City Profile
Gold Coast City is Australia’s fastest growing region and is a vibrant metropolis located on the border of Queensland and New South Wales. With a sub tropical climate, magnificent beaches, enviable lifestyle and abundant natural attractions, our region plays host to approximately 28,000 international, domestic and day trip visitors every day.
Our diverse mix of visitors brings an energy and excitement to the home of more than 480,000 Gold Coast City residents. Our city has a highly skilled, multi-lingual workforce from all over the world who bring with them the creativity and innovation that is driving our record prosperity.
The Gold Coast City is in the midst of a population boom, with growth rates outstripping those of all Australian capital cities. Such is the strength of the population growth that KPMG estimates predict our city will be Australia’s fifth largest city by 2050.
Economically, Gold Coast City is now considered Australia’s growth hot spot. Population-driven economic growth is providing significant opportunities for investors and businesses looking to establish, expand or relocate. A combination of lower costs, diverse workforce, solid infrastructure and supportive business environment provide the setting needed for business success.
Gold Coast city is home to more than 43,000 small businesses across a broad number of industries. Major Australian and international companies such as VISY Industries, Parsons Brinckerhoff and AirAsiaX have discovered the benefits of expanding operations to Gold Coast City.
The estimated total Gross Regional Product of the Gold Coast City economy has increased 9.5 per cent since 2001 to a total of nearly $16 billion in 2008.
Gold Coast City has been built on a history of innovation and enterprise. The strong history is contributing to a city where people with vision are creating exciting new industries in the 21st century. Gold Coast City Council’s Economic Development Branch is the largest of its type in Australia, broadening the economic base of the city through investment attraction strategies and industry development initiatives, undertaken in collaboration with other levels of government.
Marine
The Gold Coast's marine industry is without a doubt, a showcase for the rest of the world. Its 400-plus companies collectively employ over 3,000 highly skilled and knowledgable people in what is internationally recognised as one of the greatest and friendliest marine playgrounds.
Information and Communication Technology
The ICT industry is a significant force in Gold Coast City’s economy, with more than 400 established companies. They include predominantly small to medium enterprises, with a number of large national and international companies, impacting significantly on the Gold Coast City’s current economic growth with strong potential for continued development.
Education
Gold Coast education providers are at the leading edge of the learning revolution, adopting new and innovative systems to provide flexibility and to focus on specialist areas. The partnership between Gold Coast City Council and all education providers has contributed to a 25% increase in international students studying in the city from 2004 to 2006 in comparison to Australia’s 8.3% increase. International education adds a total estimated annual expenditure of $1.2 billion to the city's economy.
Food and Wine
In recent years the Gold Coast has been recognised for the diversity and quality of its food and beverage products on offer. As Gold Coast City grows, the food industry is positioning itself to manage the impact of future demand, particularly in the realm of production, workforce, education and training. Gold Coast City Council supports the food industry with access to industry associations, specialist business development experts, suppliers of food and drink core ingredients, preparation and packaging materials.
Health and Medical
Gold Coast City has a wealth of health and medical infrastructure and expertise. World class research, training and education facilities in the city supports continued and innovative growth of the industry. Six hospitals, both public and private, several day procedure centres and a large number of specialist clinics, provide specialist medical services to local and global markets.
Tourism
Gold Coast City is widely acknowledged as Australia's premier tourist destination attracting over 10 million overnight and daytrip visitors each year. The city boasts a wealth of natural attractions ranging from its internationally acclaimed beaches to World Heritage Listed subtropical rainforests. It has well-developed tourism services and infrastructure, and experienced industry operators. These assets, combined with the city's location, sub-tropical climate and quality lifestyle, have attracted large numbers of visitors to the Gold Coast since the early 1900's.
Gold Coast Tourism - www.verygoldcoast.com
Gold Coast Adventure Travel Group - www.adventuregc.com
Sustainable Tourism Cooperative Research Centre - www.crctourism.com.au
Creative
The Gold Coast is a lure to creative industries, creative industry events and film production, boasting Australia's third largest production centre. Many creative businesses including music, games and fashion design have chosen the city as their home base, and the Gold Coast is committed to furthering education in the creative arts, especially in the areas of multimedia, graphic design and film and television.
Gold Coast Music Industry Association - www.gcmia.org.au
Film
The film industry within Gold Coast City pioneered international film production in Australia in 1980, and accounts for 75% of all Queensland film production. This city is now home to a dedicated film representative body - Film Gold Coast. Film Gold Coast is committed to increasing film production in the city and maximising the flow-on economic benefits for the Gold Coast.
Film Gold Coast - www.filmgc.com.au
Environment
The environment industry has emerged as one of the Gold Coast's fastest growing industry sectors in response to a number of challenges facing our environment and the way we live in the future. The Gold Coast environment industry primarily services south east Queensland and northern New South Wales markets - two of the fastest growing regions in Australia which are proving significant markets for Gold Coast environmental technologies and services.
EnviroIndustry Gold Coast - www.enviroindustry.com
Sport
As Queensland's second largest city, the Gold Coast's sporting facilities, tourist accommodation, restaurants and attractions are world-class. Athletes of all sports and levels are at home in the well-equipped, friendly city - from elite competitors to those seeking a healthier way of life. The city's commitment to sporting know-how includes investing in the best facilities, hosting first-rate events, as well as creating the platform for manufacturing, training, science, and education.