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This analysis uses Suburbs and Localities (SAL) boundaries, which can materially differ from Statistical Areas (SA2) even when sharing the same name.
SAL boundaries are defined by Australia Post and the Australian Bureau of Statistics to represent commonly-known suburb names used in postal addresses.
Statistical Areas (SA2) are designed for census data collection and may combine multiple suburbs or use different geographic boundaries. For comprehensive analysis, consider reviewing both boundary types if available.
est. as @ -- *
2021 Census | -- people
Sales Activity
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Sales Detail
Population
Population growth drivers in Cooloola Cove are slightly above average based on AreaSearch's ranking of recent, and medium term trends
As of May 2026, the estimated population of the suburb of Cooloola Cove is around 2,994. This figure reflects an increase of 73 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 2,921. The latest resident population estimate was derived by AreaSearch following examination of the ABS's ERP data release from June 2025 and validation of one additional new address since the Census date. This results in a population density ratio of 221 persons per square kilometer. Recent population growth in the suburb has been primarily driven by interstate migration, contributing approximately 92% of overall population gains.
AreaSearch uses ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area released in 2024 with a base year of 2022. For areas not covered and years post-2032, Queensland State Government's SA2 area projections from 2023 based on 2021 data are adopted. However, these state projections do not provide age category splits, so AreaSearch applies proportional growth weightings in line with ABS Greater Capital Region projections released in 2023 and based on 2022 data for each age cohort. Looking ahead, demographic trends suggest lower quartile growth for national non-metropolitan areas. According to aggregated SA2-level projections, the suburb is expected to increase by 116 persons to reach a total of 3,110 by 2041, reflecting a gain of approximately 3.9% over the 16-year period.
Frequently Asked Questions - Population
Development
Recent residential development output has been above average within Cooloola Cove when compared nationally
Cooloola Cove has averaged approximately 11 new dwelling approvals annually over the past five financial years, totalling an estimated 59 homes. In FY26 so far, 7 approvals have been recorded. This results in around 4.4 people moving to the area each year for every dwelling built between FY21 and FY25. Commercial approvals valued at $5 million have been registered this financial year.
Compared to the rest of Queensland, Cooloola Cove has shown significantly reduced construction activity, with a 56% reduction below the regional average per person. The area's building activity consists entirely of standalone homes, maintaining its low-density character and appealing to families seeking space. As of now, there are approximately 185 people per approval in Cooloola Cove. Future projections estimate an addition of 116 residents by 2041, with current development patterns suggesting that new housing supply should readily meet demand.
Future projections show Cooloola Cove adding 116 residents by 2041 (from the latest AreaSearch quarterly estimate). Based on current development patterns, new housing supply should readily meet demand, offering good conditions for buyers and potentially facilitating population growth beyond current projections.
Frequently Asked Questions - Development
Development applications around Cooloola Cove
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| Lodged | Address | Description | Type | Distance | Status |
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SOURCE: Planning portals and council registers, compiled by AreaSearch. Distance & bearing measured from the suburb midpoint.
Infrastructure
Cooloola Cove has very high levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 20% nationally
No infrastructure changes or major projects were identified by AreaSearch as impacting the area. Key projects included Forest Wind Farm, Borumba Pumped Hydro Transmission Connections, Queensland Train Manufacturing Program, and Queensland Supergrid South.
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INFRASTRUCTURE SEARCH
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Frequently Asked Questions - Infrastructure
Queensland Energy Roadmap 2025
A statewide five-year energy transformation program released by the Crisafulli Government on 10 October 2025, replacing the former Labor government's 2022 Energy and Jobs Plan. The Roadmap centres on three objectives: affordability, reliability and sustainability. Key commitments include a $1.6 billion Electricity Maintenance Guarantee to maintain state-owned coal assets operating to at least their technical lives (some to 2046 and potentially beyond), a $400 million Queensland Energy Investment Fund and QIC Investor Gateway to attract private sector capital into new generation and storage, and a Central Queensland Gas Power Tender for at least 400 MW of new gas-fired generation. Queensland's existing renewable energy targets have been formally repealed, while a net zero by 2050 commitment is retained. Active transmission priorities include the QIC-led CopperString Eastern Link (330 kV, major construction from 2028, commercial operations by 2032) and Powerlink's Gladstone Grid Reinforcement project. Battery storage targets include at least 3.1 GW of short-duration storage by 2030 and up to 4 GW of medium-duration storage by 2035. The Roadmap is estimated to reduce energy system costs by $26 billion to 2035 compared to Labor's early-closure plan.
Queensland Energy Roadmap 2026
The Queensland Energy Roadmap 2026 is a state policy framework released on 10 October 2025. It reverses earlier plans by extending state-owned coal asset operations until at least 2046 supported by a 1.6 billion dollar maintenance guarantee. The plan focuses on a market-driven approach to Regional Energy Hubs, doubling gas capacity to 8.3GW by 2035, and accelerating large-scale battery storage. Significant infrastructure includes the 400MW Central Queensland Gas Power Tender and the CopperString Eastern Link (330kV) transmission project.
Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games Infrastructure Program
A $7.1 billion venue infrastructure program delivered by the Games Independent Infrastructure and Coordination Authority (GIICA), funded jointly by the Australian Government ($3.435 billion) and Queensland Government ($3.65 billion). The program covers 17 new and upgraded sporting venues across Queensland, headlined by a new 63,000-seat Brisbane Stadium at Victoria Park, a new National Aquatic Centre at Spring Hill, and a Brisbane Athletes Village at the Showgrounds (led by Lendlease and RNA). Delivery partner Unite32 - a consortium of Laing O'Rourke and AECOM - was appointed in December 2025. Early works for Victoria Park Stadium are set to commence in Q2 2026, with the National Aquatic Centre also entering early contractor involvement. Other venues include Logan and Moreton Bay Indoor Sports Centres, Barlow Park (Cairns), Sunshine Coast Stadium, Redland Whitewater Centre, Queensland Tennis Centre, Chandler Sports Precinct, Rockhampton Flatwater Facility, Toowoomba Showgrounds and Brisbane International Shooting Centre.
Queensland Energy Roadmap 2026
The Queensland Energy Roadmap 2026 is a strategic policy framework released by the Crisafulli Government on 10 October 2025. It replaces the previous SuperGrid Infrastructure Blueprint, shifting focus toward a market-based approach to power reliability and affordability. Key pillars include extending the operating life of state-owned coal power stations until 2046, doubling gas-fired generation capacity to 8.3GW by 2035, and transitioning 'Renewable Energy Zones' into 'Regional Energy Hubs' to integrate solar, wind, and storage with existing grid infrastructure. Major active components include the $1.6 billion Electricity Maintenance Guarantee, a 400MW gas generation tender in Central Queensland, and the CopperString Eastern Link (330kV) targeted for 2032 completion.
Queensland Energy Roadmap - SuperGrid Infrastructure Program
The Queensland Energy Roadmap (released October 2025) replaced the former Energy and Jobs Plan SuperGrid Blueprint, shifting from rigid renewable percentage targets to a reliability and emissions-reduction focus. Key infrastructure programs include: CopperString (QIC-led 330kV Eastern Link from Hughenden to Burdekin region, major construction commencing 2028, commercial operations by 2032, supported by a $200 million North West Energy Fund); the Gladstone Project Priority Transmission Investment (new 275kV Calvale to Calliope River transmission line, Gladstone West Substation by mid-2029, Bouldercombe to Larcom Creek line by mid-2030, with construction on initial works expected from mid-2026); and synchronous condenser installations at Stanwell, Nebo and Calliope River substations (Hitachi Energy contract signed April 2026, delivery by 2029). QIC has assumed oversight of the Borumba, Mt Rawdon, Big T and Capricornia pumped hydro assessments. The Pioneer-Burdekin pumped hydro project has been cancelled. Coal assets will continue operating to technical life. The roadmap projects whole-of-system cost savings of approximately $26 billion to 2035 versus the previous plan. Renewable energy targets have been formally repealed, with net zero by 2050 retained as the overarching commitment. By 2030, around 16GW of new generation and storage capacity is forecast, including 6.8GW of wind and large-scale solar and 3.8GW of storage.
Building Future Hospitals Program
Now referred to as the Hospital Rescue Plan, this $18.5 billion program is the largest health infrastructure investment in Queensland history. It aims to deliver over 2,600 new public hospital beds by 2032 through three new hospitals (Coomera, Bundaberg, Toowoomba) and major expansions at 10 existing facilities including QEII, Logan, and Princess Alexandra hospitals. Recent milestones in 2026 include the completion of the concept design for the 600-bed Coomera Hospital and the final concrete pour for the QEII Hospital expansion clinical building.
South East Queensland Infrastructure Plan and Supplement (SEQIP & SEQIS)
The South East Queensland Infrastructure Supplement (SEQIS), released in December 2023, provides a strategic framework for coordinating regional infrastructure to support housing supply and growth across the 12 SEQ local government areas. It aligns with ShapingSEQ 2023 and prioritises Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games infrastructure delivery. A full South East Queensland Infrastructure Plan (SEQIP) is now being developed concurrently with the review of the SEQ Regional Plan, which will give the infrastructure plan statutory weight. The region is projected to reach a population of around 6 million by 2046, requiring nearly 900,000 new homes and one million new jobs. Key focus areas include unlocking housing supply, delivering transport infrastructure such as Cross River Rail and the Coomera Connector, and supporting the $2 billion Residential Activation Fund.
Forest Wind Farm
A proposed 1,200 MW wind farm of up to 226 turbines sited within the state-owned Tuan-Toolara exotic pine plantation between Gympie and Maryborough in the Wide Bay region. The project would generate enough clean energy for roughly 500,000 Queensland homes and avoid around 2.62 million tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions a year. Forest Wind was enabled by the Forest Wind Farm Development Act 2020 and obtained state development approval, but its future was thrown into serious doubt in September 2025 when the Queensland LNP government announced the repeal of that Act, citing community concerns and the earlier exit of co-developer Tilt Renewables in August 2024. The proponent disputes the basis for the decision and maintains it is still seeking a path forward, while the federal EPBC environmental assessment remains incomplete.
Employment
The labour market performance in Cooloola Cove lags significantly behind most other regions nationally
Cooloola Cove's workforce comprises both white and blue-collar jobs, with tourism and hospitality sectors prominent. The unemployment rate was 9.3% in the past year, showing an estimated employment growth of 5.5%. As of December 2025781 residents are employed, with an unemployment rate of 5.3%, higher than Regional Qld's 4.0%.
Workforce participation is lower at 31.7% compared to Regional Qld's 64.5%. A low 11.8% of residents work from home. Employment is concentrated in retail trade, accommodation & food, and health care & social assistance. Retail trade employs 1.7 times the regional level, while health care & social assistance employs only 11.7%, below Regional Qld's 16.1%.
The area may offer limited local employment opportunities. Between December 2024 and December 2025, employment levels increased by 5.5% and labour force grew by 5.4%, reducing unemployment by 0.1 percentage points. In contrast, Regional Qld saw employment grow by 0.7%, labour force expand by 1.0%, and unemployment rise by 0.3 percentage points. National employment forecasts from May-25 suggest Cooloola Cove's employment should increase by 5.6% over five years and 12.0% over ten years, based on industry-specific projections applied to the local employment mix.
Frequently Asked Questions - Employment
Income
Income metrics place the area in the bottom 10% of locations nationally according to AreaSearch analysis
The median taxpayer income in Cooloola Cove is $32,697, with an average of $44,091 according to the latest postcode level ATO data aggregated by AreaSearch for financial year 2023. This is below the national average. In Regional Qld, the median income is $53,146 and the average is $66,593. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 11.36% since financial year 2023, current estimates for Cooloola Cove would be approximately $36,411 (median) and $49,100 (average) as of March 2026. According to the 2021 Census, household, family and personal incomes in Cooloola Cove all fall between the 0th and 1st percentiles nationally. Income brackets indicate that 41.6% of the population (1,245 individuals) fall within the $400 - 799 income range, unlike trends in the surrounding region where 31.7% fall within the $1,500 - 2,999 range. Economic circumstances reflect widespread financial pressure, with 50.3% of households operating within modest weekly budgets below $800. After housing expenses, 86.1% of income remains, though this ranks at only the 3rd percentile nationally.
Frequently Asked Questions - Income
Housing
Cooloola Cove is characterized by a predominantly suburban housing profile, with above-average rates of outright home ownership
Cooloola Cove's dwelling structures, as per the latest Census, consisted of 96.5% houses and 3.4% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings), contrasting with Regional Qld's 76.4% houses and 23.6% other dwellings. Home ownership in Cooloola Cove stood at 60.0%, with mortgaged dwellings at 25.6% and rented ones at 14.4%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,172, below Regional Qld's average of $1,655. Median weekly rent in Cooloola Cove was $300, compared to Regional Qld's $345. Nationally, Cooloola Cove's mortgage repayments were lower than the Australian average of $1,863, and rents were below the national figure of $375.
Frequently Asked Questions - Housing
Household Composition
Cooloola Cove features high concentrations of group households, with a lower-than-average median household size
Family households constitute 70.0% of all households, including 13.2% couples with children, 47.3% couples without children, and 9.1% single parent families. Non-family households make up the remaining 30.0%, with lone person households at 26.4% and group households comprising 3.8%. The median household size is 2.1 people, smaller than the Regional Queensland average of 2.5.
Frequently Asked Questions - Households
Local Schools & Education
Educational attainment in Cooloola Cove aligns closely with national averages, showing typical qualification patterns and performance metrics
The area has university qualification rates of 7.1%, significantly lower than the Australian average of 30.4%. This presents both a challenge and an opportunity for targeted educational initiatives. Bachelor degrees are the most common at 5.5%, followed by graduate diplomas (0.9%) and postgraduate qualifications (0.7%). Trade and technical skills are prominent, with 42.9% of residents aged 15+ holding vocational credentials – advanced diplomas (8.3%) and certificates (34.6%).
School and university attendance encompasses 18.2% of the community, including 6.8% in primary education, 6.7% in secondary education, and 0.9% pursuing tertiary education.
Frequently Asked Questions - Education
Schools Detail
Nearby Services & Amenities
Transport
Transport servicing is very low compared to other areas nationally based on assessment of service frequency, route connectivity and accessibility
Cooloola Cove has ten active public transport stops, all of which are bus stops. These stops are served by one route in total, offering ten weekly passenger trips combined. The accessibility of transport is rated as moderate, with residents typically located 463 meters from the nearest stop. Most residents commute outward from this primarily residential area, with cars being the dominant mode of transportation at 94%. On average, there are 1.4 vehicles per dwelling. According to the 2021 Census, only 11.8% of residents work from home, which may reflect COVID-19 conditions.
The service frequency averages one trip per day across all routes, equating to approximately one weekly trip per individual stop.
Frequently Asked Questions - Transport
Transport Stops Detail
Health
Health performance in Cooloola Cove is well below average with prevalence of common health conditions notable across both younger and older age cohorts
Health data indicates significant health challenges in Cooloola Cove. AreaSearch's assessment shows high mortality rates and prevalent chronic conditions across both younger and older age groups. Only approximately 45% of the total population (~1,337 people) has private health cover, compared to 52.5% in Regional Qld and a national average of 55.7%.
The most common medical conditions are arthritis (affecting 16.1% of residents) and mental health issues (10.5%), while 48.4% claim to be free from medical ailments, compared to 67.6% in Regional Qld. Working-age population health is notably challenging due to high chronic condition rates. The area has a higher proportion of seniors aged 65 and over at 45.4% (1,359 people), compared to 20.4% in Regional Qld. Health outcomes among seniors present some challenges, broadly aligning with national rankings for the general population.
Frequently Asked Questions - Health
Cultural Diversity
Cooloola Cove is considerably less culturally diverse than average when assessed alongside AreaSearch's national rankings for language and cultural background related metrics
Cooloola Cove, as per the findings, has a cultural diversity below average. The population comprises 82.7% born in Australia, with 89.4% being citizens, and 97.8% speaking English only at home. Christianity is the predominant religion, accounting for 54.3%, compared to 52.2% regionally.
Among ancestry groups, English tops at 33.8%, followed by Australian at 28.2%, and Irish at 9.1%. Notably, German representation stands at 6.0%, higher than the regional average of 4.7%. Maori and Welsh also show variations, with 0.7% and 0.6% respectively in Cooloola Cove, compared to 0.8% and 0.5% regionally.
Frequently Asked Questions - Diversity
Age
Cooloola Cove ranks among the oldest 10% of areas nationwide
Cooloola Cove's median age is 62 years, notably exceeding Regional Queensland's median age of 41 and well above Australia's median age of 38. The age profile shows that residents aged 65-74 are particularly prominent, making up 28.4% of the population, compared to 9.4% nationally. This is significantly higher than the Regional Queensland figure of 10%. In contrast, the 25-34 age group makes up only 5.1% of Cooloola Cove's population, smaller than the Regional Queensland average. Between 2021 and now, the 75 to 84 age group has grown from 12.6% to 14.5% of the population, while the 45 to 54 cohort has declined from 10.9% to 9.7%. By 2041, demographic projections show significant shifts in Cooloola Cove's age structure. The number of residents aged 85 and above is projected to rise substantially, increasing by 67 people (90%) from 74 to 142. Residents aged 65 and above will drive 75% of population growth, underscoring the trend towards demographic aging in the area. Conversely, population declines are projected for the 5-14 age group and the 55-64 age group.