While the Scenic Rim Regional Council Mayor and Deputy Mayor portray Beaudesert as the centre of growth for the Shire, this is not case according to government statistics.
Population growth rates on Tamborine Mountain eclipsed those of Beaudesert over the past ten years according to figures obtained by the Daily Star from the State Government Department of Economic and Statistical Research.
The official research data says Eagle Heights and North Tamborine grew by 30% and 28% while Beaudesert grew by only 26% over the same ten year period. Beaudesert has an estimated 6,403 people while the combined Tamborine Mountain has just over 6,000.
These figures measure permanent population and do not record the high levels of tourist visitation on Tamborine Mountain. The estimated 1.3 million tourists on Tamborine Mountain add an average of 3,652 people per day to the Mountain's population, delivering much needed revenue for local businesses and the Shire.
Tourists rely on public Council facilities just as residents do and with an effective population of nearly 10,000 people, it is little wonder facilties on Tamborine Mountain are so stretched.
Of all the towns in the district, only Rathdowney decreased in population. It shrank by 3% over the same 10 year period.
The real centre of rapid growth in the shire is Kooralbyn. It grew at a staggering 78%. Perhaps this is the reason Kooralbyn residents are complaining of lack of improvements in the Council provided facilities and services in the town.
Jimboomba, the town that got away from Beaudesert to lush fields of Logan, is powering ahead; showing that its time is arriving despite laughable attempts by the Deputy Mayor of the Scenic Rim to disparage it. Now managing its growth is the issue.
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| Beaudesert |
5,098 |
5,220 |
5,362 |
5,513 |
5,628 |
5,715 |
5,850 |
5,967 |
6,169 |
6,403 |
26% |
| Boonah |
2,294 |
2,315 |
2,359 |
2,382 |
2,394 |
2,410 |
2,421 |
2,486 |
2,559 |
2,612 |
14% |
| Canungra (L) |
636 |
646 |
712 |
756 |
767 |
773 |
782 |
778 |
732 |
741 |
17% |
| Eagle Heights |
2,288 |
2,413 |
2,590 |
2,703 |
2,796 |
2,886 |
2,871 |
2,907 |
2,945 |
2,977 |
30% |
| Esk |
1,153 |
1,157 |
1,179 |
1,195 |
1,208 |
1,230 |
1,282 |
1,274 |
1,323 |
1,344 |
17% |
| Jimboomba |
4,546 |
4,986 |
5,328 |
5,690 |
6,198 |
6,432 |
6,749 |
7,103 |
7,378 |
7,506 |
65% |
| Kooralbyn |
919 |
912 |
920 |
960 |
1,075 |
1,146 |
1,373 |
1,435 |
1,568 |
1,638 |
78% |
| Mount Tamborine |
1,089 |
1,132 |
1,187 |
1,207 |
1,247 |
1,265 |
1,351 |
1,310 |
1,327 |
1,346 |
24% |
| Peak Crossing (L) |
267 |
260 |
264 |
266 |
261 |
262 |
276 |
279 |
286 |
290 |
9% |
| Rathdowney (L) |
229 |
223 |
218 |
216 |
213 |
211 |
203 |
203 |
219 |
222 |
-3% |
| Tamborine North |
1,311 |
1,360 |
1,424 |
1,453 |
1,478 |
1,538 |
1,559 |
1,616 |
1,672 |
1,684 |
28% |
SOURCE: Queensland Government Office of Economic and Statistical Research (OESR) web site
Most large community improvement and infrastructure projects proposed by the current Scenic Rim Regional Council are concentrating on Beaudesert. The actual figures suggest that there are other areas that should be getting more focus.
The current Mayor and Deputy Mayor need to lift their eyes to Mountains high above them and the glorious plains to the South and North for inspiration on how to get population movement to Beaudesert off their hyped planning documents and into reality.
Tamborine Mountain is clearly the tourism and economic driver of the region, yet our share of infrastructure and development spend is 9% of the Council total. Rates collected on Tamborine Mountain are about 26% of the total collected within the Scenic Rim Shire.
It's no wonder Tamborine Mountain residents have a reputation in Council's Crystal Palace in Beaudesert for being cranky - it seems that we have a right to be!