Time to Grow Up: Why the Sunshine Coast is the Smart Investor’s SEQ Play

We’ve said it before. Our friend Bernard Salt’s now saying it again. And if you’re paying attention, the signs couldn’t be clearer: the Sunshine Coast isn’t just part of South East Queensland’s growth story, it’s leading it.

What’s changing now is the scale and urgency of the opportunity. This region is no longer just riding the overflow from Brisbane. It’s shaping up to be the beating heart of a future SEQ conurbation: a digitally connected, economically diverse, nationally significant city in its own right.

But while the potential is enormous, so too are the growing pains. And that’s where savvy investors come in.

From Regional to Remarkable: The Case for the Coast

We’ve long outlined why the Sunshine Coast is set to outperform. Our annual comprehensive research reports have shown the data, and Bernard Salt has backed it up, that this region is on track to meet every criterion for becoming one of Australia’s next great cities.

Here’s just a taste of what sets it apart:

• A purpose-built, greenfield CBD larger than Brisbane’s footprint.
• The only regional city globally with international subsea cable connectivity (a game-changer for digital industries).
• Australia’s largest health precinct in the Southern Hemisphere.
• $19.5 billion in infrastructure investment.
• A booming population and economic engine that’s still in its early stages.

This is not speculative growth, it’s strategic momentum. And when combined with lifestyle desirability, it’s no wonder this region continues to stand out as the #1 residential investment location for the decade to come .

The Bottleneck: Why the System Can’t Keep Up

But here’s the tension: despite the region’s massive upside, planning and delivery are still stuck in the past.

Too much autonomy has been handed to local councils, and it’s created a mess of inconsistent outcomes. Two identical blocks of land, one in Maroochydore, one in Logan, can be treated entirely differently under their respective planning schemes. That’s not strategy. That’s dysfunction.

The Sunshine Coast Regional Plan, once hailed as a model, is now a patchwork of missed targets, mismatched zoning, and a planning framework that cannot respond to today’s demand, let alone what’s coming. Councils are left trying to interpret planning rules with one eye on their voter base and the other on their limited powers.

Meanwhile, the community is dealing with the fallout: a housing crisis, rental shortages, and first-time homelessness at record levels.

What’s the result? A structural undersupply that won’t be resolved in our lifetime without radical reform.

We Need a Bigger Vision and a Smarter Plan

This is why Salt’s call for regional unity matters. What SEQ needs now is better coordination, not more council control. Parochial politics and NIMBY (not in my back yard) resistance are choking the system. We need upskilled, accountable planning professionals and a cohesive, state-led strategy that sees this region as a critical part of the national economic framework, not just a beachside council area.

The Sunshine Coast subsea cables alone should have triggered a federal strategy. This isn’t a local asset, it’s a national digital artery. Yet we’re still letting local councils fumble around trying to plan infrastructure around it?

The truth is, a Great City is not built in silos. It’s built through collaboration across local, state and federal levels. And if we want to deliver services, housing and opportunity that matches the demand we need to start planning like the conurbation we’re becoming.

What Does This Mean for Investors?

Here’s the good news: while the system wrestles with its growing pains, investors have a window of opportunity and a vital role to play.

Right now, demand is exploding, and supply is simply unable to keep up. Not just in volume but in product type. We’re missing the “middle” of the market: townhomes, terraces, dual-keys, and small lot house-and-land that cater to singles, couples, downsizers and renters .

With the average Sunshine Coast household now just 1–2 people, and a generational economic shift underway, the opportunity lies in delivering what the system currently can’t:

• Smaller, smarter housing in walkable, high-amenity locations.
• Investment stock that generates yield today and growth tomorrow.
• Properties that help solve the crisis while growing your portfolio.

This is where investors become part of the solution and position themselves for long-term gain.

The Bottom Line: Invest With Vision

This isn’t just about riding the next wave of growth. It’s about understanding the structural shift and acting accordingly. While councils resist change and governments scramble to catch up, the investors who move now with strategy, clarity and the right partnerships will be the ones who benefit most.

The Sunshine Coast stands out. Not by accident but by design. The vision is already forming. The fundamentals are in place. The demand is real.

The only question is: will you be part of it?