Fraser Coast
Hervey Bay is a dynamic coastal city of around 60,000 residents situated approximately 300 kilometres north of Brisbane. It originally consisted of a number of coastal townships such as Pialba, Scarness, Torquay and Urangan, that existed along a 15 kilometre shoreline adjacent to Fraser Island. These settlements grew to merge into the single urban area officially known since September 1977 as Hervey Bay. The main urban area of Hervey Bay now stretches from Gatakers Bay in the north to River Heads in the south, and incorporates Point Vernon, Pialba, Scarness, Torquay and Urangan as suburbs. Hervey Bay is the gateway to the world heritage listed Fraser Island and has become a tourist and lifestyle destination in its own right.
Population
Hervey Bay had an official population of 60,746 as at 30 June 2008, an increase of 4.5% from its population of58,116 as at 30 June 2007. With a comparative population of 21,494 in 1986, Hervey Bay is one of the fastest growing cities in Australia. Figure 1 shows the population growth history of Hervey Bay in recent years. Population growth over the period has averaged 5.3% per annum which is well in excess of State and national averages. Even though population growth slowed significantly from 1997 to 2002, to average only 2.3% per annum during these years, it still remained higher than the corresponding State average during the period of 1.8% per annum.
Official State Government projections indicate that Hervey Bay’s population will reach approximately 105,800 residents in 2031, which if they eventuate, will represent a future growth rate averaging just 2.6% per annum, substantially lower than current growth rates.
Industries
Whilst tourism is very much the backbone of Hervey Bay's economy, industries catering to its high population growth, such as building and service industries, have also developed a major presence in the local industrial base. Other industries include sugarcane, horticulture, beef cattle and fishing. Hervey Bay leverages significantly from its location as the main access point to Fraser Island which lies immediately to its east. It is also individually recognised for Whale Watch activities that take place from the city in July through to early November.
During the twelve months to March 2009 the Fraser Coast region attracted a total of 1,032,000 overnight visitors,
of whom about 80% were domestic visitors and 20% were international visitors. These visitors spent a total of4.35 million visitor nights in the region, indicating an average length of stay of 4.2 nights. The value of tourism spending in the Fraser Coast region during 2007 (inclusive of domestic day tripper spending) was in the order of $525 million per annum. Accommodation occupancy rates are not as seasonal as other Queensland tourist destinations, but nevertheless peak during the whale watching months of July to October.
Tourism development and employment opportunities in the region were given a major impetus during 2005 by a$13 million upgrade to Hervey Bay Airport to allow it to accommodate jet aircraft, which culminated in Virgin Blue and Jetstar commencing services into Hervey Bay Airport direct from Sydney. The two airlines increased both flight frequency and aircraft size, and provided together eleven direct flights from Sydney into Hervey Bay per week, with transfers from Melbourne, Adelaide and Perth. However due to the economic slowdown and lack of
consumer spending Jetstar ceased flights on 30 July 2009 until further notice.
Qantas also provides up to 4flights per day to and from Brisbane. The flights have significantly extended the visitor base to the region, and are steadily expanding tourism development and employment opportunities.
Hervey Bay leverages significantly from its location as the main access point to Fraser Island
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