuting to work, with Nambour, Maroochydore
55s’ villages. and Noosa less than 45 minutes away.
Gympie has a history as a gold mining town and Gympie stands to benefit from the strong nationwide
the mining industry continues to contribute, trend of Australians relocating to regional areas
predominately through tourism. that offer an affordable lifestyle.
GYMPIE Regional Queensland 4
GYMPIE
Executive Summary (continued)
Properties in Gympie are half the price of those stands to benefit from the ripple effect as the
on the coast. Buyers can sell up down south, buy a Sunshine Coast economy continues to expand.
comparable lifestyle in Gympie and be debt-free.
Upgrades to the Bruce Highway mean it’s now easier
Propertyology Head of Research Simon Pressley to live in Gympie and work on the Sunshine Coast.
says the Gympie region was one of the state’s best
Affordability is another key issue that benefits
performers in the four years from 2015 to 2019.
Gympie. Properties in Gympie are around half the
Agriculture is one of the key drivers behind this. price of typical suburbs on the Sunshine Coast.
Other factors benefiting the Gympie property market
The State Government is funding several projects in
are interstate migration and an absence of oversupply.
the Gympie and Wide Bay region, including upgrades
In the last 12 months, there were 293 house sales in to the Bruce Highway and an expansion of the local
the suburb of Gympie, according to CoreLogic. university campus.
Prices have continued to rise in the most recent Returning to its gold mining roots, there are plans
quarter despite the general economic downturn to re-open the Gympie Goldfields. Aurum Pacific
caused by the coronavirus pandemic. The Gympie say there is enough gold left in the former mine to
median price of $275,000 reflects an annual increase operate for 20 years. The project would create 500
of 5% - and stronger gains have been recorded in local jobs.
suburbs like Monkland (14%) and Jones Hill (10%).
The State Government is upgrading the Bruce
Typical Gympie houses offer good returns around Highway from Cooroy to Curra, widening the highway
6% based on a median rent of $320 per week. to four lanes. The $1.7 billion project covering 62km
is being carried out in four sections. Sections A, B
Gympie has a thriving market for builders and associated
and C have been completed. Section D involves a
tradesmen. As at December 2019, the town was named
26km bypass of Gympie generating 2,000 jobs.
by the ABS as being in the top three positions on a list of
the state’s top 10 renovator suburbs. Curra, 20km north of Gympie, is expected to become
a central hub for 6,500 residents.
According to ABS data, 2,500 houses – an average
of 500 per year – have been approved in the last five A proposed energy cogeneration plant will benefit
years by Gympie Regional Council. This trend has the region by converting forestry waste into
been enhanced by the $25,000 HomeBuilder grant, renewable energy while reducing dangerous fuel
which has encouraged young people to buy Gympie loads during bushfire season. Laminex and HQ
land to build new homes. Plantations are doing a feasibility study on the plant,
which is expected to create 60 jobs.
Vacancies in Gympie are low and have been below
3% for five years. Since the beginning of 2020, they Three major solar power projects are proposed for
have tightened further and at present, they are 0.6%. the Gympie region. Together these entail investment
of $4 billion and about 1,000 jobs in construction.
FUTURE PROSPECTS
But the largest individual renewable energy project
Gympie has three significant growth drivers:
is a $2 billion wind farm located in a pine plantation
1. the strength and future prospects of its local between Gympie and Maryborough. It would create
economy; 440 jobs during construction.
2. its proximity and linkages to the dynamic
The State Government is planning a transport and
economy of the Sunshine Coast; and
freight hub based around Gympie. The Gympie
3. its proximity and linkages to Brisbane.
Gateway Project is designed to capitalise on the
Being only 40km north of Cooroy, one of the most region’s rail facilities, upgraded motorway links and
northern towns on the Sunshine Coast, Gympie affordable land for commercial enterprises.
GYMPIE Regional Queensland 5
GYMPIE Introduction A presentation to a Gympie Chamber of Commerce workshop in May 2020 suggested that the Gympie region was Queensland’s next major growth story. The presentation by consultants Eighty20 Partners highlighted the qualities of the region, including: • robust economic and tourism development plans; • strong connectivity through road, rail and air; • proximity to Australia’s third largest city; • the strength of its catchment, with 450,000 living within a one-hour radius; • the lower cost of living and the lower cost of doing business; • the existence of key infrastructure including education and medical facilities; • and the presence of world-class natural assets. The consultant’s answer to the question Is Gympie the state’s next growth story was: We think it is. But the reality is that Gympie is already a nationally-ranked growth story. “The City Report” published by Polis Partners in June 2020 studied economic growth performance in 101 cities and towns across Australia by examining growth metrics such as population, business, employment and construction. It compared the performance of each location with its long-term average. On this basis, “The City Report” ranked Gympie in the national top 20 - in fact, it ranked Gympie No.13 in the nation for relative economic growth, ahead of seven of the eight state/territory capital cities and ahead of Gympie’s much larger neighbour the Sunshine Coast. Gympie has also been a standout for its real estate outcomes. The Gympie property market was recently rated as one of the state’s best performers over the last four years. It offers both affordability and lifestyle, and is attracting buyers seeking alternatives to Brisbane and the Sunshine Coast at attainable prices. This is why the Gympie region has welcomed an average of 700 new residents each year for the past four years. This is expected to rise as the dominant trend in Australian real estate, the Exodus to Affordable Lifestyle, continues to expand. GYMPIE Regional Queensland 6
A key regional city and administrative centre for the Wide Bay Burnett region, Gympie
benefits from its proximity to the rising Sunshine Coast economy and the improved
highway links between the two locations.
Gympie has a population of approximately 50,000 but its catchment area is a
a population of 450,000 people living within one hour of the city - with Gympie
strategically located in the middle of this catchment as the region’s hub.
Recent upgrades to the Bruce Highway have shortened the commuting time to the
Sunshine Coast, providing Gympie residents with access to more job opportunities.
These multi-stage highway upgrades are ongoing and continue to create economic
activity and employment for the Gympie region.
With Gympie house prices being around half those of many Sunshine Coast suburbs,
there is good potential here for first-home buyers, investors and other buyers on a
budget. Rental yields are relatively high and vacancies are low.
There are also major infrastructure projects earmarked for the region, including
renewable energy projects which total investment of more than $5 billion.
In many ways, Gympie is Queensland’s best-kept secret. Few Australians outside
the region know much about this regional city and its environs.
So there are many surprises for those who delve a little deeper. Things most people
don’t know about Gympie include these:-
• It is the source of most of the coffee sold in Australia and New Zealand.
• Local products are exported to most parts of the world, including Asia, Africa and
the United States.
• Agriculture, forestry and fishing is a major employer in the Gympie region.
• The Gympie region is a centre for renewable energy developments, with four
projects representing investment of more than $5 billion.
• Gympie has four private schools, as well as university and TAFE campuses.
• The region’s rich heritage in gold mining, agriculture and music is a major
ingredient of Gympie’s vibrant tourism sector.
• All health employees who drive ambulances in Queensland are trained at the
Roadcraft Driving Training Facility in Gympie.
• Gympie is a residential lifestyle area which attracts both tree changers and sea
changers, attracted by affordability, picturesque landscapes, national parks,
coastal areas and extensive infrastructure.
The Gympie region clearly has much to offer - but its growth story is just starting.
With a new mayor and council, an ambitious business sector and a vibrant
community spirit, the city is poised to attract national attention.
GYMPIE Regional Queensland 7
GYMPIE
Economy and Amenities
Gympie is the economic heart and administrative
centre of the Gympie Regional Council area and the
broader Wide Bay-Burnett region.
The region encompasses agriculture, conservation
and tourism, taking in Tin Can Bay, Rainbow Beach Location
and the Great Sandy National Park.
• 160km north of Brisbane along the
It’s well located for transport, being on the Bruce Bruce Highway
Highway as well as Queensland Rail’s northern link,
providing daily Citytrain services to Brisbane. • 55km north-west of Noosa Heads
Though retail and healthcare are Gympie’s biggest • Part of the Wide Bay-Burnett region
employers, in FY2019 the largest economic • On the Mary River
contributions were made by the manufacturing
sector (12%); construction (11%); agriculture, • LGA: Gympie Regional Council.
forestry & fishing sector (10%); and healthcare and
social assistance (9%). The Gympie Regional Council
area has a GRP of $2.2 billion.
- Manufacturing
Manufacturing is a $217 million industry with the
production of a diverse range of goods including Gympie – Brisbane: 2 hours
heavy equipment for the mining, agricultural and
transport industries. Gympie – Noosa Heads: 45 minutes
Nestle’s Gympie factory, established in 1953, is home Gympie – Sunshine Coast Airport: 1 hour
to the company’s soluble coffee powder production, NB: Based on travel by car
making it the primary supplier of coffee to the whole
of Australia and New Zealand.
In recent years, Nestle has spent $20 million on
upgrades, leading to the company injecting $20 - Getting There
million into the local economy through services,
contracts and local employee wages.
Train: There are daily train services between
During the coronavirus lockdown when demand for Gympie and Nambour, Caboolture and
coffee increased, the factory increased its output Brisbane where connections link to the
by 20% with the owners crediting the outcome to a Domestic and International Airports via the
highly flexible workforce. Brisbane metro train network.
Another well-established company is Nolan Meats Queensland Rail runs regular services between
which has its own feedlots in the Wide Bay region Gympie and Brisbane as well as Gympie
where 100,000 head of cattle are raised each year. and Central Queensland (Rockhampton,
Reportedly Gympie’s largest private employer, the Longreach, Townsville and Cairns).
company employs around 400 people.
Bus: Greyhound runs daily bus services
Nolan Meats produces quality grainfed beef for between Gympie and Brisbane. Premier
retailers, further processors, wholesalers and Motor Service also services this route.
International markets, including Brunei, Indonesia,
GYMPIE Regional Queensland 8
Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Middle East, Africa, Taiwan
and the USA. Nolan Meats processes 2,500 cattle
per week.
Timber logging and forestry has played a large part
in Gympie’s history as timber was initially used in
the construction of mine shafts. There are still many
saw mills in the Gympie area.
In 2015, the total forestry plantation area in the Wide
Bay region was 128,200ha.
As at the 2016 Census, agriculture, forestry and fishing
was responsible for 1,500 jobs in the Gympie Region.
Softwood and hardwood timber plantations near
Gympie are managed by the State Government with the Hardwoods remain popular for building house
products used for domestic and international markets. frames as well as decks, floors and stairs.
Complementing the timber industry is a regional
forestry centre which is home to the Gympie District
Forest Office, a Regional Research Station, a Training
Centre and a Forestry Museum.
Population & Demographics: - Health and Medical Facilities
• 2016 Census: 50,000 Gympie has an 81-bed hospital and medical unit
• Median age: 46 managed by Queensland Health. It employs 46
• Projected population 2036: 64,000 doctors, 261 nurses and 33 specialists.
As well as an emergency department, the hospital
Age group Gympie Qld provides a full range of medical services including
surgical, maternity, palliative care, rehabilitation,
20–34 13% 20% renal dialysis, a specialist stroke unit and cancer
35–49 17% 20% care.
50+ 46% 34%
Next door to the hospital is the Gympie Community
ABS & 2016 Census Health Centre while numerous medical centres are
scattered across the town.
Gympie has five aged-care facilities and three
retirement or ‘over 55s’ villages.
- Tourism
Gympie has a history as a gold mining town and
Employment by Industry: the mining industry continues to contribute,
predominately through tourism.
Healthcare/social assistance 12%
The Gympie Gold Mining and Historical Museum
Retail trade 11% is a welcome beacon on the Bruce Highway at the
Agriculture 9% southern approach to Gympie.
Manufacturing 9% Visitors can obtain a fossicking licence and try
their luck in the gold-bearing gully of Deep Creek
Education/training 9% Fossicking Area, Counter Street, Monkland.
Construction 9% In 2019, Gympie Regional Council adopted the
Gympie Gold Mining Precinct Strategic Plan in order
Source: ABS 2016
to cultivate three of Gympie’s most historical gold
mining sites into a cultural heritage precinct.
GYMPIE Regional Queensland 9
Gympie has gained national renown for two major
festivals held each year: the Country Music Muster
in August and the Gold Rush Festival in October.
An eclectic mix of country, roots, blues, folk and
rock music as well as workshops, bush poets and
kids’ activities, the Country Music Muster is held in
the rustic surrounds of the Amamoor Creek State
Forest. The Country Music Muster attracts around
15,000 visitors over four days.
The Gold Rush Festival capturing the atmosphere
of the 1800s brings the community together over
three days. Visitors can enjoy music, the Gold Rush
Parade, Gold Rush Carnival, and a community picnic
day complete with vintage wares, games and food.
Other events in the region include, among many
others ...
• the Bull N Bronc Spectacular, Festivals at Easter, Winter, Spring and Christmas
feature food vendors, musicians, horse-and-cart rides,
• Gympie District Show, face painting and a range of other family activities.
• the Gympie Energy and Wellbeing Expo, The status of Mary Valley Country as a tourist
• the Goomeri District Show, destination continues to grow. It offers an array of
national parks, state forests, reserves, creeks, rivers
• Imbil Easter Carnival, and waterways.
• Gympie Garden Expo, Attractions include the Conondale Great Range
• Goomeri Pumpkin Festival and Walk, Imbil State Forest and Amamoor State Forest.
Popular activities include camping, bushwalking,
• Gympie’s Steam Festival.
canoeing, fishing, horse-riding and mountain biking.
May is Eat Local Month featuring the GourMAY festival.
Mary Valley Country is famous for its dairy and
The Heart of Gold International Short Film Festival beef industries, and for its fine food. Events include
is “an annual love affair of brilliant short films, regular markets, the Kenilworth Cheese, Wine and
acclaimed features, epic parties, live music and Food Festival, the Mary Valley Art Festival and the
interactive master classes”. Mary Valley Scarecrow Festival.
Another event to take visitors back in time is a trip on Nearby Fraser Island is a massive attraction, with
the Mary Valley Rattler. The restored historic steam 380,000 visitors in a typical year, and most of them
train departs from The Station housing an historical pass through Gympie.
display and journeys through the picturesque Mary
The Cooloola Coast includes Rainbow Beach, a
Valley which boasts an extensive range of fresh food
picturesque coastal village which is a gateway to
and produce.
nearby attractions including Fraser Island.
The Rattler lures around 35,000 visitors to the region
Cooloola National Park, Lake Poona, Double Island
each year, injecting $3 million into the Gympie
Point, Inskip Point, the Coloured Sands and Carlo
economy through accommodation, food, beverage,
Sandblow are among the many natural attractions
travel and other expenditure.
accessed via Rainbow Beach.
The township of Gympie thrives as the gateway to the
Four-wheel driving, horse-rising, boating, diving,
best natural assets of the broader region, including
fishing and bird-watching are among the most
the Mary Valley and the Cooloola Coast.
popular activities for visitors to Rainbow Beach.
Gympie’s main retail thoroughfare, Mary Street,
Tin Can Bay is known for its tranquil eco-tourism
attracts visitors for its character and range of food
environment, recreational fishing and boating.
and retail offerings.
Fishing is also a major industry here, with prawning
It’s also the location for festivals four times a year. fleets based in Schnapper Creek.
GYMPIE Regional Queensland 10Another important piece of infrastructure is the
- Education Roadcraft Driver Training Facility.
Gympie has an impressive list of educational facilities, Not only does the purpose-built facility run courses on
beginning with a campus of the University of the defensive driving for the general public, it also holds the
Sunshine Coast and the Wide Bay Institute of TAFE. contract to train all Queensland ambulance officers.
Roadcraft, a not-for-profit community organisation,
There are four private schools in the region:
has been operating for 40 years with a purpose-built
1. Cooloola Christian College driver training facility that is the envy of other regions.
With a staff of 18, the organisation offers courses to
2. St Patrick’s College
all road users of all licence types, including novice
3. St Patrick’s Primary drivers, experienced drivers, mature drivers, 4W
4. Victory College drivers, towers, school groups and corporate groups.
Every course is designed to send the participant
Gympie High School, with 1,100 students, has a
away safer, more aware and more attentive.
special connection to the Gympie Muster. The event
is the inspiration behind the school being recognised - Retail and Recreation
as a Music School of Excellence and offers a
comprehensive range of music subjects. Gympie High Gympie has a new $17 million Aquatic and
also has special programs in rural industries, sport, Recreation Centre with a heated pool, water slides,
science, maths and technology – in particular, coding. gym and play area.
James Nash State High School is an independent There are two major shopping centres - Gympie
co-educational public secondary school with an Central and Goldfields Plaza, while lovers of
enrolment of 1,200. collectables and old wares can find curiosity pieces
at several antique stores in the CBD.
Mary Valley State College is based at Imbil and has
been part of the region’s education scene since 1857. Other entertainment comes in the form of a cinema
with two theatres and the Gympie Civic Centre which
Tin Can Bay State School has a strong focus on Math, hosts touring stage productions and concerts.
English and Science.
With the recent addition of a major medical
Across the rest of the Gympie LGA, there are no centre and a shopping complex with Woolworths,
fewer than 23 public primary schools as well as the restaurants, newsagency, gym, pharmacy, cafes and
Gympie Special School and Barambah Environment bottle-shops, the Southside precinct has become a
Education Centre. central hub for the southern suburbs of Gympie.
GYMPIE Regional Queensland 11GYMPIE
Property Profile
Gympie’s proximity to the Sunshine Coast means it
is sharing the benefits of the high level of investment Gympie region was one of the state’s
in infrastructure and other development in the best performers in the four years from
Sunshine Coast region. It also benefits from the 2015 to 2019.
affordability comparison.
Propertyology Head of Research
With the recent upgrades to the Bruce Highway,
former coast residents are moving to the Gympie Simon Pressley
area and commuting to their jobs, with places like
Nambour, Maroochydore and Noosa less than 60
minutes drive away. Stages five through seven of Southside’s Sovereign
The bonus is that properties in Gympie are half the Heights 139-lot project were recently approved by
price of those on the coast. the Gympie Regional Council.
Buyers can sell up down south, buy a comparable - Property Market History
lifestyle in Gympie and have money left over, or move
The Gympie housing market had a period of strong
to the area debt-free.
price growth from 2005 to 2009, during which there
The median house price for Gympie is $275,000 were years with double-digit growth in median prices.
while Southside is $330,000. By comparison,
After that, prices tapered off and, between 2010 and
median house prices in similar lifestyle areas on the
2013, prices declined. That was largely due to the
Sunshine Coast are:
market reaching the end of a growth cycle, but was
Pomona: $580,000 further compounded by flood events.
Cooroy: $555,000 Within a few years the housing market rebounded
Palmwoods: $550,000 and Gympie recovered, leading to solid increases in
Gympie’s median house price.
Maleny: $625,000
Propertyology Head of Research Simon Pressley
Landsborough: $480,000 says the Gympie region was one of the state’s best
Beerwah: $475,000. performers in the four years from 2015 to 2019.
Agriculture is one of the key drivers behind this.
- Southside
Several new estates in the Southside region are
attracting first-home buyers because the $15,000
first-home buyers grant is a higher percentage of
the total cost of house and land there than in the
nearby Sunshine Coast and Brisbane locations.
The Federal Government’s HomeBuilder grant adds
further impetus to the Gympie market.
A search of realestate.com.au shows there is a wide
selection of new homes in Southside, with many
4-bedroom homes on large blocks priced from
$320,000 to $430,000.
The median house price for this suburb is around
$330,000 and the typical weekly rent of $350 provides
a yield of 5.5%, which is attractive to investors.
GYMPIE Regional Queensland 12“Agriculture in general has performed better as an - Building approvals
industry than people in the capital cities realise,”
Pressley says. The Federal Government’s stimulus packages for
those building new homes come on the back of a
Other factors benefiting the Gympie property market steady stream of building approvals in Gympie over
are interstate migration and an absence of oversupply. the past five years.
In the last 12 months, there were 293 house sales in Building approvals - which include a wide variety of
the suburb of Gympie, according to CoreLogic. building works such as new houses, duplexes and
The median price of $275,000 reflects an annual units - have been prolific.
increase of 5% - and stronger gains have been According to Australian Bureau of Statistics data,
recorded in fringe suburbs like Monkland (up 14%) 2,500 houses have been approved in the last five
and Jones Hill (up 10%). years by Gympie Regional Council.
Both the Autumn and Winter 2020 survey of sales This trend has been enhanced by the $25,000
activity conducted by Hotspotting classified Gympie HomeBuilder grant, which has encouraged young
and Southside as rising markets, which means buyer people to buy Gympie land to build new homes.
demand had been increasing over six months. In August 2020 there was were applications before
Gympie Regional Council for 11 subdivisions totalling
Prices have continued to rise in the most recent 87 new home sites.
quarter despite the general economic downturn
caused by the coronavirus pandemic. Mayor Glen Hartwig noted there was a notable
increase in demand for housing land.
Typical Gympie houses offer good returns around
6% based on a median rent of $320 per week.
- Vacancies
Vacancies in Gympie are low and have been below
Rent is much more affordable in Gympie than
3% for five years. Since the beginning of 2020, they
in Maroochydore on the Sunshine Coast, which
have tightened further and at present, they are 0.6%,
commands a median rent of $530 per week - or
according to SQM Research.
even Nambour (the cheapest of the Sunshine Coast
suburbs) where typical rents are $420 per week. Vacancies in Cooloola Cove and Tin Can Bay are
typical of holiday spots - they are affected by
Gympie has a thriving market for builders and seasonal factors - but are currently low at 1.5%.
associated tradesmen.
Rents inevitably rise when vacancy rates are so low and
In December 2019, the town was named by the Australian that will place upward pressure on prices, enhancing
Bureau of Statistics as being in the top three positions Gympie’s recent record of solid price growth at a time
on a list of the state’s top 10 renovator suburbs. when many Australian markets are struggling.
The Gympie house market can be summarised as:
Sales 1-year Growth Median
Suburb Median Houses
Houses Growth Average Yield
Cooloola Cove 79 $310,000 4% 0% 5.4%
Gympie 293 $275,000 5% 0% 6.1%
Jones Hill 30 $380,000 10 % 0% 5.1%
Monkland 37 $290,000 14 % 2% 5.4%
Southside 130 $330,000 -5 % Snr 5.5%
Tin Can Bay 69 $325,000 -3 % 1% 4.8%
Source: CoreLogic – “growth average” is the average annual growth in median prices over 10 years. Snr: “statistically not reliable”
GYMPIE Regional Queensland 13GYMPIE
Future Prospects
Gympie has three significant and intersecting growth
drivers:
1. the strength and future prospects of its local
economy;
2. its proximity and linkages to the dynamic
economy of the Sunshine Coast; and
3. its proximity and linkages to Brisbane.
Being only 40km north of Cooroy, one of the most
northern towns on the Sunshine Coast, Gympie
stands to benefit from the ripple effect as the
Sunshine Coast economy continues to expand.
Upgrades to the Bruce Highway mean it’s now easier
to live in Gympie and work on the Sunshine Coast.
Affordability is another key issue that benefits
Gympie. Properties in Gympie are around half the When combined with the Bruce Highway upgrades,
price of typical suburbs on the Sunshine Coast. the projects will create 3,000 jobs across the region
But Gympie has a dynamic economy in its own right. and will attract further industry to the area.
This will be enhanced through spending by the State Other smaller projects are also in the pipeline.
Government, which is funding several projects in the Monkland waste transfer station is to receive a $10
Gympie and Wide Bay region, including upgrades million upgrade and the Civic Centre will undergo a
to the Bruce Highway and an expansion of the local $1.4 million makeover.
university campus.
About $26 million will be spent on social housing
Private investment in the Gympie economy is also and $5 million will go to homeless services across
gathering pace. The impact of this is already being the Wide Bay area, including Gympie, Bundaberg
felt, with the number of vacant stores in the main and the Fraser Coast.
street falling 16% in the last 12 months (August 2020
report) and news that a craft brewery - Latitude 26 Meanwhile, the Gympie Council has set aside $1
Brewing - opened in September 2020. million in its FY2021 Budget for tourism initiatives
and $1 million to buy land for future sports facilities.
Easy access from Brisbane means the region is
luring more day-trippers and holiday-makers, This would enable the Council to enact on the Albert
especially since the implementation of interstate Park and One Mile Sports Precinct Master Plans.
travel restrictions. Rainbow Beach (together with The small settlement of Curra, 20km north of
Fraser Island) has been identified as an increasingly Gympie, is expected to become a central hub for
popular holiday destination by Booking.com. 6,500 residents. Gympie Council has approved a
New data from the agency has revealed searches for retail development comprised of a child care centre,
the two seaside locations have moved 100 spots up supermarket, medical centre and 8 specialty shops,
the rankings from the same time last year. a cafe, and a drive-through fast food outlet.
The Mary Valley Rattler, one of Australia’s most Returning to its gold mining roots, there are plans to re-
popular steam train tourist attractions, is back in open the Gympie Goldfields. Project planners, Aurum
action after a multi-million-dollar upgrade. Much of Pacific, say there is enough gold left in the former mine
the track between Gympie and Imbil was destroyed to operate successfully for another 20 years.
by floods in 2011. Prior to the floods, the train rides If the plan comes to fruition, the project would create
attracted around 33,000 visitors annually. 500 local jobs.
GYMPIE Regional Queensland 14- Bruce Highway Upgrade
A $1 billion megafactory on Gympie’s
doorstep for the next four years
The State Government has been progressively
upgrading the Bruce Highway from Cooroy to Curra,
widening the highway to four lanes and diverting
traffic away from small communities.
This is providing faster and safer access between
Gympie and the Sunshine Coast.
The multi-billion-dollar project covering 62km is
being carried out in four sections. Sections A, B and
C have been completed.
The final section - D - involves a 26km four-lane Proposed energy projects in the
bypass of Gympie requiring the construction of 42
new bridges and generating up to 2,000 jobs. The Gympie Region would power
project will improve safety, reduce flooding issues
and remove heavy vehicles from the centre of
850,000 homes
Gympie. The official sod turning to launch work on
Section D was carried out on 18 September 2020.
Deputy Prime Minister Michael McCormack says the
first contract will deliver 12km of dual-lane divided - Renewable Energy Projects
highway between the Woondum Interchange and
Sandy Creek Road in Veteran. A proposed energy cogeneration plant will benefit the
McCormack, who is the Federal Minister for region by converting forestry waste into renewable
Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development, energy while reducing dangerous fuel loads during
says the work will include two new interchanges and 23 bushfire season.
new bridges over local waterways, roads and rail lines. Laminex and HQ Plantations are doing a feasibility
Tony Goodman, President of the Gympie Chamber of study on the plant, which is expected to create 60 jobs.
Commerce, says it will be like having a “$1 billion
Laminex Australia recently took over the former
megafactory on Gympie’s doorstep for the next four
Carter Holt Harvey particleboard plant in Gympie
years”.
with a view to expanding its operations.
The township will benefit from the flow-on effect
through wages and spending in the community. Laminex already had a processing plant at Toolara
and together the two operations employ 300 workers.
A mega-service station will be built alongside the
new section of highway, replacing the Puma truck Three major solar power projects are proposed for
stop at Kybong. the Gympie region.
The Bruce Highway project is being jointly funded by (1) SolarQ has approval to build a solar farm at Lower
the Federal and State Governments. Wonga, 30km north-west of Gympie.
Longer term, the State Government and Gympie To be built in two stages, the farm will include
Council are working on a regional transport plan for the battery storage and produce enough energy to power
Wide Bay and Burnett Region. Key objectives include 127,000 homes.
better connectivity for both individuals and freight.
There is additional investment in local transport and SolarQ maintains that it will use local workers for the
community infrastructure. The Council in its FY2021 450 construction jobs and the operational positions.
Budget is spending $23 million on roads and bridges, (2) Lightsource BP has plans for the Woolooga Solar
$6 million on parks/sports facilities, and $4 million Farm which would power 71,000 homes and create
on pedestrian/cycle paths and swimming pools. 150 jobs during construction.
GYMPIE Regional Queensland 15(3) The Woolooga Energy Park planned by LGI
ECONOMIC STATISTICS
includes solar, wind and battery components.
But the largest individual renewable energy project GRP: $2.2 billion
is a $2 billion wind farm located in a pine plantation
between the towns of Gympie and Maryborough. Population 2019: 52,446
This project, which has State Government approval,
would be capable of powering 550,000 homes. Ave annual growth rate: 1.8%
The Forest Wind Holdings project has been fast Local jobs: 18,758
tracked by the State Government and work is
expected to begin in 2021. It would create 440 jobs Local businesses: 4,533
during construction and 50 operational jobs.
Employed residents: 19,640
- Relaxed Lifestyle Unemployment rate: 8.2 %
(March 2020)
The nearby townships of Tin Can Bay and Rainbow
Beach provide the perfect getaway for anglers,
Source: ABS and NIEIR 2019
campers and beach goers who like to avoid crowds
and parking hassles. There’s no shortage of cafes,
bakeries, restaurants, pubs and clubs to welcome
visitors at these pretty seaside towns.
Travel group Booking.com reported in August 2020
that Rainbow Beach and Fraser Island had surged
in popularity, lifting their search rankings more than Regional Development Australia director of regional
100 spots higher than at the same time in 2019. development Scott Rowe says: “That expansion may
increase their production from 650 head of cattle to
A day trip to the Mary Valley can uncover a rich cache 1,100.
of fresh produce at one of the many quaint country
town stores, farmgates and local markets. “That would create a couple of hundred new jobs.
They would need to acquire land to do that, but it
Avocados, bananas, citrus fruit, honey, macadamia would be a significant economic boost for the region.”
nuts, fresh eggs, cheeses and market garden
produce are just some of the delights to be found Gympie has large parcels of industrial land available
along the Mary Valley Scenic Drive. for occupation or development and has good access
to international markets via the Port of Brisbane,
Several new projects will enhance the Mary Valley as well the Domestic and International Airports in
economy, including a 5000m2 retail development in Brisbane plus the Sunshine Coast Airport, which is
Imbil, expansion of Kenilworth Dairies and a $14 being upgraded to international status.
million “mega servo” at the entrance to the Mary
Valley Link Road from the Bruce Highway. Completion of the new $330 million runway at the
Sunshine Coast Airport in 2020 will open up new
opportunities.
- Industrial Opportunities The project enables direct flights to more destinations
across Australia, as well as Asia and the Western
The Gympie region presents many opportunities for Pacific, enhancing national and global connections.
investment, economic growth and development.
Other opportunities will come through the Sunshine
The traditionally strong agricultural sector
Coast International Broadband Network project. Due
contributes $298 million to the Gympie region’s
for completion in 2020, the subsea cable will deliver
economy through the production of beef, dairy, other
the fastest international connection point from the
livestock and horticulture.
east coast of Australia to Asia.
Nolan Meats, one of the largest private employers in
the region, is considering a significant expansion of The subsea cable project is projected to deliver over 800
its Gympie operations. jobs and bring $900 million into the region’s economy.
GYMPIE Regional Queensland 16- Gympie Gateway Project - Long-term Fast Rail plans
The Queensland Government is planning a transport The Queensland Government is examining a plan
and freight hub based around Gympie. to introduce fast rail links between key centres in
South-East Queensland.
The Gympie Gateway Project is designed to capitalise
on the region’s rail facilities, upgraded motorway The SEQ Fast Rail network is a long-term proposal
links and affordable land for commercial and that would create fast rail links between ...
industrial enterprises.
• Brisbane and the Gold Coast
Regional Development Australia director of regional
• Brisbane and Toowoomba
development Scott Rowe says the State Government
is currently working on plans, with the exact location • Brisbane and the Sunshine Coast/Gympie
of the project, either north or south of Gympie, still It is being strongly promoted by the SEQ Council of
to be finalised. Mayors and the first business case of a Fast Rail line
“It’s an opportunity for the Gympie region to set up a between the Sunshine Coast region and Brisbane is
warehousing precinct and become a freight hub for now being evaluated by the Queensland Transport
big businesses,” Rowe says. Department.
The opportunity has evolved from the ongoing A second business case - for a line between the Gold
upgrades to the Bruce Highway in the Gympie Coast and Brisbane - is expected to be completed by
regions. 2022.
“The Bruce Highway upgrade is the big one for the The SEQ Fast Train network would operate at speeds
Gympie region,” he says. of 160kmph or more and deliver significant time
savings compared to the Citytrain network.
“What that will do is open up Gympie as a cheaper
industrial suburb to the Sunshine Coast.” The broad plan is to be able to link anywhere in
South-East Queensland within 45 minutes.
Sunshine Coast mayor Mark Jamieson, a director
of the SEQ Council of Mayors and president of the
Local Government Association of Queensland, says
“The Bruce Highway upgrade his council has radically upgraded the Maroochydore
is the big one for the Gympie Airport, pitching its future in freight and tourism.
Now he believes Fast Rail is the “future connector”.
region.”
Regional Development Australian director of
Scott Rowe, director of regional Regional Development Scott Rowe says:
development, “Nowhere would benefit more from this than Gympie.
Regional Development Australia “It would open up Gympie to a whole new type of
resident - a younger demographic.”
GYMPIE Regional Queensland 17GYMPIE REGION
Message from the Mayor
Glen Hartwig, Mayor,
Gympie Regional Council
I had the privilege of seeing a successful
business owner speak and he made a very
interesting comment:
“I don’t invest in products, I invest in people”
He went on to say how “good people create
success even if the products are second rate”.
Why would you invest in the Gympie region or
relocate your business here? Good People.
This region is made up of the best people who
are passionate about where they live and very
content with the lifestyle and all the region has
to offer.
When I speak to business owners in the area, a With a new council and new direction, we are
common theme comes up: looking to facilitate and assist those wanting
A good, contented workforce. to come and locate their business in our great
region.
From the coloured sands of Rainbow beach,
to the wineries and open spaces of Goomeri We currently can accomodate small to medium
or Kilkivan, or the eco adventures of the Mary businesses but this council has a vision to open
Valley, this region has something for everyone up land that will allow large scale businesses to
to enjoy. come here and prosper.
This lifestyle - combined with excellent education Before you make that final decision on where to
facilities, sporting grounds and amenities - develop your business, come and see what our
makes this region the perfect place to raise a region has to offer.
family or start the journey in your working life. It may be the wisest decision you ever make.
Gympie Regional Council is also in the process We look forward to partnering and working with
of change. you and sharing the prosperity.
GYMPIE Regional Queensland 18GYMPIE Testimonials From Community Leaders Gympie has a dynamic business community and a busy Chamber of Commerce, populated by local business owners who are passionate about advancing the economy and the community. A key objective is generating growth to create employment for local citizens. This places particular emphasis on attracting investment, new business enterprises and new residents. Tony Goodman, President, Chamber of Commerce “I had real estate offices in Caboolture in the north of Brisbane. When that finished I went on a tour around Australia - and I bumped into Gympie. I was taken by the undulation of the country here - it’s quite phenomenal. “The affordability of the area was important, because it allowed me to buy large acreage here. That was one of the boxes I wanted to tick, to have a getaway and a lot of privacy, at an affordable price. To have that within an hour of places like Noosa was a big attraction. “And it’s an access point for Fraser Island just up the road. A lot of people love this region because it offers both hill change and sea change in the one package. And I often hear visitors talk about how friendly the locals are. People love that about the area. “But for me it’s the community-mindedness of this region. I have been involved in the past seven years in creating street festivals here and if it hadn’t been for people jumping on board and getting behind it, I don’t know where I would be.” Petra van Beek, Chamber of Commerce “We have many things here that attract investors and residents to this region: a council with a commercial mindset, a location close to the Sunshine Coast and to Brisbane, good road and rail connections plus our local airport. “There’s also the natural beauty of the region and the key is not to lose that, but to use that. There is the diverse lifestyle we offer - you can do so many things in this region. “Gympie offers good education options, which is a key factor for parents. We also have great facilities and amenities: The only thing you can’t do here is brain surgery. “I moved to this region for the affordability, the natural beauty and the proximity to Brisbane. But the outstanding thing for me is that the sense of community here is amazing.” GYMPIE Regional Queensland 19
Sharlene Makin, CEO Roadcraft “When we were planning to relocate, we had a list of criteria and Gympie ticked every box. We wanted to have all the services any modern family would expect, but we wanted a real country feel, where people say gidday in the street. We wanted a place that had community spirit - we probably couldn’t live without that. “One of the really strong points for us was affordable real estate and excellent schools to choose from. No matter what our girls’ strengths were, there would be a school to cater for them. It wasn’t just excellent education but it was also affordable education, right here on our doorstep. “The other thing we love is that it’s so close to everything. Whether you want to have a latte on Hastings Street Noosa or drive a 4WD at Rainbow Beach, it’s accessible. It also has proximity to Brisbane and to the Sunshine Coast. The Gympie area is so picturesque - plus it has a lovely climate. It’s Queensland weather but without the high humidity. And we can afford to live on 3 or 5 acres for less money than 500m2 on the Sunshine Coast.” Brendan Allen, Chamber of Commerce “We all know what’s great about Gympie, it just needs to be sold. We have a great lifestyle, a great community and the benefits of being so close to the Sunshine Coast. “We have great telecommunications which means we offer opportunities for remote working. People can come here and run a business remotely. “We are a gem in the tourism crown and we are close to an international airport. “We also have big improvements to infrastructure under way and that is creating employment. There are 2,000 jobs involved in building the new section of the highway upgrade, the town bypass. “And the great thing about our lifestyle is that it’s so affordable. Lots of people want to buy at Noosa, but they can’t afford it. Here a great lifestyle is affordable.” Justin Lippiatt, CEO Polleys Coaches “A really interesting and exciting dynamic is starting to develop here. If we can get this right, we can transform this community. We don’t want to be the poor second cousin any more - we’re demanding a seat at the table and I think it’s really exciting. “We are an agricultural hub and we need to focus on that. Agriculture is a really important economic driver in the region, including farming, orchards, macadamia nuts, ginger and fishing through Tin Can Bay. “The Federal Government is looking for shovel-ready projects. We want to target that and generate investment within the region, rather than relying on external investors. We have Regional Development Australia support and our local university and TAFE are both desperate for community involvement as well. “We want to be identified as the Gympie region and highlight the things that personify Gympie. They include mateship - that’s part of the psyche here and if you want to see that in action, come to Gympie during a flood or a bushfire, and witness the tenacity and belief in a fair go of the people here.There’s something about this area and this community that is really, really special.” GYMPIE Regional Queensland 20
Cr Bob Fredman, Gympie Regional Council “I have lived in the Gympie area for 40 years and been a council staff member and then a councillor. And I can say it’s a damn good place to live. I like to think we provide opportunities for families to live in paradise. ”The relatively low crime rate makes for good schools. The teachers say that this is a good stable community. It’s a good and safe place to bring up a family. The education factor is a big tick for Gympie. “We now have quite a number of FIFO workers living here. They can afford to live on acreage here and they are close to the Sunshine Coast Airport as well as the Brisbane Airport. “The area is also suitable for IT people working from home. Gympie has the access now. We have the land and we have the connections. “Whenever I have ever thought about moving elsewhere, the quality of this place has defeated me every time.” Scott Rowe, Regional Development Australia “In terms of unlocking the potential of Gympie, the Bruce Highway upgrade is the big one. What that will do is open up Gympie as a cheaper industrial suburb to the Sunshine Coast. “There’s also the upgrade to create the Sunshine Coast International Airport and what that will do for tourism across the Gympie region. It will also provide an outlook for freight from the Gympie region as well. “People in this region won’t have to go to Brisbane to fly international. “The council is looking to reactivate mining in the area, which will create new employment in the Gympie region “There is a big opportunity for Gympie around affordable housing. There are greenfield opportunities for housing, helped by the Federal Government’s HomeBuilder grant. “We are seeing a younger demographic attracted, which is what we need to happen, to have greater numbers of young families in the region, raising their kids here.” GYMPIE Regional Queensland 21
GYMPIE
Current Projects
INFRASTRUCTURE – TRANSPORT
Project Value Status Impact
Bruce Highway $1 billion Under construction Jobs: up to 2,000
upgrades - Cooroy to (Section D) Official sod turning on Section D involves a
Curra Federal Govt will chip in 18 September 2020 26km bypass of Gympie
$800mil; the State Govt to launch the bypass
State & Federal Govts $200mil project. Completion
expected in 2025
New Coondoo Creek $10 million Under construction Will improve flood
bridge immunity
RESOURCES AND ENERGY
Project Value Status Impact
Lower Wonga Solar $2 billion Approved Jobs: 450 during
Farm Would power 127,000 construction
homes
SolarQ
Forest Wind wind $2 billion Approved Jobs: 440 during
farm, Toolara Forest 226 wind turbines Work is to begin in 2021 construction; 50
between Gympie and with capacity to power and be operational by operational jobs
Maryborough 550,000 homes 2023
Forest Wind Holdings
Woolooga Solar Farm, TBA Proposed Jobs: 150 during
Lower Wonga Would power 71,000 construction
homes
Lightsource BP
Woolooga Energy Park TBA Proposed
Would power 100,000
LGI homes
GYMPIE Regional Queensland 22COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENTS
Project Value Status Impact
Nolan Meats expansion $10 million Approved Jobs: 45 construction
The Federal Govt will The expansion would 200 operational
chip in $5mil increase capacity from
650 to 1,100 head of
cattle
Traveston Commercial $30 million Under construction
Roadside Facility, Expected to be
Kybong operational in late 2020
Energy cogeneration TBA Proposed Jobs: 60
plant Forest waste would be
turned into renewable
energy
Laminex and HQ
Plantations
Curra Shopping Centre TBA Approved Includes a supermarket,
child care centre,
medical centre and
retail shops
Aged care centre, King TBA Proposed Designed to cater
Street and Duke Street 4-storey 108-bed Developer applied to for growing need for
facility near the Gympie Council in August 2020 retirement facilities
Pesdev Group Hospital for a material change of
use for the land
Aged care centre, TBA Proposed
Copp and Ramsay Rds, 100-bed aged care Initial application
Southside facility in a 1.2ha site lapsed but proponent
has resubmitted its
Kirkbride Architects application to council
Childcare centre, Sorrel TBA Proposed Would create 12 jobs.
St cnr Tozer Park Rd Childcare centre with 80 A previous approval for Has been opposed
near Gympie State High places a childcare centre on over traffic concerns
School the site has lapsed and impact on existing
centres.
Rosalind Corporate
GYMPIE Regional Queensland 23You can also read
