Sunshine Coast Region | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Location withinSouth East Queensland | |||||||||||||
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 Interactive map of Sunshine Coast Region | |||||||||||||
| Coordinates:26°39′15″S153°05′36″E / 26.6542°S 153.0933°E /-26.6542; 153.0933 | |||||||||||||
| Country | Australia | ||||||||||||
| State | Queensland | ||||||||||||
| Region | South East Queensland | ||||||||||||
| Established | 16 March 2008 | ||||||||||||
| Council seat | Maroochydore | ||||||||||||
| Government | |||||||||||||
| • Mayor | Rosanna Natoli | ||||||||||||
| • State electorate | |||||||||||||
| • Federal division | |||||||||||||
| Area | |||||||||||||
• Total | 2,254 km2 (870 sq mi) | ||||||||||||
| Population | |||||||||||||
| • Total | 342,541 (2021 census)[1] (9th) | ||||||||||||
| • Density | 151.97/km2 (393.60/sq mi) | ||||||||||||
| Website | Sunshine Coast Region | ||||||||||||
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TheSunshine Coast Region is alocal government area located in theSunshine Coast region ofSouth East Queensland, Australia, from which it takes its name.
It was created by the amalgamation in 2008 of theCity of Caloundra and the Shires ofMaroochy andNoosa. It contains 4,194 kilometres (2,606 mi) of roads, 211 kilometres (131 mi) of coastline and a population of 351,424 in January 2021.[3] The budget for the 2020–2021 financial year totalsA$782 million including $243 million for Capital Works.
On 1 January 2014, theShire of Noosa was re-established independent of the Sunshine Coast Regional Council.[4]
In the2021 census, the Sunshine Coast Region had a population of 342,541 people.[1]
Gubbi Gubbi (Kabi Kabi, Cabbee, Carbi, Gabi Gabi) is anAustralian Aboriginal language spoken on Gubbi Gubbi country. The Gubbi Gubbi language region includes the landscape within the local government boundaries of the Sunshine Coast Region andGympie Region, particularly the towns ofCaloundra,Noosa Heads,Gympie and extending north towardsMaryborough and south toCaboolture.[5]
Prior to 2008, the new Sunshine Coast Region was an entire area of three previous and distinct local government areas:
At the establishment of regional local government in Queensland on 11 November 1879 with theDivisional Boards Act 1879, most of the area was part of theCaboolture Division, while the northernmost part around Noosa was part of theWidgee Division centred onGympie. TheMaroochy Division split away from Caboolture on 5 July 1890. All three divisions became Shires on 31 July 1903 under theLocal Authorities Act 1902.
In 1910, the Shire of Noosa split from Widgee, and on 22 February 1912 the Shire of Landsborough split from Caboolture.[6] The two new entities together with Maroochy were to remain fairly stable for almost 100 years.
On 19 December 1987, the Shire of Landsborough was granted City status, and was renamed the City of Caloundra,[7] reflecting the population boom in the coastal section of the City.
In July 2007, the Local Government Reform Commission released its report and recommended that the three local governments amalgamate. While it noted all three were "functioning councils with moderate to strong financial performance", it argued that they covered a self-contained region in a geographic, social and economic sense and that the advantages of coordinated planning in a high-growth area and the avoidance of duplication of facilities were arguments in favour of amalgamation. The councils opposed the amalgamation, and the Commission itself noted that the bulk of statewide individual submissions came from this region reflecting a "depth of feeling" regarding the issue.[8] On 15 March 2008, the City and two Shires formally ceased to exist, and elections were held on the same day to elect twelve councillors and a mayor to the Regional Council.
In the2011 census, the Sunshine Coast Region had the 4th largest population of any local government area in Australia (following theCity of Brisbane,City of Gold Coast andCity of Moreton Bay).[9]
In 2012, a proposal was made to de-amalgamate the Shire of Noosa from the Sunshine Coast Region.[10] On 9 March 2013, Noosa residents voted to de-amalgamate Noosa from the Sunshine Coast Council.[11] On 18 March 2013, the Sunshine Coast Regional Council decided its new planning scheme should not apply to those areas that were part of the former Noosa Shire (different attitudes to planning and developments having been a major objection by residents of Noosa Shire to the amalgamation).[12] The Shire of Noosa Shire was re-established on 1 January 2014.[13][14]
The populations given relate to the component entities prior to 2008. The 2016 census, did not include theShire of Noosa's census figures.
| Year | Population (Region total) | Population (Caloundra) | Population (Maroochy) | Population (Noosa) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1933 | 23,438 | 4,752 | 12,918 | 5,768 | [citation needed] |
| 1947 | 27,399 | 6,460 | 15,014 | 5,925 | [citation needed] |
| 1954 | 31,930 | 7,765 | 17,869 | 6,296 | [citation needed] |
| 1961 | 33,507 | 8,319 | 19,071 | 6,117 | [citation needed] |
| 1966 | 36,926 | 8,798 | 21,455 | 6,673 | [citation needed] |
| 1971 | 44,582 | 11,314 | 25,522 | 7,746 | [citation needed] |
| 1976 | 63,073 | 16,982 | 35,266 | 10,825 | [citation needed] |
| 1981 | 100,204 | 29,705 | 53,428 | 17,071 | [citation needed] |
| 1986 | 118,443 | 36,486 | 61,629 | 20,328 | [citation needed] |
| 1991 | 167,254 | 53,434 | 84,442 | 29,378 | [citation needed] |
| 1996 | 219,305 | 66,336 | 111,798 | 41,171 | [citation needed] |
| 2001 | 252,011 | 75,261 | 129,429 | 47,321 | [citation needed] |
| 2006 | 293,902 | 90,341 | 151,599 | 51,962 | [citation needed] |
| 2008 | Caloundra, Maroochy, and Noosa amalgamated | ||||
| 2011 census | 306,909 | [15] | |||
| 2014 | Noosa deamalgamated | ||||
| 2016 census | 294,367 | [16] | |||
| 2021 census | 342,541 | [1] | |||
The Sunshine Coast economy is dominated by two sectors – Healthcare (including age-care) and Retail, which provide 30% of the regional employment.[17] Other significant areas are accommodation and food services, education, construction, manufacturing and professional services.[17] Efforts are being made to diversify the regional economy by the Sunshine Coast Regional Council.[18]
Local educational institutions, government and community groups have funded a number of initiatives to encourage entrepreneurial and innovative businesses to the area.[19] TheUniversity of the Sunshine Coast's Innovation Centre acts as an incubator startup companies, as does the Spark Bureau. The University site atSippy Downs is designated as a 'Knowledge Hub' as part of the Queensland Government's South East Queensland Regional Infrastructure Plan and is master planned as Australia's first university town based on the UK models with the potential for over 6,000 workers in knowledge-based businesses.[20]Sippy Downs was highlighted as an 'Innovation Hotspot' in July 2010, by top European Business magazine CNBC Business, with the potential to be 'Australia's no-worries-answer toSilicon Valley'.[21]
The Sunshine Coast's major university is theUniversity of the Sunshine Coast with its main campus atSippy Downs.Central Queensland University also has a campus inNoosa.TAFE Queensland services the Sunshine Coast and Wide Bay regions through TAFE East Coast, with three Sunshine Coast campuses at Mooloolaba, Maroochydore and Nambour as well as a Noosa campus.
The Sunshine Coast has many varied denomination, private and public primary and secondary schools (seeList of schools in Sunshine Coast). The Lexis English group, providing English classes to international students, has a campus in Maroochydore, while Lexis TESOL Training Centres provides teacher training programs such as the CambridgeCELTA andTESOL.[22]
The Sunshine Coast Regional Council operates libraries atBeerwah,Buddina (Kawana),Caloundra,Coolum Beach,Kenilworth,Maleny,Maroochydore andNambour.[23] It also operates amobile library service visitingBeerburrum,Bli Bli,Buderim,Caloundra West (Bellvista),Conondale,Eudlo,Eumundi,Glass House Mountains,Little Mountain,Montville,Mooloolah Valley,Mooloolaba (Parkhaven),Mount Coolum,Mountain Creek,Pacific Paradise,Palmwoods,Parklands,Peachester,Pelican Waters,Peregian Springs,Sippy Downs (Chancellor Park) andYandina.[24]
TheSunshine Coast University Hospital is the region's major hospital located inBirtinya, which opened in April 2017. The region's previous major hospital located in Nambour will be downsized and renovated, however it still operates as the coast's secondary hospital. Services remaining in Nambour General Hospital include emergency, cancer care, same-day and elective surgery, general medicine inpatient services, renal dialysis, outpatient services, medical imaging, pharmacy, diabetes services, oral health, allied health, mental health and breastcreen. There are smaller hospitals located in Caloundra and Maleny but, due to limited facilities at those hospitals, most cases are referred to the SCUH.
A number of private hospitals exist throughout the region, most notably the 'Sunshine Coast Private Hospital' at Buderim, Caloundra Private Hospital (formerly known as Andrea Ahern) at Caloundra, Selangor Hospital at Nambour, the recently established Kawana Private Hospital.
The car is the predominant mode of transport for Sunshine Coast residents, with the region connected to Brisbane via theBruce Highway. TheNicklin Way andSunshine Motorway are the major arterial roads, which pass through most major areas of the Sunshine Coast. Many intercity and interstate coach operators also operate daily bus services to Brisbane using the major corridors.
The Sunshine Coast is a growing region, and has a variety of transport modes includingtrain,local bus services, ferry and theSunshine Coast Airport. However, in recent years the local council has been looking at more reliant, high quality public transport options to create a 'transport spin' on the Sunshine Coast with theMaroochydore railway line andSunshine Coast Light Rail proposed.
Plane
Flights from the Sunshine Coast depart fromSunshine Coast Airport, which is located 10 km (6.2 mi) north of Maroochydore inMarcoola, and fly direct to Sydney, Melbourne. Adelaide and Auckland withJetstar,Virgin Australia,Qantas andAir New Zealand.
Rail
Queensland Rail'sSunshine Coast railway line operate interurban services daily, with most trains running express betweenCaboolture andBowen Hills stations. The train lines run through the Sunshine Coast Hinterland, with buses connecting to the coastal strip. Further north of the Nambour station, commuter trains operate toGympie twice per day.Landsborough andNambour railway stations also serve as a gateway to Queensland's network of long-distance trains, providing access to destinations includingRockhampton,Townsville andCairns.
Bus
Bus services are operated byKinetic Sunshine Coast under contract toTranslink. These buses connect the suburbs and localities within the Caloundra, Maroochydore and Noosa areas. Sunshine Coast Council operateszero-fare bus services throughout the coast to surrounding suburbs and major park and ride stations during the peak summer holiday period.
Sunshine Coast Stadium is located atKawana Waters and is home to the region's sporting teams in statewide competitions. TheSunshine Coast Falcons compete in theQueensland Cup rugby league competition while theSunshine Coast Fire FC compete in theNational Premier Leagues Queensland Football competition. The Sunshine Coast has numerousgolf links, including Headland Golf Club (Buderim), Pelican Waters, Pacific Harbour, Twin Waters,Palmer Coolum Resort (previously Hyatt Regency Coolum), Mount Coolum, Beerwah, Maleny, Cooroy, Caloundra and Maroochy River. The Sunshine Coast Regional Tennis Centre is located at Caloundra.[25]
There are several newspapers which cover the Sunshine Coast region.Sunshine Coast Daily is published Monday to Saturday byAPN News & Media. Free distribution weekly community newspapers published by APN include:Buderim Chronicle,Caloundra Weekly,Coolum & North Shore News,Kawana Weekly,Nambour Weekly, andRange News. Independent weekly newspapers includeGlasshouse Country News andHinterland Times.[26][27]
While much of traditional media has an online presence there has also arisen media organisations that are exclusively online. View News is one such organisation operating a news site for the Sunshine Coast concentrating on local news from the various Sunshine Coast communities.[citation needed]
Sunshine Coast is served by publicly owned television services (ABC TV), (SBS) Television and three commercial television stations (Seven Queensland,WIN Television and10), which are the regional affiliates of the Seven, Nine and Ten network stations in Brisbane. Both sets of commercial stations are available throughout the Sunshine Coast. Other channels include10 Drama,10 Comedy,Nickelodeon,Sky News Regional (regional only),ABC Family/ABC Kids,ABC Entertains,ABC News,SBS World Movies,SBS Viceland,SBS Food,NITV,SBS WorldWatch,7two,7mate,7Bravo,7flix,9Gem,9Go!,9Rush and9Life. The Sunshine Coast is also in the television broadcast licence areas of Brisbane (metro), enabling most areas of the Sunshine Coast to receive the commercial Brisbane stations.[citation needed] Subscription television servicesFoxtel andAustar are also available.
All three main commercial networks produce local news coverage –Seven Queensland andWIN Television both air 30-minute local news bulletins at 6pm each weeknight. Network 10 airs short news updates of 10 News.
Seven's bulletin is produced and broadcast from studios inMaroochydore, from where six sister local news programs for regional Queensland also originate.WIN News is also produced from a newsroom in Maroochydore, but broadcasts from studios inWollongong.
The Sunshine Coast region is served by commercial, community and government radio stations. Commercial stations91.9 Sea FM and 92.7 Mix FM are owned and operated by the EON Broadcasting, one of Australia's last independent broadcasters. Rival commercial operatorGrant Broadcasters runs91.1 Hot FM and Zinc96. The Government-ownedABC services the region with90.3 ABC Coast FM andABC NewsRadio on 94.5 FM,Triple J on 89.5 FM andABC Classic FM on 88.7 FM. Many community access stations, as well as some Brisbane stations, can also be received.
Sunshine Coast Council | |
|---|---|
| Leadership | |
Mayor | |
Deputy Mayor | Maria Suarez |
| Structure | |
 | |
Political groups |
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| Elections | |
Last election | 15 March 2024 |
Next election | 25 March 2028 |
Sunshine Coast Council consists of 10 divisions (wards), each represented by one councillor, plus an elected mayor who represents the entire region. The council is elected for a four-year term. A deputy mayor is selected by council, also for a four-year term.[28]
From the region's founding in 2008 to 31 December 2013, there were 12 divisions. Divisions 11 and 12 were abolished with the de-amalgamation of theShire of Noosa.[29]
The current council, elected in2024, is:
| Division | Councillor | Party | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mayor | Rosanna Natoli | Independent | |
| Division 1 | Jenny Broderick | Independent | |
| Division 2 | Terry Landsberg | Independent LNP | |
| Division 3 | Tim Burns | Independent | |
| Division 4 | Joe Natoli | Independent | |
| Division 5 | Winston Johnston | Independent LNP | |
| Division 6 | Christian Dickson | Independent | |
| Division 7 | Ted Hungerford | Independent LNP | |
| Division 8 | Taylor Bunnag | Independent Labor | |
| Division 9 | Maria Suarez | Independent | |
| Division 10 | David Law | Independent | |
| No. | Portrait | Mayor | Party | Term start | Term end | Council control (term) | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  | Bob Abbot | Independent | 15 March 2008 | 28 April 2012 | Independents majority (2008–present) | ||
| 2 | | Mark Jamieson | Independent | 28 April 2012 | 16 March 2024 | |||
| 3 | | Rosanna Natoli | Independent | 16 March 2024 | incumbent | |||
| No. | Portrait | Mayor | Party | Term start | Term end | Mayor | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | | Tim Dwyer | Independent | 2008 | 2012 | Abbot (Independent) | ||
| 2 | | Chris Thompson | Independent | 2012 | 2016 | Jamieson (Independent) | ||
| (1) | | Tim Dwyer | Independent | 2016 | 2020 | |||
| 4 | | Rick Baberowski | Independent | 2020 | 2024 | |||
| 5 | | Maria Suarez | Independent | 2024 | incumbent | Natoli (Independent) | ||
| Year | Division 1 | Division 2 | Division 3 | Division 4 | Division 5 | Division 6 | Division 7 | Division 8 | Division 9 | Division 10 | Division 11 | Division 12 | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Councillor | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2008 | Anna Grosskreutz (Ind.) | Tim Dwyer (Ind.) | Keryn Jones (Ind.) | Chris Thompson (Ind.) | Jenny McKay (Ind.) | Christian Dickson (Ind.) | Ted Hungerford (Ind. LNP) | Debbie Blumel (Ind.) | Vivien Griffin (Ind.) | Paul Tatton (Ind.) | Russell Green (Ind.) | Lew Brennan (Ind.) | ||||||||||||
| 2012 | Rick Baberowski (Ind.) | Peter Cox (Ind.) | Jason O'Pray (Ind.) | Steve Robinson (Ind.) | Greg Rogerson (Ind.) | Tony Wellington (Ind.) | ||||||||||||||||||
| 2014 | Divisions 11 and 12 abolished (2014−present) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2016 | John Connolly (Ind.) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2020 | Terry Landsberg (Ind. LNP) | Joe Natoli (Ind.) | Winston Johnston (Ind. LNP) | Maria Suarez (Ind.) | David Law (Ind.) | |||||||||||||||||||
| 2024 (incumbents) | Jenny Broderick (Ind.) | Tim Burns (Ind.) | Taylor Bunnag (Ind. ALP) | |||||||||||||||||||||
As of March 2016, the Sunshine Coast Region has the followingsister cities:[30]
As of March 2016, the Sunshine Coast Region has the followingfriendship cities:[30]
This Wikipedia article incorporatesCC BY 4.0licensed text from:"Gubbi Gubbi".Queensland Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander languages map.State Library of Queensland. Retrieved23 January 2020.