READERS DISCUSS: What does it mean to be a Coast local?
BORN in Caloundra hospital and still live up the road?
Moved for uni and started working in the region?
A new Australian citizen looking for a lifestyle change?
There's many reasons why people move to the Sunshine Coast but the question still remains, what constitutes a "Coast local" these days?
Demography expert, University of Queensland Professor Martin Bell says the Coast population is growing by 4000 people each year.
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: DEMOGRAPHER REVEALS WHAT IT MEANS TO BE COAST LOCAL
The population of the Coast has increased from 263,053 in 2010 to about 307,000 now. Australian Bureau of Statistics data from recent years shows the number of births has dropped just a little and the number of deaths has increased as the population in the region has grown and got steadily older.
RELATED: 25 WAYS YOU KNOW YOU GREW UP ON THE SUNSHINE COAST
He said most of the growth in the past five years on the Sunshine Coast was due to a "pretty substantial inwards migration".
People were moving to the Coast from neighbouring cities and towns, but also from much more distant places.
A third of the people who came to the Coast moved from interstate, and a fifth from overseas.
The rest came from other parts of Queensland.
So, what does it really mean to be a "true Sunshine Coast local these days?". A demographer has found born and bred...
Posted by Sunshine Coast Daily on Sunday, 19 July 2015
As the debate continues, here's a few of your Sunshine Coast stories from our Facebook page.
Bob Morrow: If you live here you are a local, simple!
Sapphy Mienert: Born in Brisbane (out of necessity- was premature) but lived on the Coast until
I went to uni at 19, and am coming back after I've done my degree. Mum was born in Nambour and dad moved to the Coast when he was 10 or so. I think that counts!
LM Watson: If you've gone to the Superbee, took a ride on the train at Nostalgia Town, slide down the Blackhole, knew the loo before it had a view, had to wait for the cane train to pass in the middle of town, if you've seen a gig at The Galaxy, fed the deer from your car window, walked through the Big Cow and are still living here then you are a local.
Nicholas Black: Someone who loves and respects their given community/location, no matter how long you've lived there.
Brenton J Murray: Diversity is beautiful.
Bec Harding: I was born at C aloundra Hospital-35 years later I'm still here. My mum was born here she's 61 and still here.
Erica Stuart-Russell: 23 years on the coast, arrived from Toowoomba when I was three. I know this place like the back of my hand!
