2020 update highlights

Maranoa LGA

Roma

• Population remained steady in 2020, though there was a slight increase in the number of NRWs in town.
• The unemployment rate decreased 1.2% to 3.5% in 2020, this rate was last seen in 2017.
• Average taxable income increased 5% to $72k following an upward trend from 2015. While there was little change in the number of earners, the total earnings increased 6% in 2018/19.
• The number of small NPP businesses increased in 2019/20 while the agricultural production followed the declining trend established in 2009.
• House sales increase by 62% in 2020, sale price and rent increase 6% and 4% respectively, to $243,750 and $255.
• Crime rates in Roma are all approaching their historic rates, notably traffic offences fell 40%.

Roma Region

• While the Roma Regional population has been steadily decreasing since 2011, the local Wallumbilla population has remained steady.
• The unemployment rate in the region remains very low at 1.8%, it is a quarter of the Queensland rate.
• Average taxable income did see a slight rise in 2018/19 but otherwise continues being quite stable. All individual’s income was 19% less than the year prior at $31k in 2018/19 and $39k in 2017/18. Small increases were seen in the number of earners and the total earnings.
• There has been little change in the number or composition of businesses in the region in 2019/20.
• While the number of house sales increased 80% in 2020, the average sale price decreased 10% from $78k to $70K. Rent also decreased 7%.
• Crime rates have always remained low compared to other towns in the area, but traffic and drug offences especially, are down significantly in 2020 to historical rates.

Toowoomba LGA

Toowoomba

• Toowoomba’s population continues to increase, largely driven by Toowoomba – West which is seeing the greatest change. NRWs are present but minimal.
• The unemployment rate increased across Toowoomba in 2020, with Harlaxton and Toowoomba – Central staying well above the Queensland rate.
• Average taxable income continued to increase in 2018/19 mirroring the Queensland average. Number of earners and total earnings also, stayed on their upward trend.
• The total count of businesses did see a small decrease. For NPP this was mostly as businesses moved towards the top or bottom bracket. Agricultural businesses in Toowoomba saw the largest decline with 15% fewer businesses in 2019/20.
• The number of house sales increased 46% in 2020 but the sale price did not move. Weekly rent decreased by 20%.
• Traffic offences decreased in 2020, getting closer to the historic rate. Theft and good order offences are at or close to the historic rate, while drug offences increased again. There have been several police operations in the Darling Downs targeting drug and related offences.

Isaac LGA

Moranbah

• There has been little change in the Moranbah local or regional population in 2020 and only a slight decrease in the number of NRWs.
• The unemployment rate remains below 2%, one-third of the Queensland rate.
• Average taxable income increased 5% to $109k and average all individual’s income by 6% to $94k, both are well above the Queensland average of $75k. The number and amount of total earnings for Moranbah continued its upward trend.
• The count NPP businesses follows its four-year increasing trend, seen mostly in the middle brackets. Agricultural businesses have been trending down for the past three years, with a loss of the top bracket in 2019/20. Overall, there was slight increase in the count of businesses.
• House sales increased 96% in 2020, sale price 25% to $270,000 and rent 16% to $360.
• Traffic offences in Moranbah maintain their two-year high, close to double the Queensland rate. While drug offences are still lower in 2020, they are higher than the historic rate. Both theft and good order offence rates continued decreasing into 2020.

Dysart

• Regional and local populations appear to have stabilised their decline this year. NRWs in town follow the five-year stable trend.
• The unemployment rate remained at 2.2%, well below Queensland’s 6.6% in 2020.
• Average taxable income has been generally declining since 2014/15 but saw a 5% increase to $99k in 2018/19, $14k more than the Queensland average. The all-individuals income rose 7% to 87k. Total earnings also increased by 12%.
• The total count of businesses has seen little change in 2019/20.
• The number of house sales increased 20% in 2020, with an average increase in sale price of 17%. Rent increased 23% to $245.
• The theft offence rate has continued its five-year decline. The good order offence rate has increased by 2 points from 3.2 in 2019 to 5.2 per 1000 in 2020. Following targeted drug busts by police in the Dysart, Middlemount, and Mackay area in 2019 and 2020, the drug offence rate increased.

Narrabri LGA (New This Year!)

Narrabri

• Narrabri’s population has been declining over the past 20 years, at present it is only 3% lower than 2000. However, for the Narrabri Region it is 16% lower; conversely, New South Wales has increased its population by 25%.
• The unemployment rate stabilised after a downward trend at or below 5.5% in 2020, this is lower than the 6.1% seen in New South Wales.
• Income in and around Narrabri remained steady in 2018/19 relative to the year prior. Average taxable income has increased by 22% ($13k) over the past eight years from $59k to $72k. There has been an increase in the count of smaller businesses in 2019/20, those with a turnover of $100k or less, in both the NPP and agricultural sectors. Aside from a small positive step-change in the Narrabri Region agricultural businesses in 2012/13, the regions businesses have a steady trend.
• Housing - price and rent >, number of sales up in 2019. House sales did increase by 23% in 2020, but this is only a little over half the number of sales made in 2018 and slightly more than 2017. Sale price decreased by 5% to $273,000 and weekly rents increased an average of 4% in 2020.
• Crime - theft is high, drugs always low, assault has been decreasing. The past six-years has seen a general decline in offence rates. While the theft offence rate has always been high, over the past 20 years it has decreased 50% from 99 in 1000 people to 49 in 1000.