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This analysis uses ABS Statistical Areas Level 2 (SA2) boundaries, which can materially differ from Suburbs and Localities (SAL) even when sharing similar names.
SA2 boundaries are defined by the Australian Bureau of Statistics and are designed to represent communities for statistical reporting (e.g., census and ERP).
Suburbs and Localities (SAL) represent commonly-used suburb/locality names (postal-style areas) and may use different geographic boundaries. For comprehensive analysis, consider reviewing both boundary types if available.
est. as @ -- *
ABS ERP | -- people | --
2021 Census | -- people
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Clear Island Waters has an estimated 4,570 residents, up from 4,395 at the 2021 Census — a change of 175 people, or 4.0%. Growth has averaged 0.8% a year over five years. That puts 1,039 residents on each square kilometre. Population is estimated from ABS Estimated Resident Population releases and GNAF address data, re-based from the 2021 Census and updated annually.
Detail
According to research from AreaSearch, the resident count of Clear Island Waters stands at approximately 4,570 as of Aug 2026. Compared to the 4,395 people counted in the 2021 Census, this represents a net expansion of 175 people (4.0%). This shift draws upon the ABS estimated resident population figure of 4,570 as of June 2025 alongside 1 validated new addresses registered following the Census. Settlement density sits at 1,038 persons per square kilometer, tracking closely with broader benchmarks evaluated by AreaSearch. Inbound international migration served as the primary growth catalyst, generating roughly 95.6% of recent population additions.
Projections compiled by AreaSearch incorporate ABS/Geoscience Australia modeling published in 2024 (using 2022 as its base period), alongside Queensland State Government SA2 series published in 2023 (utilising 2021 baselines) for unmapped districts and horizons beyond 2032. Because state datasets omit demographic age partitions, AreaSearch allocates proportional cohort adjustments calibrated against the 2023 ABS Greater Capital Region releases (based on 2022 data). Demographic trajectories point to expansion tracking slightly beneath median levels observed across regional Australia, with an additional 333 persons projected by 2041 relative to latest annual ERP benchmarks, representing a cumulative increase of 7.3% across the 16 years.
Frequently Asked Questions - Population
Detail
Dwelling creation remains minimal across Clear Island Waters, averaging 2 approvals per year and totaling 10 approvals over five years. Such modest volume mirrors dynamics typical of non-urban areas, where demand remains measured and physical infrastructure limits construction output. Because total volumes remain constrained, individual planning approvals can create substantial volatility in annual percentages and relative indicators. Building activity across Clear Island Waters falls noticeably short of rates recorded in Rest of Qld, whilst also lagging behind nationwide figures. New residential supply has consisted entirely of detached dwellings, aligning with the district's low-density profile centered around spacious allotments.
Current residential construction concentrates on freestanding houses to a greater extent than the existing stock indicates (64.0% at Census), underscoring enduring buyer appetite for detached residences despite broader intensification. Long-range forecasts anticipate Clear Island Waters expanding by 333 residents by 2041, based on the most recent AreaSearch quarterly release. Should residential construction continue at prevailing low paces, additions to housing stock could trail population expansion, potentially heightening competition among prospective purchasers and reinforcing upward price momentum.
Frequently Asked Questions - Development
Development applications around Clear Island Waters
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| Lodged | Address | Description | Type | Distance | Status |
|---|
SOURCE: Planning portals and council registers, compiled by AreaSearch. Distance & bearing measured from the suburb midpoint.
AreaSearch tracks 3 current infrastructure and development projects inside Clear Island Waters, worth an estimated $5.55 billion. A further 153 sit in the immediately surrounding suburbs, taking the tracked pipeline within reach of the area to $49.3 billion. 50 are already under construction and 64 are due for completion within three years. The pipeline spans residential development, communities and transport & logistics. Records are compiled from Infrastructure Australia, state agencies, council planning portals and public announcements, reviewed and updated daily, then ranked by proximity, construction stage, completion horizon and project scale.
Detail
Local economic and social outcomes are heavily shaped by civil works, major developments, and strategic urban planning. AreaSearch has identified 6 projects expected to influence the district. Prominent among these initiatives are Gold Coast Light Rail Stage 3 (Broadbeach South to Burleigh Heads), Merrimac Railway Station, Clear Island Waters Urban Village, and Cypress Central, which represent the most significant undertakings for the surrounding locality.
Professional plan users can use the search below to filter and access additional projects.
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Frequently Asked Questions - Infrastructure
Gold Coast Light Rail Stage 3 (Broadbeach South to Burleigh Heads)
A 6.7km dual-track extension of the light rail network featuring eight new stations and five new light rail vehicles. As of May 2026, the project is in the final stages of construction with full alignment tram testing scheduled to begin this month. Major works in the northern precincts are complete, while finishing works, landscaping, and wire stringing are wrapping up in the southern section toward Burleigh Heads. The extension will provide high-frequency public transport and east-west bus connections at Miami and Burleigh Heads.
Cypress Central
Cypress Central is an approved 25 hectare masterplanned mixed-use urban village fronting the Gooding Drive and Nerang-Broadbeach Road roundabout in Carrara, on the boundary with Clear Island Waters and Merrimac and adjoining Palm Meadows Golf Course. The site, long known locally as cow corner due to a herd of Charolais cattle that have grazed there for many years, has preliminary approval from City of Gold Coast for an 11-tower village comprising about 1,550 dwellings together with around 10,000 square metres of office, retail and clubhouse space, for a total gross floor area of approximately 172,658 square metres.Towers range from four to 19 storeys, with a five hectare elevated podium designed as a refuge in extreme flood events. The site is owned by Cypress Gardens Development Corporation, a subsidiary of JLF Corporation. In early 2025 it was listed for sale via Moelis Australia and Savills, with the vendor seeking either a development partner or an outright buyer to take the project to construction.
Clear Island Waters Urban Village
25-hectare waterfront urban village with preliminary approval for 1,550 dwellings in towers up to 19 stories, ~10,000 sqm of office and retail, a clubhouse, and more than 80% of the site kept as parkland and lakes with flood mitigation including a 5-hectare refuge podium.
Australian Mohs Hospital
The Australian Mohs Hospital is a dedicated facility for Mohs micrographic surgery and skin cancer management developed in the Lanes precinct at Mermaid Waters. Designed by Spatium Architects for Sunsafe Property, the mixed-use medical complex encompasses two buildings accommodating specialized operating theatres, six residential apartments, ground-floor retail/cafe, and basement parking for 117 vehicles.
Mermaid Waters Sewer Pump Station Upgrade
Comprehensive upgrade and mechanical overhaul of the existing sewage pump station facility to improve network capacity, enhance wastewater reliability, and service the growing local Mermaid Waters community.
The Landmark
The Landmark is a $2.5 billion masterplanned mixed-use development delivered by Aniko Group at 1 Seaview Avenue in Mermaid Beach. The project features four luxury residential towers over a shared podium, delivering approximately 900 premium apartments, an international 5-star hotel, commercial offices, and dining precincts. Construction broke ground in 2025 with staged completions anticipated through 2028.
Merrimac Railway Station
Construction of the new Merrimac railway station on the Gold Coast Line between Nerang and Robina stations, delivered as part of the Cross River Rail project. Scope includes dual side platforms, an accessible pedestrian overpass with lifts, park 'n' ride facilities with approximately 300 car parks, and dedicated active transport connections. Major civil and structural construction is being delivered by Fulton Hogan on behalf of the Queensland Government.
The Landmark
The Landmark is a $2 billion masterplanned mixed-use precinct being developed by Aniko Group at the corner of the Gold Coast Highway and Seaview Avenue in Mermaid Beach. Designed by Plus Architecture, the development features four towers comprising approximately 900 luxury apartments, a five-star hotel, commercial suites, and ground-floor dining. Construction commenced in 2025 with staged completion anticipated from 2027 to 2028.
2,144 residents of Clear Island Waters are employed, from a labour force of 2,188. Unemployment sits at 2.0%, with participation at 56.2%. Weighted for its industry mix, the area's sectors are forecast to grow about 7.0% nationally over five years. That reflects industry composition only and makes no allowance for local population growth. The working-day population is estimated at 3,900, about 85% of the resident population, so more people leave the area for work than travel in. Unemployment and labour force come from ABS Small Area Labour Markets, updated quarterly; the industry and occupation profile is from the 2021 Census.
Detail
The local labour market in Clear Island Waters features a highly skilled demographic, pronounced representation in professional services, an unemployment rate of merely 2.0%, and an estimated annual job expansion of 3.1%. As of March 2026, employed residents total 2,144, with joblessness sitting 1.9% under the 3.9% recorded across Regional Qld; however, the local participation rate of 56.2% trails the 64.2% found across Regional Qld. Census records indicate that 20.9% of workers performed their roles from home, a metric influenced by pandemic-related movement restrictions. Major employers of resident labour include health care & social assistance, retail trade, and professional & technical fields.
The community displays notable concentration in professional & technical services, generating an employment concentration 1.9 times the broader regional benchmark. Conversely, agriculture, forestry & fishing accounts for only 0.2% of the local workforce, trailing the 4.5% observed in Regional Qld. Comparing Census workplace locations against resident counts points to a modest volume of employment opportunities situated within the immediate locality. AreaSearch assessment of ABS and SALM figures indicates that over the 12-month period, local employment expanded by 3.1% while the labour pool grew by 3.2%, yielding a 0.1 percentage points rise in unemployment. Across Regional Qld, employment grew by 0.1%, labour force numbers lifted by 0.3%, and the jobless rate moved up by 0.1 percentage points. Additional guidance regarding long-term labour demand emerges from Jobs and Skills Australia national projections from Mar-26. These five- and ten-year models, applied to the local workforce distribution, estimate future trajectories. Against nationwide forecasts of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, local employment is projected to expand by 7.0% over five years and 14.3% over ten years when weighted by sector mix (an illustrative extrapolation that excludes localized demographic projections).
Frequently Asked Questions - Employment
Median household income in Clear Island Waters is $1,617 a week (about $84,000 a year), with median personal income at $732 a week. ATO records put median taxable income at $50,077 a year against an average of $62,786. Household income is from the 2021 Census; taxable income is from ATO Taxation Statistics for the latest financial year available, indexed forward using the ABS Wage Price Index.
Detail
Taxation records aggregated by AreaSearch from the ATO show a median taxpayer income of $50,077 and an average of $62,786 for the Clear Island Waters SA2 during financial year 2023. These figures trail national benchmarks as well as Regional Qld, where median and average taxpayer earnings stood at $53,146 and $66,593. Factoring in an 11.36% increase in the Wage Price Index since financial year 2023 produces estimated updated figures of approximately $55,766 (median) and $69,918 (average) as of March 2026. In the 2021 Census, personal, family, and household earnings sat within modest tiers, ranking between the 34th and 42nd percentiles.
A cohort of 1,229 individuals, or 26.9% of the local population, earns within the $1,500 - 2,999 band, compared with 31.7% across the wider metropolitan territory. Affordability pressures remain pronounced, leaving 83.2% of income uncommitted (ranking in the 42nd percentile), while the area sits in the 7th decile for SEIFA income.
Frequently Asked Questions - Income
Clear Island Waters had 1,624 occupied dwellings at the 2021 Census, 64% detached houses and 11% apartments. 31% are owned with a mortgage, 21% rented and 47% owned outright. At that Census the median rent was $540 a week and the median mortgage repayment $2,167 a month. Rent absorbs 33.4% of household income here and mortgage repayments 30.9%. Dwelling stock, tenure and housing costs are 2021 Census measures — the only source that counts dwellings at this boundary size.
Detail
Residential property in Clear Island Waters at the most recent Census was divided between standalone houses (63.6%) and medium-to-high density formats (36.5% other dwellings, including apartments and semi-detached structures), contrasting with Regional Qld where houses comprised 76.4% and other dwellings made up 23.6%. Outright home ownership stood at an elevated 47.3%, well above Regional Qld levels, with remaining properties held under a mortgage (31.4%) or occupied by tenants (21.2%). Local financing costs were comparatively high, with median monthly mortgage payments reaching $2,167 versus $1,655 in Regional Qld, while median weekly rent stood at $540 against $345 regionally.
On a nationwide scale, local mortgage repayments considerably outstrip the Australian median of $1,863, and weekly rents track well above the national median of $375.
Frequently Asked Questions - Housing
Clear Island Waters counted 1,624 households at the 2021 Census, averaging 2.5 people each. 32% are couples with children, against 31% couples without children. 24% of households are people living alone, and families average 1.6 children. Household and family composition is measured only by the Census, so these are 2021 figures.
Detail
Family units represent the predominant living arrangement, accounting for 73.8% of all households. This comprises couples raising children (31.6%), couples without children (31.4%), and single parent families (9.2%). Non-family living situations make up the remaining 26.2%, split between single-person residences (24.1%) and shared group arrangements (2.4%). The median household occupancy of 2.5 people matches the Regional Qld average.
Frequently Asked Questions - Households
32.7% of adults in Clear Island Waters hold a university qualification, including 22.1% with a bachelor degree and 8.2% with postgraduate qualifications, higher than 77% of areas nationally. A further 18.5% hold a vocational qualification. 1 school serves the area, with 795 enrolment places and an average ICSEA of 1,094 against a national benchmark of 1,000. Qualifications come from the 2021 Census; school enrolments, ICSEA and results come from ACARA's current release.
Detail
Educational profiles across Clear Island Waters track well above broader regional measures, as 32.7% of residents aged 15+ hold tertiary degrees compared with 20.6% in Rest of Qld and 25.4% across the wider SA4 region. Such qualified human capital provides a strong base for knowledge-intensive industries. Bachelor degrees constitute the largest tier at 22.1%, alongside postgraduate qualifications at 8.2% and graduate diplomas at 2.4%. Vocational education is also widespread, with 31.2% of residents aged 15+ holding technical credentials, comprising advanced diplomas (12.7%) and certificates (18.5%). Formal learning participation remains robust, with 26.8% of the local population engaged in study.
This includes 8.1% attending primary schools, 8.1% enrolled in secondary institutions, and 5.7% pursuing tertiary courses.
Frequently Asked Questions - Education
Schools Detail
Getting around Clear Island Waters means driving: households keep an average of 1.5 vehicles, and no scheduled public transport appears in the current timetable feeds. Service data is built from operators' published GTFS timetables; vehicle ownership is from the 2021 Census.
Frequently Asked Questions - Transport
Transport Stops Detail
69.9% of residents in Clear Island Waters report no long-term health condition. 7.5% need daily assistance with core activities, and 50.4% hold private health cover. The standardised death rate runs at 5.5 per 1,000 residents. Health conditions, assistance needs and insurance are 2021 Census measures; the death rate comes from current ABS releases.
Detail
Health indicators across Clear Island Waters present a positive picture, with AreaSearch evaluations showing low incidence of chronic illnesses and favourable mortality figures across younger and older age brackets alike. Private health insurance uptake stands at approximately 50% of the population (~2,303 people), tracking below the 52.5% seen across Regional Qld and the nationwide benchmark of 55.7%. Arthritis and mental health conditions represent the most prevalent diagnoses locally, reported by 8.7 and 6.1% of residents, respectively. A total of 69.9% of residents stated they were free from long-term health ailments, exceeding the 67.6% recorded across Regional Qld.
Seniors aged 65 and over comprise 27.9% of the populace (1,274 people), outpacing the 20.3% share in Regional Qld, with older residents maintaining robust health outcomes comparable to national population standards.
Frequently Asked Questions - Health
39.5% of Clear Island Waters residents were born overseas and 24.8% speak a language other than English at home, more culturally diverse than 77% of areas nationally. The largest reported ancestries are English (26.0%) and Australian (19.7%). Ancestry, language and country of birth are counted only by the Census, so these are 2021 figures.
Detail
Clear Island Waters demonstrates marked cultural breadth, with 39.5% of its residents born abroad and 24.8% speaking a primary language other than English in their homes. Christianity forms the dominant religious affiliation, claimed by 57.5% of residents. Judaism displays the most pronounced local concentration relative to benchmarks, representing 0.8% of residents against 0.1% across Regional Qld. Regarding parental lineage, the primary ancestries reported across Clear Island Waters are English at 26.0%, Australian at 19.7% (which sits well below the 26.5% regional standard), and Other at 9.5%. Distinct variations appear among other background groups: Russian ancestry accounts for 0.6% locally (compared to 0.2% regionally), South Australian represents 0.8% (against 0.5%), and New Zealand ancestry stands at 1.0% (compared to 0.9%).
Frequently Asked Questions - Diversity
The median resident of Clear Island Waters is 49, older than 91% of areas nationally. That is 1 year younger than at the 2021 Census. 20.0% of residents are aged 15 to 34. Age cohorts are not raw Census counts: the Census split is re-based to the latest ABS population estimates and state projections.
Detail
The demographic profile of Clear Island Waters is older than that of Regional Qld overall. Seniors aged 65+ comprise 27.9% of the population as at August 2026, compared to 20.4% across Regional Qld, whereas young to middle-aged adults aged 25 - 44 represent 20.2% locally versus 25.5% regionally. The estimated median age reached 49 as at August 2026, dropping slightly from 50 at the 2021 Census, but sitting 8 years above the Regional Qld figure of 41 recorded at that Census and ahead of the national Census median of 38.
Older cohorts have decreased their population share from 30.3% at the Census to an estimated 27.9%. Projections to 2041 anticipate senior brackets adding 218 individuals (17%) to reach 1,493, while younger demographics are forecast to contract.
Frequently Asked Questions - Age
Data & MethodBoundaries, Sources & Method for Clear Island Waters
9 of 14 data sections on this page were updated within the last 12 months — the newest current to Oct 2026.
Everything is aggregated to the SA2 boundary shown above, on a 2021 Census baseline. Only 3 sections — housing, households and cultural diversity — still wait on the 2026 Census.
The ledger — source, cycle and currency by section
| Section | Source & update cycle | Currency |
|---|---|---|
| Updated within the last 12 months 9 sections | ||
| Population | ABS, GNAF, Geoscience Australia Annual (ABS ERP) | Aug 2026 2 months ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Re-based to the ABS Estimated Resident Population (June 2025 release) and updated with new dwellings from GNAF address data. Current to Aug 2026, with the 2021 Census supplying the small-area baseline. | ||
| Age profile | ABS, Geoscience Australia, State governments Annual | Aug 2026 2 months ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Age cohorts are re-based to the latest ABS population estimates and state projections, current to Aug 2026. Each cohort is held as a Census baseline and a current estimate. | ||
| Development & approvals | ABS, GNAF Monthly (ABS approvals) | Aug 2026 2 months ago headline measures · Jul 2026 baseline |
| Property sales & rents | Valuer General, Rental Board, ABS Weekly sales, quarterly rents | Oct 2026 this month headline measures · Sep 2026 baseline |
| Sales from the state Valuer General register, refreshed weekly, and rents from quarterly rental bond lodgements. Both are read live each time this page loads, current to Oct 2026. | ||
| Infrastructure projects | Infrastructure Australia, State agencies, Local governments Daily | Aug 2026 2 months ago all 3 projects tracked here |
| Project pipeline maintained continuously from Infrastructure Australia, state agencies, local government and public announcements. Records are added and revised daily; this area was last updated Aug 2026. | ||
| Employment | ABS, DEWR, JSA Quarterly (ABS SALM) | Mar 2026 7 months ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Unemployment and labour force from ABS Small Area Labour Markets, current to Mar 2026. The growth outlook applies Department of Employment (now Jobs and Skills Australia) forecasts for all 19 industry divisions to the local industry mix, so it measures sector composition rather than local expansion and makes no allowance for population growth. Job demand comes from the same agency via its Internet Vacancy Index; industry and occupation structure from the 2021 Census. | ||
| Education | ABS, ACARA Annual (ACARA) | Sep 2026 last month headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Transport | ABS, State Transport Departments Each timetable release | Jul 2026 3 months ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Services & amenities | Provider directories, ACECQA Continuous | Sep 2026 last month all 14 measures |
| Annual and financial-year sources 2 sections | ||
| Income | ABS, ATO Annual (ATO) | FY 2023 3 years ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| ATO taxable income statistics for FY 2023, indexed forward using the Wage Price Index. Census household income provides the distribution detail. | ||
| Health | ABS, ATO Annual | 2024 2 years ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Census-measured — next update: 2026 Census 3 sections No more current small-area source exists for these, so they are labelled as Census-measured rather than implied to be current. | ||
| Housing | ABS 5-yearly (Census) | 2021 Census next update 2026 all 30 measures |
| Households | ABS 5-yearly (Census) | 2021 Census next update 2026 all 18 measures |
| Cultural diversity | ABS, Geoscience Australia 5-yearly (Census) | 2021 Census next update 2026 all 44 measures |
"Currency" is the most recent release feeding that section. Where the Census supplies the structural baseline underneath a current headline figure, the row says so.
How the numbers are built
Population
The Census provides the small-area baseline, aggregated from mesh blocks to this boundary. It is then re-based to the ABS Estimated Resident Population (June 2025 release), and new dwellings built since Census night are counted from address data — 1 validated new addresses here. The headline figure is therefore a current estimate for Aug 2026, not a 2021 count (4,395 at the 2021 Census → 4,570 now). Annual growth rates are compound (CAGR), not simple averages.
Age profile
Cohort shares are not raw Census counts. Every cohort is held as a pair — the Census baseline and a current estimate — and the split is re-based using ERP and state population projections, current to Aug 2026. Median age is the Census median plus modelled change since. Charts that show both are labelled "2021 Census vs Current Estimate".
Property sales
Sourced from the state valuation authority's sales register — current, not Census, and refreshed weekly. Medians are calculated from settled transactions in the period shown; periods with very low transaction counts are flagged or suppressed, because a handful of sales can move a median substantially.
Rents
Derived from state rental bond lodgement data, by dwelling type and bedroom count. Bonds are lodged at the start of a new tenancy, so this reflects new lettings, not the whole rented stock.
Development & infrastructure
Building approvals come from current ABS releases; development applications are collected from council and state planning portals; the infrastructure pipeline is compiled from Infrastructure Australia and local government sources. Applications are matched to this boundary by address or coordinates, so very recent lodgements may not yet appear.
Employment & income
Industry and occupation structure comes from the Census, but the headline labour-market indicators do not. Unemployment and labour force are derived from ABS Small Area Labour Markets (quarterly). The employment outlook applies Department of Employment forecasts for all 19 industry divisions to this area's own industry mix (the agency is now Jobs and Skills Australia), as does the Internet Vacancy Index used for job demand. Because it is weighted on industry composition alone, that outlook carries no allowance for local population growth — in fast-growing areas the real rise in local jobs will typically be higher. Income combines Census household income with ATO taxable-income statistics for FY 2023, indexed forward using the Wage Price Index.
Education, transport & amenities
School enrolments, ICSEA and performance come from ACARA's current release, not the Census. Public transport stops and service frequency are derived from GTFS timetable feeds published by state transport departments. Services and amenities are proximity and count scores built from provider directories, refreshed on their own cycle. The Census contributes only the travel-to-work and qualification measures.
Rankings and benchmarks. Where we rank this area, the comparison set is every area of the same boundary type — suburbs against suburbs, SA2s against SA2s. Benchmarks compare this area against its greater capital city region and the national figure for the same measure and period.
Limits worth knowing. Small areas carry larger error margins, and the ABS introduces small random adjustments to Census counts to protect confidentiality — so totals may not sum exactly. Estimates re-based from regional data describe the area's expected trajectory, not a direct count of it. Figures are indicative for research and are not financial, planning or valuation advice.
Cross-check us. The Census baseline for this boundary is at ABS 2021 Census QuickStats (309081259). QuickStats reports 2021 only — the figures on this page are more current wherever the ledger shows a later date.