Four Game Changers Reshaping Long-Term Growth on the Sunshine Coast

A CBD that changes the employment equation

One of the most important shifts underway on the Sunshine Coast is the emergence of a genuine employment centre.

The Maroochydore CBD is a purpose-built city core delivered on former industrial land, expected over time to support tens of thousands of jobs across government, professional services, health, education and technology.

From a property investment perspective, the significance lies less in headline job numbers and more in the composition of employment. Professional and knowledge-based roles typically bring higher
income stability, longer tenancy durations and demand for better-quality housing. These characteristics tend to support more resilient rental demand across market cycles.

This represents a meaningful shift away from a tourism-led economy toward one with greater depth and permanence.

Olympic-linked infrastructure with lasting impact

The region has moved beyond a singular reliance on tourism. Employment has broadened dramatically over the past 13 years since the implementation of Council’s Regional Economic Development Strategy Plan in 2013. This was part of a 20-year vision Council had to consciously and deliberately reshape the local economy and to say it has been working is an understatement. Their deliberate and targeted economic plan is reminiscent of Gold Coast Council’s coordinated and planned changes that transformed the Gold Coast economy leading up to Covid.

It’s not just employment that has changed – connectivity is being reshaped on a permanent basis. Population growth is no longer episodic or pandemic-driven but sustained. And importantly, housing supply remains constrained by geography, planning and delivery challenges.

What is different this time is clarity. The signals are more visible. The direction more defined.

Connectivity that changes behaviour first

Infrastructure typically changes behaviour well before it changes prices.

The expansion of the Sunshine Coast Airport and the planned delivery of The Wave, a major rail and metro system linking the region to Brisbane and Moreton Bay, are materially altering how the
Sunshine Coast connects to the broader South East Queensland economy.

Improved air capacity and reduced travel times expand labour catchments and make it increasingly viable to live on the Sunshine Coast while remaining connected to employment centres elsewhere. In
maturing markets, this sequencing has often favoured property investors who understand direction early.

Demand momentum ahead of supply

On the demand side, the data is already clear. Over the past decade, the Sunshine Coast has recorded population growth of approximately 2.7 per cent per annum, well above the national average of around 1.5 per cent. Importantly, this growth has been consistent across both pre and post-pandemic periods.

Supply, however, has remained constrained. New housing approvals have trended below long-term averages, delivery timelines are stretched, and rental vacancy rates across many parts of the region
continue to sit below one per cent.

This imbalance between demand and supply is not unusual in maturing coastal markets. Historically, it has supported long-term rental performance and price stability, particularly where employment and infrastructure depth continue to improve.

What this means for property investors?

None of these game changers operate in isolation. Together, they point to a region that is no longer defined by a single narrative or industry.
For property investors, the opportunity lies in recognising where the Sunshine Coast now sits in its evolution. This is not about short-term timing or speculative positioning. It is about understanding a
transition phase, when fundamentals are aligning but before those changes are fully reflected in pricing and sentiment.

At Ironfish, we approach markets like the Sunshine Coast through this long-term lens. We focus on how regions can complement existing portfolios, how asset quality and timing influence outcomes,
and how property investors can benefit early through foresight and strategy rather than responding once the opportunity has matured.

To learn more about how these four game changers are shaping opportunity for Property Investors on the Sunshine Coast,
and how Ironfish is positioning clients through this next phase, subscribe to the Ironfish mailing list and get early access to our upcoming Sunshine Coast investor briefing.

At this online briefing we will deep dive into all the data and insights behind these 4 Game-changing Drivers and how they are transforming the Sunshine Coast property market.