Community at a Glance

The vast protected waterways of Moreton Bay, including a cluster of partly
developed islands, and the subtropical climate create ideal lifestyle options
in the Redlands, while the district’s economy and culture also benefit greatly
from its central position in the South East Queensland region.

The Location Metropolitan and cosmopolitan business, services and markets, extending from the Gold Coast to the Sunshine Coast, ports and international airport are a short drive. The Brisbane CBD and the Gold Coast are only about 40 minutes away.
More for business: Proximity between work and home, access to domestic and world markets.
The People
Redland Shire’s population has had a growth spurt, with increases of about 3.5% a year. The annual average growth rate in the five years to June 2003 was 3.0%, compared with 2.4% in South East Queensland and 1.9% in Queensland.
The estimated resident population of Redland Shire is about 130,000 and this is projected to increase to almost 164,000 in 2016.
Demographic features of recent statistical reviews include a high percentage of family households and, at the other end of the age range, seniors from middle-aged to elderly.
Of all Queensland districts, the Redlands has been second only to Brisbane in the percentage of managers, administrators, professionals and associate professionals, according to Redland: An Economic Profile.

A growing customer base, with opportunities in service-based businesses as well as such sectors as manufacturing, engineering, marine industries and technology. A civic recognition of the need for diversity in the Shire’s economic base.
Workforce
The Redland Shire Economic Growth Strategy sets a target that the Shire’s businesses and services will provide up to 77,000 jobs by 2016. This is about 50,000 more than the Shire’s total local jobs (26,200) in 2001. The strategy states that the local job total will exceed the local labour force, implying Redland Shire is potentially self-sufficient in terms of employment.
The Redlands’ unemployment rate has been consistently lower than that of Queensland.
Stable and skilled labour force living close to workplaces.
Property in Demand
Almost 1500 new houses and other residential buildings with a total value of $270.7 million were approved in Redland Shire in 2003. The total value of non-residential buildings approved in the Shire in 2003 was $50.6 million.
Burgeoning construction and property industries, which employ many thousands of Redland people while also meeting residential and general community demand, demonstrate that the district’s popularity is growing.