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(By Yasmin Zeinab and Taegen Joyce - Bond University journalism students)
A number of Varsity Lakes residents said they were rethinking their housing options in light of the area’s projected growth estimates.
The completion of South Bay, the final development project at Varsity Lakes, would add about another 90 homes this year.
A recent survey found 11 of 20 current Varsity Lakes residents said they were reassessing living in a high-density community.
Varsity Lakes resident Kyle Willebrands said living in a planned community with a rapidly increasing population was not for everyone.
“It is really dependent on each individual’s lifestyle, Varsity Lakes has come a long away since its establishment in terms of development,” she said.
“I think people who have been living in the area for a while are reconsidering their options in terms of space, South Bay is going to considerably add to the population.”
According to Delfin’s website the population growth of 8.9 per cent was one of the highest in Australia.
Delfin Marketing Manager Abbey Trumen said the average lot size in South Bay was 391 square meters, nearly half of the average lot size of South East Queensland, according the Australian Property Council.
Former Varsity Lakes resident Elisa Cordova said the high-destiny community no longer suited her lifestyle.
“While Varsity Lakes boasts many facilities, such as restaurants, schools and shops all within in close proximity, it has a high population for a small space and it just has continued to grow,” she said.
“My partner and I are getting married in December so we want to live somewhere with a bit more space and privacy".
“We felt as though everybody kind of lives on top of each other in Varsity because it’s quite a dense area.”
The Australian Bureau of Statistics projected the population to rise to from 8700 to 30,200 by 2010.
While some residents have been deterred by Varsity's increasing population, Varsity Lakes resident Letitia Ng Liet Hing said she felt the high-density living had created a strong sense of community.
"Because we all live so close together and Delfin continually organise community events, like the Christmas carols and pet show, we've become a close-knit community,” she said.
"I think other areas should use Varsity as a reference to organise their own community initiatives.”
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