- Ranked the third-fastest growth area in Queensland
- Median house price increased 6.7 per cent over the past year
- More and more people migrating to lifestyle areas
Suppose you’re considering a sea change and are drawing up a shortlist of beachside suburbs that match a relaxed lifestyle with shopping, restaurants, outdoor activities and a world-class beach, the Sunshine Coast suburb of Peregian Springs might be on your list.
You’ll be in good company – as it is, currently, one of the most popular places to move to in Queensland, according to recent ABS statistics, which rank it the third-fastest growth area in Queensland.
The suburb reported a population of 3,949 in the 2011 Census, which skyrocketed to 7,065 in 2016 (+79%) as people flocked to the stunning location. With a median age of 38 years, the suburb is also popular with young families.
Growing pains avoided
A surge in popularity can be troublesome for a suburb, especially one by the beach, but Peregian has not succumbed to such issues.
That’s because master-planned communities, such as Peregian Springs, are designed with long-term growth in mind and offer consistently well-managed living conditions throughout their growth trajectory to full maturity.
Added to this, the local council has worked to be responsive to the community’s needs through this growth phase, adding new sporting facilities and consulting on additional outdoor spaces for teenagers to use.
An active local community group is now hoping to find funding for a bicycle overpass crossing the Emu Mountain Road motorway to link Peregian Springs with Peregian Beach.
Environmental focus
An added benefit to being a well-planned community is the opportunity to build in environment-nurturing programs.
Local businesses participate in a community veggie garden program, with organic food waste collected and added to compost for local community gardens.
This is cutting down on waste produced by businesses, reducing waste management costs and contributing to community greening efforts with edible and ornamental gardens as part of the public space.
Common with many master-planned communities, the 18-hole golf course and schools are also top-notch.
Peregian Springs State School caters to students from Prep to Year 6, and St Andrew’s Anglican College is an award-winning school that caters from K-12.
One suburb over, and you have additional school choices on offer, only a few minutes drive away.
No story about Peregian Springs would be complete without mentioning the outstanding nearby Peregian Beach, which often finds itself on the list of ‘must-visit’ beaches of the Sunshine Coast.
Buying a slice of Peregian paradise
Despite the strong population growth, property prices have remained stable, supported by good supply levels and a well-structured release plan.
As a result, this suburb is an affordable option for those seeking a sea change. The most recent data shows that the median house price in Peregian Springs increased 6.7 per cent over the past year to be about $672,000.
Peregian Springs (postcode 4573)
[Select part of the chart to zoom in on various years, and ‘reset zoom’ button to return]
Sitting within the booming Sunshine Coast region, Peregian Springs is set for good times ahead as more and more people choose to migrate to lifestyle areas.
In fact, the number of people leaving cities and heading to major regional areas such as the coast has risen strongly over the past year, which is a phenomenon set to grow in the years to come.
Those with an eye on the glittery blue horizon are setting themselves up now by buying or upgrading into one of the Sunshine Coast’s most desirable locations.
