Analyst predicts bright future for Gladstone property market
Respected property analyst Matt Gross from The National Property Research Co recently outlined a bright long-term future for Gladstone with strong population growth predicted for the next 20 years.
“Gladstone LGA’s population is expected to grow by 77% from 62,986 in 2011 to 111,685 in 2031. This scale of population increase would provide demand for an additional 16,452 dwellings for the region within the next 20 years.
“Given that very little additional supply is being planned for Gladstone, we anticipate that 2014 will be a year of consolidation and there is an expectation that quality land which is close to infrastructure such as shopping, schools and leisure activities will be in short supply in the near future,” he said.
Meanwhile a report from leading property agent and analyst Simon Pressley from Propertyology indicated that nickel could be behind the next Gladstone property revival.
The Propertyology report stated that World demand for gas, iron ore, and coal has previously influenced property markets in Australia, and this could now be repeated through impending demand for nickel.
Nickel plays an important role in modern life as it is being used in many alloys including stainless steel. Increasing demand from Asia as well as the growth of battery-powered cars and portable devices such as smart phones and tablets, all requiring batteries which require nickel.
Australian is currently the World’s fourth largest producer of nickel with 11.4 per cent, behind Russia, Indonesia and the Philippines. However with 24.4 per cent of known reserves, Australia could even become number one according to the Propertyology report.
With a major nickel refinery operating in Townsville, Mining magnate Clive Palmer also has a major share in Gladstone Pacific Nickel Ltd which proposes a $3.5 billion nickel and cobalt refinery adjacent to the Port of Gladstone. Mr Palmer also owns nickel mines in the Marlborough area north of Gladstone.
For full report Click Here.