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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
Curious about local property values? Filter the chart to assess the volume and appreciation (including resales) trends and regional comparisons, or scroll to the map below view this information at an individual property level.
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Population
Meringandan West lies within the top quartile of areas nationally for population growth performance according to AreaSearch analysis of recent, and medium to long-term trends
Based on ABS population updates and AreaSearch analysis, the estimated population of the suburb of Meringandan West is around 3256 as of May 2026. This reflects an increase of 768 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 2488. The change is inferred from AreaSearch's estimation of 3223 residents following examination of ABS ERP data release in June 2025 and an additional 227 validated new addresses since the Census date. This results in a density ratio of 195 persons per square kilometer, indicating significant space per person and potential room for development. Meringandan West's growth of 30.9% since the 2021 census exceeded both SA3 area (9.2%) and SA4 region growth rates, marking it as a regional growth leader. Interstate migration contributed approximately 59.0% of overall population gains during recent periods, with natural growth and overseas migration also being positive factors.
AreaSearch adopts ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 using 2022 as the base year. For areas not covered by this data and years post-2032, Queensland State Government's SA2 area projections released in 2023 based on 2021 data are adopted. However, these state projections do not provide age category splits, so AreaSearch applies proportional growth weightings from ABS Greater Capital Region projections released in 2023 using 2022 data for each age cohort. Looking ahead with demographic trends, above median population growth is projected for Australia's non-metropolitan areas, with the suburb expected to grow by 585 persons to 2041 based on aggregated SA2-level projections, reflecting a total increase of 16.9% over the 16 years.
Frequently Asked Questions - Population
Development
AreaSearch assessment of residential development activity positions Meringandan West among the top 25% of areas assessed nationwide
Meringandan West recorded approximately 44 residential property approvals per year over the past five financial years, totalling an estimated 224 homes. As of FY-26, 18 approvals have been granted. On average, each dwelling built between FY-21 and FY-25 attracted around 2.5 new residents annually, indicating strong demand which may support property values. The average construction cost value for new homes was $469,000, slightly above the regional average.
This financial year, $583,000 in commercial approvals have been registered, reflecting the area's residential nature. Compared to the Rest of Qld, Meringandan West has 201.0% more new home approvals per person, offering buyers greater choice despite recent moderation in development activity. This high level of developer confidence is also evident when compared nationally. New development primarily consists of detached houses (98.0%), preserving the area's low-density nature and attracting space-seeking buyers. With around 94 people per dwelling approval, Meringandan West exhibits growth area characteristics.
According to AreaSearch's latest quarterly estimate, the area will gain approximately 552 residents by 2041. At current development rates, new housing supply should comfortably meet demand, creating favourable conditions for buyers and potentially supporting population growth beyond current projections.
Frequently Asked Questions - Development
Development applications around Meringandan West
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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
Meringandan West has very high levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 10% nationally
No infrastructure changes have been identified by AreaSearch that could impact the area. Key projects include the Toowoomba Second Range Crossing (TSRC), Central Highfields Activation Project (Infrastructure), Toowoomba Day Surgery Theatre, and Clifford Park Special School - Relocation of Denise Kable Centre.
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INFRASTRUCTURE SEARCH
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Frequently Asked Questions - Infrastructure
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.
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.
Toowoomba Second Range Crossing (TSRC)
The Toowoomba Bypass, officially known as the Toowoomba Second Range Crossing, is a 41-kilometre, $1.6 billion major road bypass. It provides a safer and faster link in the National Land Transport Network by connecting the Warrego Highway at Helidon Spa to the Gore Highway at Athol. Key infrastructure includes the 800-metre Multuggerah Viaduct, 24 bridges, 6 interchanges, and a 30-metre deep rock cutting as an alternative to a tunnel. The project removes 80% of heavy commercial vehicles from Toowoomba's CBD, saves up to 40 minutes in travel time, and avoids 18 sets of traffic lights. It was delivered via a Public-Private Partnership by the Nexus Infrastructure consortium for the Queensland Government.
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.
Inland Rail - Gowrie to Kagaru (G2K)
The 128km Gowrie to Kagaru (G2K) section is the most technically complex link of the Inland Rail, featuring the 6.2km Toowoomba Range tunnel. As of May 2026, the project is under intense assessment following the revised draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) public consultation held in late 2025. While the Australian Government has prioritized sections between Beveridge and Parkes for 2027 completion, G2K remains in the approvals phase with a project declaration lapse date currently set for July 1, 2026. The route is divided into three subsections: Gowrie to Helidon, Helidon to Calvert, and Calvert to Kagaru.
Proposed Inland Rail Tunnel (Gowrie to Brisbane Port)
The Gowrie to Kagaru section is the most complex part of the Inland Rail program, featuring a 6.2km tunnel through the Toowoomba Range and an 850m tunnel through the Little Liverpool Range. As of May 2026, the federal government has announced a major scope realignment, reallocating 1.75 billion AUD to other rail upgrades and focusing on completing the Beveridge to Parkes sections by 2027. While sections like Helidon to Calvert and Calvert to Kagaru remain under assessment with the Queensland Coordinator-General, the full connection to Brisbane Port is now targeted for 2036 following significant budget reviews.
Inland Rail - Queensland Sections
The Queensland sections of Inland Rail comprise four sub-projects: NSW/Queensland Border to Gowrie (B2G), Gowrie to Helidon (G2H), Helidon to Calvert (H2C) and Calvert to Kagaru (C2K). Combined, they were planned to deliver around 350km of new and upgraded dual-gauge track linking the existing rail network at the NSW border, near Yelarbon, through Toowoomba and on to Kagaru south of Brisbane, including a 6.2km tunnel through the Toowoomba Range and a 985m tunnel through the Teviot Range. A proposed intermodal terminal at Ebenezer would form the northern double-stack endpoint. On 6 May 2026, the Australian Government announced that Inland Rail would be consolidated, with construction to be completed only between Beveridge in Victoria and Parkes in New South Wales by the end of 2027 after an independent cost review by ACIL Allen estimated the full Melbourne to Brisbane corridor would cost more than 45 billion dollars. Works north of Parkes, including all Queensland sections, will now focus on preservation of the rail corridor and protection of sites for future intermodal terminals at Gowrie and Ebenezer. Environmental approvals and selected land acquisitions are expected to continue. The Queensland Coordinator-General previously extended the coordinated project declaration lapse dates to November 2029 while revised EIS information for the Border to Gowrie and Gowrie to Helidon projects is finalised. Any future delivery of the Queensland sections is now subject to a separate Australian Government decision, with completion not expected before 2036 if reactivated.
Inland Rail - NSW/Queensland Border to Gowrie (B2G)
The Border to Gowrie (B2G) section of Inland Rail involves 217km of track, comprising 149km of new dual-gauge track and 68km of upgraded track. This segment links the NSW/QLD border to Gowrie Junction, passing through Yelarbon, Inglewood, and Millmerran. As of May 2026, the project is in the environmental approvals stage. The Queensland Coordinator-General recently extended the project declaration lapse date to 1 November 2029 to allow for additional environmental information and design refinements in response to 2025 community feedback. Major construction is anticipated to commence in 2029.
Employment
AreaSearch analysis of employment trends sees Meringandan West performing better than 90% of local markets assessed across Australia
Meringandan West had an unemployment rate of 1.7% as of December 2025, based on AreaSearch's aggregation of statistical area data. This figure was below Regional Qld's rate of 4.0%. Workforce participation in the area was high at 72.8%, compared to Regional Qld's 64.5%.
According to Census responses, a low 8.0% of residents worked from home. The key industries of employment among residents were health care & social assistance, construction, and education & training. Manufacturing showed notable concentration with employment levels at 1.5 times the regional average. Conversely, accommodation & food services had lower representation at 4.8% compared to Regional Qld's 8.3%.
Between December 2024 and December 2025, the labour force decreased by 1.8%, while employment decreased by 2.3%, leading to a rise in unemployment of 0.4 percentage points. In comparison, Regional Qld saw employment growth of 0.7% and labour force growth of 1.0%. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 suggest that Meringandan West's employment should increase by 6.2% over five years and 13.3% over ten years, based on industry-specific projections applied to the local employment mix.
Frequently Asked Questions - Employment
Income
The area exhibits notably strong income performance, ranking higher than 70% of areas assessed nationally through AreaSearch analysis
According to AreaSearch's aggregation of ATO data released for financial year 2023, Meringandan West had a median income among taxpayers of $60,308 and an average income of $71,698. These figures are higher than the national averages of $53,146 and $66,593 for Regional Qld respectively. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 11.36% since financial year 2023, estimated median income as of March 2026 would be approximately $67,159, with average income around $79,843. According to the 2021 Census, incomes in Meringandan West rank between the 76th and 77th percentiles nationally for households, families, and individuals. Income distribution shows that 45.2% of residents (1,471 individuals) fall within the $1,500 - 2,999 income range, similar to regional levels where 31.7% occupy this range. Housing accounts for 13.5% of income, and residents rank highly in disposable income at the 80th percentile. The area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 5th decile.
Frequently Asked Questions - Income
Housing
Meringandan West is characterized by a predominantly suburban housing profile, with ownership patterns similar to the broader region
Dwelling structure in Meringandan West, as evaluated at the Census 2016, comprised 99.6% houses and 0.4% other dwellings. In Regional Qld, it was 76.4% houses and 23.6% other dwellings. Home ownership in Meringandan West was 22.9%, with mortgaged dwellings at 67.2% and rented at 9.9%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,650, below Regional Qld's average of $1,863. Median weekly rent was $400, higher than the national figure of $375 but lower than Regional Qld's $345.
Frequently Asked Questions - Housing
Household Composition
Meringandan West features high concentrations of family households, with a higher-than-average median household size
Family households constitute 88.0% of all households, including 51.3% couples with children, 27.9% couples without children, and 7.6% single parent families. Non-family households account for the remaining 12.0%, with lone person households at 11.7% and group households comprising 0.8%. The median household size is 3.1 people, which is larger than the Regional Queensland average of 2.5.
Frequently Asked Questions - Households
Local Schools & Education
Educational attainment in Meringandan West aligns closely with national averages, showing typical qualification patterns and performance metrics
The area's university qualification rate is 17.5%, significantly lower than Australia's average of 30.4%. This presents both a challenge and an opportunity for targeted educational initiatives. Bachelor degrees are the most common at 13.4%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (2.1%) and graduate diplomas (2.0%). Trade and technical skills are prominent, with 48.8% of residents aged 15+ holding vocational credentials – advanced diplomas (12.0%) and certificates (36.8%).
Educational participation is high, with 34.6% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 15.5% in primary education, 10.8% in secondary education, and 2.7% pursuing tertiary education.
Frequently Asked Questions - Education
Schools Detail
Nearby Services & Amenities
Transport
No public transport data available for this catchment area.
Frequently Asked Questions - Transport
Transport Stops Detail
Health
Health outcomes in Meringandan West are marginally below the national average with common health conditions somewhat prevalent across both younger and older age cohorts
Meringandan West shows below-average health outcomes based on AreaSearch's assessment of mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence. Common health conditions are somewhat prevalent across both younger and older age cohorts.
Private health cover is very high at approximately 56% of the total population (~1,810 people), compared to 52.5% in Regional Qld. Mental health issues impact 8.1% of residents, while asthma affects 7.7%. A total of 73.5% declare themselves completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 67.6% across Regional Qld. Health outcomes among the working-age population are typical. The area has 9.5% of residents aged 65 and over (309 people), lower than the 20.4% in Regional Qld. Health outcomes among seniors present some challenges, with national rankings broadly in line with the general population.
Frequently Asked Questions - Health
Cultural Diversity
The latest Census data sees Meringandan West placing among the least culturally diverse areas in the country when compared across a range of language and cultural background related metrics
Meringandan West, surveyed in June 2016, had a population where 91.7% were born in Australia, 95.4% were citizens, and 98.3% spoke English only at home. Christianity was the predominant religion, accounting for 59.6% of the population, compared to 52.2% regionally. The top three ancestry groups were Australian (34.2%), English (29.4%), and German (8.7%).
Notably, South Australian ancestry was higher at 0.7%, Welsh at 0.6%, and Dutch at 1.4%, compared to regional averages of 0.5%, 0.5%, and 1.1% respectively.
Frequently Asked Questions - Diversity
Age
Meringandan West hosts a very young demographic, ranking in the bottom 10% of areas nationwide
At age 32 years, Meringandan West's median age is significantly lower than Regional Queensland's average of 41 and substantially under the Australian median of 38. Compared to Regional Queensland, Meringandan West has a higher proportion of residents aged 5-14 (19.1%) but fewer residents aged 75-84 (1.9%). This concentration of 5-14 year-olds is well above the national average of 12.0%. Between the 2021 Census and the present, the proportion of residents aged 15 to 24 has grown from 11.0% to 12.4%, while those aged 65 to 74 increased from 5.5% to 6.9%. Conversely, the proportion of residents aged 45 to 54 has declined from 11.2% to 8.4%, and the 5-14 age group dropped from 20.8% to 19.1%. By 2041, demographic modeling suggests that Meringandan West's age profile will change significantly. The 25 to 34 age cohort is projected to grow strongest at 34%, adding 156 residents to reach a total of 622. Conversely, the 15 to 24 age group is expected to decrease by 1 resident.