DOCSLIB.ORG

Northern Rivers Housing Study

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Northern Rivers Housing Study Northern Rivers Housing Study Report commissioned by North Coast Community Housing December 2013 Dr Tony Gilmour Housing Action Network 13 December 2013 ISBN 978-0-9874308-3-0 Published by Housing Action Network Pty Ltd. Studio 56 / 61 Marlborough Street, Surry Hills NSW 2010 Prepared by Dr Tony Gilmour, Housing Action Network, with assistance from George Porter www.housingaction.net.au Northern Rivers Housing Study – December 2013 2 Contents Executive Summary 6 Definitions 8 1 Background 9 1.1 Regional Characteristics 9 1.2 Regional planning 10 1.3 Planning for affordable housing 12 2 Regional Social and Economic Drivers 15 2.1 Migration 15 2.2 Population forecasts 15 2.3 Housing demand 17 2.4 Housing supply 18 3 Housing Market Analysis 22 3.1 Existing housing stock and tenure 22 3.2 Regional housing costs 23 3.3 Housing affordability 23 3.4 Social housing 29 3.5 Demand for social housing 33 3.6 Specific housing needs 36 4 Conclusions 39 4.1 Regional issues 39 4.2 Housing supply 39 4.3 Special housing needs 40 References 42 Northern Rivers Housing Study – December 2013 3 List of Tables Table 1: Council affordable housing strategies 12 Table 2: Regional population projections to 2036 16 Table 3: Household composition, 2011 17 Table 4: Population by age, 2011 18 Table 5: Housing demand to 2036 18 Table 6: Housing supply and demand 19 Table 7: Occupied dwellings supply and demand 19 Table 8: Housing type, 2011 22 Table 9: Housing tenure, 2011 22 Table 10: Household weekly income, 2006-11 24 Table 11: Selected employment, 2011 26 Table 12: Occupation sample, 2011 26 Table 13: Renters in housing stress, 2011 27 Table 14: Affordable rental stock, Sep 2012 27 Table 15: Purchasers in housing stress, 2011 28 Table 16: Affordable purchase stock, Sep 2012 28 Table 17: Social housing stock at Jun 2012 30 Table 18: Social housing mix, 2007 31 Table 19: NRAS progress to Mar 2013 32 Table 20: Social housing waiting list, Jun 2012 33 Table 21: Applicants housed, year to Jun 2012 34 Table 22: Homelessness 2011 37 Northern Rivers Housing Study – December 2013 4 List of Figures Figure 1: Study area 9 Figure 2: Far North Coast plan 11 Figure 3: Mid North Coast, northern section 11 Figure 4: Population forecasts in study area 16 Figure 5: Population change, 2001-2036 17 Figure 6: Property rental costs, 2008-12 23 Figure 7: Property sales prices, 2009-12 23 Figure 8: Households with incomes below $300/week 25 Figure 9: Weekly household income 2011 25 Figure 10: Social housing % of rental dwellings, 2011 29 Figure 11: Social housing waiting times, June 2012 34 Figure 12: Social housing % of rental dwellings, 2011 35 Northern Rivers Housing Study – December 2013 5 Executive Summary North Coast Community Housing (‘NCCH’) The make-up of the housing stock is not matching operates in a part of NSW where population has these changing demographics, with most new grown fast in recent years, and this trend will homes having 3 to 5 bedrooms. continue over the next 25 years. The region will Much of the more affordable housing in the experience increasing issues with housing study area is not well located for lower income affordability which will impact most on lower households. It is also not close to jobs. New income households and disadvantaged groups. housing is generally being built in areas with few Population is predicted to increase by a third facilities and limited public transport access. across the study area by 2036. The strongest The 2011 Census highlights the slow rate of new growth will be in Tweed, close to the Queensland property development. Between 2006 and 2011 border, and in coastal areas around Byron Bay and the supply of new dwellings was only around two Ballina. These will be some of the fastest growing thirds the level required to meet Government’s areas in Australia. projections for population growth. The housing Growth in South East Queensland (SEQ) will supply figures are even worse than this as an impact the northern section of the study area, increasing number of properties, especially on especially northern Tweed LGA. SEQ is expected the coast, are used as second and holiday homes. to house over 1 million extra people in the next Between 2006 and 2011 there was a reduction in 20 years which will impose social, economic and occupied dwellings of 1,351 in the study area. environmental pressures further south. There is particular pressure on private rental Sea-change migration of retirees is a significant markets, with most LGAs in the study area having factor in the region. The greatest housing demand higher rates of housing stress than NSW. Large will continue to be in coastal areas, with limited numbers of purchasers also face affordability growth in the hinterlands and stable or falling problems, with those on very low and low incomes populations further inland. In coastal areas (below 80% of local medium incomes) locked residential parks and mobile home villages are out of home purchase. an important component of local affordable In the Northern Rivers region, the main driver of housing, though they will continue to be under affordability issues is lower incomes. Regional threat from development pressures. incomes are rising at around the average rate Byron, Ballina and Tweed LGAs are already among for NSW, though remain much lower in absolute the most unaffordable in regional NSW. Predicted numbers. Weekly wages in the study area in 2011 high levels of migration to these areas will lead to ranged from $714 in Kyogle to $903 in Ballina. escalating housing prices unless there is a large These contrast with the Gold Coast ($1,173), amount of additional supply. Any worsening of Sydney ($1,447) and Brisbane ($1,388). External the affordability of home ownership, which is purchasers will be better funded for house buying already very limited, will put further pressure in the study area than locals. on rental markets. State Government policies set targets for future The composition of the population continues to levels of housing supply, but not for particular change. Nationally, the proportion of older people price points or size of property. Given the cost of in the population is growing each year, and this producing new housing, and the market prefer- trend is particularly notable in parts of the study ence for larger detached dwellings, market mecha- area which are favoured by retirees. nisms may continue to fail to produce Northern Rivers Housing Study – December 2013 6 affordable homes. Hence an increase in housing public, private and not-for-profit sectors. State supply in faster growing coastal areas may have Government will need to establish more specific little impact on affordability. regional policies, and concentrate resources on improving regional infrastructure. Social rental housing is already in short supply in the study area, at between 2.2% (Byron LGA) and In larger residential development sites in 4.8% (Ballina LGA) of total housing stock in 2011. prime coastal locations, community housing The average for NSW is 5%. Government initiatives organisations may have the opportunity to receive like NRAS have produced few new affordable affordable housing properties supported by rental properties, and funds for social housing developer contributions. New properties need to construction or acquisition are extremely limited. be more geared to occupation, not investment, to As a result, the proportion of social and affordable reverse the trends between 2006 and 2011. housing looks set to continue falling from already There remains a continuing need to renew public low levels. stock properties, and move to mixed tenure Across NSW, only about 10% of people on the communities to reduce concentrations of social housing waiting list are housed each year, disadvantage. NSW Government should be and the list continues to grow. An increasing encouraged to continue the transfer of property proportion of lettings are required for priority management, as occurredin Byron LGA. The applicants. Most regions in the study area have a distance of the Northern Rivers from Sydney may waiting time over five years, and there is a lack of be an advantage in negotiations. small units for single people and couples. Progressive social enterprises such as NCCH The issue of social disadvantage is particularly are well placed to use both traditional and important to community housing providers such market-based approaches to deliver the regional as NCCH. Due to the residualisation of social social and community outcomes required by housing, most new applicants have complex Government. Increasing affordable housing in needs rather than simply being low income. This the fast growing Northern Rivers requires using provides greater challenges than in the past in NCCH’s strong local connections, local leadership supporting tenants and maintaining tenancies. and demonstrated experience in working through cross-sector networks. RECOMMENDATIONS Some councils in the study area, most recently Lismore, have adopted progressive affordable housing policies. These will need to be implemented through partnerships, suggesting an increasing role for the Northern Rivers Housing Forum. Good practice will need to be spread to councils who have so far been less supportive of affordable housing or who have recently reduced funding for these types of initiatives. Efforts will also be needed to ensure the supply of new properties meets demand not just in terms of numbers, but also size, location and affordability. This will require close collaboration between the Northern
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Statistical Areas Level 4 & 3
    Statistical Areas Level 4 & 3 108 Mid North Coast, NEW SOUTH WALES 104104 110110 CoffsCoffs NewNew EnglandEngland HarbourHarbour -- andand GraftonGrafton NorthNorth WestWest 1080210802 KempseyKempsey -- NambuccaNambucca 108108 MidMid NorthNorth CoastCoast 1080410804 1080310803 PortPort MacquarieMacquarie LordLord HoweHowe IslandIsland 1080510805 TareeTaree -- GloucesterGloucester 1080110801 GreatGreat LakesLakes 10801 Great Lakes Statistical Area 3 108 0 200 Based on ASGS 2011 Statistical Area 4 Mid North Coast © Commonwealth of Australia, 2010 Kilometres Statistical Areas Level 3 & 2 10801 Great Lakes, NEW SOUTH WALES 1080510805 TareeTaree -- GloucesterGloucester Tuncurry Forster 1080110801 GreatGreat LakesLakes Forster-Tuncurry Region Smiths Lake ( ( Bulahdelah 1060110601 Bulahdelah - Stroud LowerLower HunterHunter 1060310603 PortPort StephensStephens Forster Statistical Area 2 0 20 Based on ASGS 2011 10801 © Commonwealth of Australia, 2010 Statistical Area 3 Great Lakes Kilometres Major Roads Statistical Areas Level 3 & 2 10802 Kempsey - Nambucca, NEW SOUTH WALES 1040210402 CoffsCoffs HarbourHarbour 1100111001 ArmidaleArmidale VallaValla BeachBeach ( Nambucca Heads Region NambuccaNambucca HeadsHeads MacksvilleMacksville -- MacksvilleMacksville ( ScottsScotts HeadHead 1080210802 KempseyKempsey -- NambuccaNambucca SouthSouth WestWest RocksRocks Kempsey Region SmithtownSmithtown ( Kempsey CrescentCrescent HeadHead ( 1080410804 PortPort MacquarieMacquarie Statistical Area 2 Kempsey 0 20 Based on ASGS 2011 10802 © Commonwealth of Australia,
    [Show full text]
  • Regional Development Australia Mid North Coast
    Mid North Coast [Connected] 14 Prospectus Contents Mid North Coast 3 The Regional Economy 5 Workforce 6 Health and Aged Care 8 Manufacturing 10 Retail 12 Construction 13 Education and Training 14 The Visitor Economy 16 Lord Howe Island 18 Financial and Insurance Services 19 Emerging Industries 20 Sustainability 22 Commercial Land 23 Transport Options 24 Digitally Connected 26 Lifestyle and Housing 28 Glossary of Terms 30 Research Sources 30 How can you connect ? 32 Cover image: Birdon Group Image courtesy of Port Macquarie Hastings Council Graphic Design: Revive Graphics The Mid North Coast prospectus was prepared by Regional Development Australia Mid North Coast. Content by: Justyn Walker, Communications Officer Dr Todd Green, Research & Project Officer We wish to thank the six councils of the Mid North Coast and all the contributors who provided images and information for this publication. MID NORTH COAST NSW RDA Mid North Coast is a not for profit organisation funded by the Federal Government and the NSW State Government. We are made up of local people, developing local solutions for the Mid North Coast. Birdon boat building Image2 Mid cou Northrtesy of PortCoast Macquarie Prospectus Hastings Council Mid North Coast The Mid North Coast is the half-way point connecting Sydney and Brisbane. It comprises an area of 15,070 square kilometres between the Great Divide and the east coast. Our region is made up of six local government areas: Coffs Harbour, Bellingen, Nambucca, Kempsey, Port Macquarie – Hastings and Greater Taree. It also includes the World Heritage Area of Lord Howe Island. It is home to an array of vibrant, modern and sometimes eclectic townships that attract over COFFS 4.9 million visitors each year.
    [Show full text]
  • Northern Rivers Social Profile
    Northern Rivers Social Profile PROJECT PARTNER Level 3 Rous Water Building 218 Molesworth St PO Box 146 LISMORE NSW 2480 tel: 02 6622 4011 fax: 02 6621 4609 email: [email protected] web: www.rdanorthernrivers.org.au Chief Executive Officer: Katrina Luckie This paper was prepared by Jamie Seaton, Geof Webb and Katrina Luckie of RDA – Northern Rivers with input and support from staff of RDA-NR and the Northern Rivers Social Development Council, particularly Trish Evans and Meaghan Vosz. RDA-NR acknowledges and appreciates the efforts made by stakeholders across our region to contribute to the development of the Social Profile. Cover photo Liina Flynn © NRSDC 2013 We respectfully acknowledge the Aboriginal peoples of the Northern Rivers – including the peoples of the Bundjalung, Yaegl and Gumbainggirr nations – as the traditional custodians and guardians of these lands and waters now known as the Northern Rivers and we pay our respects to their Elders past and present. Disclaimer This material is made available by RDA – Northern Rivers on the understanding that users exercise their own skill and care with respect to its use. Any representation, statement, opinion or advice expressed or implied in this publication is made in good faith. RDA – Northern Rivers is not liable to any person or entity taking or not taking action in respect of any representation, statement, opinion or advice referred to above. This report was produced by RDA – Northern Rivers and does not necessarily represent the views of the Australian or New South Wales Governments, their officers, employees or agents. Regional Development Australia Committees are: Table of Contents INTRODUCTION ..................................................................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • The Great Property Crime Drop: a Regional Analysis
    NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research Bureau Brief Issue paper no. 88 July 2013 The Great Property Crime Drop: A regional analysis Don Weatherburn and Jessie Holmes Aim: To describe and discuss regional variation between parts of NSW in the rate at which theft and robbery offences have fallen. Method: Percentage changes in rates of offending in robbery and various categories of theft were calculated for the period 2000 to 2012. Changes in the extent to which rates of crime across areas have become more similar were quantified by comparing the standard deviation in crime rates across areas in 2000 to the standard deviation in crime rates in 2012. Product moment calculations were used to measure (a) the extent to which areas with high crime rates in 2000 also had high crime rates in 2012 and (b) the extent to which areas with the highest crime rates in 2000 had the largest falls in crime in 2012. Results: The fall in property crime and robbery across NSW between 2000 and 2012 has been very uneven; being much larger in Sydney and other urban areas than in rural areas. The fall in theft offence rates ranges from 62 per cent in the Sydney Statistical Division (SD) to 5.9 per cent in the Northern SD. Similarly, the fall in robbery rates ranges from 70.8 per cent in the Sydney SD to 21.9 per cent in the Northern SD. In some areas some offences actually increased. The Murray, Northern, Murrumbidgee, North Western, Hunter and Central West SDs, for example, all experienced an increase in steal from a retail store.
    [Show full text]
  • An Ecological History of the Koala Phascolarctos Cinereus in Coffs Harbour and Its Environs, on the Mid-North Coast of New South Wales, C1861-2000
    An Ecological History of the Koala Phascolarctos cinereus in Coffs Harbour and its Environs, on the Mid-north Coast of New South Wales, c1861-2000 DANIEL LUNNEY1, ANTARES WELLS2 AND INDRIE MILLER2 1Offi ce of Environment and Heritage NSW, PO Box 1967, Hurstville NSW 2220, and School of Biological Sciences, University of Sydney, NSW 2006 ([email protected]) 2Offi ce of Environment and Heritage NSW, PO Box 1967, Hurstville NSW 2220 Published on 8 January 2016 at http://escholarship.library.usyd.edu.au/journals/index.php/LIN Lunney, D., Wells, A. and Miller, I. (2016). An ecological history of the Koala Phascolarctos cinereus in Coffs Harbour and its environs, on the mid-north coast of New South Wales, c1861-2000. Proceedings of the Linnean Society of New South Wales 138, 1-48. This paper focuses on changes to the Koala population of the Coffs Harbour Local Government Area, on the mid-north coast of New South Wales, from European settlement to 2000. The primary method used was media analysis, complemented by local histories, reports and annual reviews of fur/skin brokers, historical photographs, and oral histories. Cedar-cutters worked their way up the Orara River in the 1870s, paving the way for selection, and the fi rst wave of European settlers arrived in the early 1880s. Much of the initial development arose from logging. The trade in marsupial skins and furs did not constitute a signifi cant threat to the Koala population of Coffs Harbour in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. The extent of the vegetation clearing by the early 1900s is apparent in photographs.
    [Show full text]
  • North Coast Bioregion
    171 CHAPTER 14 The North Coast Bioregion 1. Location 2. Climate The North Coast Bioregion runs up the east coast of NSW from just north of The general trend in this bioregion from east to west is from a sub-tropical Newcastle to just inside the Qld border. The total area of the bioregion is climate on the coast with hot summers, through sub-humid climate on the 5,924,130 ha (IBRA 5.1) and the NSW portion is 5,692,351.6 ha or 96.1% of the slopes to a temperate climate in the uplands in the western part of the bioregion. The NSW portion of North Coast Bioregion occupies 7.11% of the bioregion, characterised by warm summers and no dry season. A montane state. climate occurs in a small area in the southwest of the bioregion at higher elevations. The Sydney Basin Bioregion bounds the North Coast Bioregion in the south and the Nandewar and New England Tablelands bioregions lie against its western boundary. The North Coast Bioregion has proven to be a popular 3. Topography place to live, with hundreds of “holiday towns” lining the coast and eastern inland, including Port Macquarie, Ballina, Coffs Harbour, Byron Bay, Tweed The North Coast Bioregion covers northern NSW from the shoreline to the Heads, Lismore, Alstonville, Dorrigo, Forster and Taree. Great Escarpment. Typically, there is a sequence from coastal sand barrier, through low foothills and ranges, to the steep slopes and gorges of the The Tweed, Richmond, Clarence, Coffs Harbour, Bellinger, Nambucca, Macleay, Escarpment itself, with rainfall increasing inland along this transect.
    [Show full text]
  • Vegetation and Flora of Booti Booti National Park and Yahoo Nature Reserve, Lower North Coast of New South Wales
    645 Vegetation and flora of Booti Booti National Park and Yahoo Nature Reserve, lower North Coast of New South Wales. S.J. Griffith, R. Wilson and K. Maryott-Brown Griffith, S.J.1, Wilson, R.2 and Maryott-Brown, K.3 (1Division of Botany, School of Rural Science and Natural Resources, University of New England, Armidale NSW 2351; 216 Bourne Gardens, Bourne Street, Cook ACT 2614; 3Paynes Lane, Upper Lansdowne NSW 2430) 2000. Vegetation and flora of Booti Booti National Park and Yahoo Nature Reserve, lower North Coast of New South Wales. Cunninghamia 6(3): 645–715. The vegetation of Booti Booti National Park and Yahoo Nature Reserve on the lower North Coast of New South Wales has been classified and mapped from aerial photography at a scale of 1: 25 000. The plant communities so identified are described in terms of their composition and distribution within Booti Booti NP and Yahoo NR. The plant communities are also discussed in terms of their distribution elsewhere in south-eastern Australia, with particular emphasis given to the NSW North Coast where compatible vegetation mapping has been undertaken in many additional areas. Floristic relationships are also examined by numerical analysis of full-floristics and foliage cover data for 48 sites. A comprehensive list of vascular plant taxa is presented, and significant taxa are discussed. Management issues relating to the vegetation of the reserves are outlined. Introduction The study area Booti Booti National Park (1586 ha) and Yahoo Nature Reserve (48 ha) are situated on the lower North Coast of New South Wales (32°15'S 152°32'E), immediately south of Forster in the Great Lakes local government area (Fig.
    [Show full text]
  • Maria River, Maria and Kumbatine National Parks Wild River Assessment 2006
    1vertab Maria River, Maria and Kumbatine National Parks Wild River Assessment 2006 December 2006 _________________________________________________________________________________________ Maria Wild River Assessment Report December 2006 Published by: Department of Environment, Climate Change and Water NSW 59–61 Goulburn Street PO Box A290 Sydney South 1232 Report pollution and environmental incidents Environment Line: 131 555 (NSW only) or [email protected] See also www.environment.nsw.gov.au/pollution Phone: (02) 9995 5000 (switchboard) Phone: 131 555 (environment information and publications requests) Phone: 1300 361 967 (national parks information, climate change and energy efficiency information and publications requests) Fax: (02) 9995 5999 TTY: (02) 9211 4723 Email: [email protected] Website: www.environment.nsw.gov.au © Copyright State of NSW and Department of Environment, Climate Change and Water NSW. With the exception of photographs, the Department of Environment, Climate Change and Water and the State of NSW are pleased to allow this material to be reproduced for educational or non-commercial purposes in whole or in part, provided the meaning is unchanged and its source, publisher and authorship are acknowledged. ISBN 978 1 74293 075 6 DECCW 2010/1049 Released by DEC 2006. Web upload to DECCW website December 2010. _________________________________________________________________________________________ Maria Wild River Assessment Report December 2006 Contents Executive Summary……………………………………………………………………. 1 1. Introduction…………………………………………………………………………… 2 1.1 Wild rivers under the National Parks and Wildlife Act………………………………… 2 1.2 Why declare wild rivers?........................................................................................... 2 2. Assessment techniques……………………………………………………………. 4 3. Results………………………………………………………………………………… 5 3.1 Description of the Maria River and catchment…………………………………………. 5 3.2 Description of the study area…………………………………………………………….. 5 3.2.1 Scope and description of study area…………………………………………….
    [Show full text]
  • Restaurant Australia | Media Information
    RESTAURANT AUSTRALIA | MEDIA INFORMATION NSW PRODUCE AND PRODUCERS: FROM THE EARTH, THE SEA AND THE PADDOCK In its million square kilometres, NSW experiences seven of the eight weather zones. It’s this climatic diversity of growing conditions, coupled with the geography, that produces an astonishing variety of food. Here’s a snapshot of where NSW produce is grown and just a few of the key producers from across the State. THE EARTH Fruit and vegetables Fresh, seasonal vegetables tend to be grown in market gardens close to cities and towns, while fruit-growing regions have become synonymous with the fruit that best grows there. The major growing regions in NSW include the Murrumbidgee Irrigation Area, the southwest region of the State and the coastal strip. Macadamia nuts, blueberries and avocado thrive in the sub-tropical climate of the Far North Coast while cherries find the perfect winter chill in Young, in the central west. Apples from Batlow in the Snowy Mountains region, Bilpin on the slopes of the Blue Mountains and Orange in the Central West are world-famous apple producers and have given rise to local cider and vinegar production. Pecans were planted in Moree in 1965, hazelnuts thrive in Mudgee and the pistachio, a recent arrival, has been grown in Junee since the 1980s. The red volcanic soil around Robertson in the Southern Highlands and Dorrigo on the north coast produces spectacular potatoes. New crops New crops include saffron and truffles – which have outperformed all expectations in NSW, some trees producing within a few years of being planted.
    [Show full text]
  • 3. Study Area Characteristics
    Pacific Highway Upgrade – Oxley Highway to Kempsey Preferred Route Report 3. Study Area Characteristics 3.1 Local Community 3.1.1 Overview The study area is located within the Port Macquarie – Hastings and Kempsey Local Government Areas (LGAs). The boundary between the two LGAs is located south of Kundabung, in the north of the study area. The Port Macquarie – Hastings LGA covers an area of 3,693 square kilometres and is located approximately 420 km north of Sydney and 510 km south of Brisbane. The topography of the LGA is very diverse, with features including coastal plains and wetlands, flood plains, river systems and mountain ranges, national parks and state forests. The Port Macquarie – Hastings LGA has an overall population of 64,485 (2001 Census). The main towns in the LGA are Port Macquarie and Wauchope. Port Macquarie, located on the coast approximately 10 km to the east of the southern boundary of the study area, is the largest town with a population of 38,289 people (2001 Census). It serves as a major tourist destination and regional centre for the area. Wauchope, located approximately seven kilometres to the west of the southern boundary of the study area, serves as the regional centre for the inland area, particularly for the rural communities along the Oxley Highway and the associated agricultural industries. The LGA has many small localities and villages in addition to the main towns. Of these, the village of Telegraph Point is located in the study area, on the Wilson River. Kempsey LGA covers an area of 3,377 square kilometres.
    [Show full text]
  • Laurieton - GP Synergy
    6/29/2018 Laurieton - GP Synergy Home Calendar Image Gallery Contact Us Informatics | Login GPRime2 | Login TRAINING TRAINING TRAINING PUBLICATIONS PARTNER ABOUT US PROGRAMS OPPORTUNITIES REGIONS & NEWS EXPLORE GP WITH US You are here: Home / Town Proles / Laurieton Laurieton An attractive coastal township on the mid north coast, in an area recognised for mild weather year-round and breathtaking scenery. https://gpsynergy.com.au/townprofiles/laurieton/ 1/6 6/29/2018 Laurieton - GP Synergy Map data ©2018 Google Quick facts Training region North Eastern NSW Subregion North Coast GP Synergy grouping B RA/MMM classication RA2/MMM4 Population Laurieton has a population of nearly 2,000 people, the median age is 64 years. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people make up 2% of the population. Laurieton is located within the North Coast Primary Health Network, these fact sheets provide an overview of the health needs of the North Coast community. Location Laurieton is a coastal town 365 km north of Sydney, about half way between Taree and Port Macquarie on the Mid North Coast of New South Wales. It is the largest town in the Camden Haven district and lies between the base of North Brother Mountain and the Camden Haven River. https://gpsynergy.com.au/townprofiles/laurieton/ 2/6 6/29/2018 Laurieton - GP Synergy A key drawcard to the district is the myriad of waterways which make up the Camden Haven Inlet. Watson Taylors Lake, Queens Lake, Pilot Beach and Gogleys Lagoon are home to an abundance of marine and bird life. Transport links The closest regional airport is in Port Macquarie, which is just over an hour drive from Laurieton.
    [Show full text]
  • COAG National Bushfire Inquiry
    Appendix D Fire history in Australia This appendix summarises the available information on major bushfire events in each state and territory as far back as records allow. There are many inconsistencies and gaps in the available information because there are no nationally agreed criteria for defining a ‘significant fire year’ or a ‘major fire event’. The available information shows the following: • Major fire events are a periodic feature in all states and territories. • The areas of land that are affected by fire continue to be significant. • There have been 59 recorded bushfire events where there has been loss of life, with a positive trend being the significant decline in the loss of life from bushfires in the last 20 years. • There have been 24 fire events resulting in major stock losses (defined as more than 1000 head). • There have been 21 fire events resulting in large-scale loss of houses (defined as more than 50 houses). Table D.1 Fire history in Australia, by state and territory No. of Area of fire Date deaths (ha) Losses Location(s) Northern Territory 1968–1969 40 000 000 Killarney – Top Springs 1969–1970 45 000 000 Dry River – Victoria River fire 1974–1975 45 000 000 Barkly Tableland, Victoria River district, near Newcastle Waters 2002 38 000 000 Queensland 1917 3 Large fires near Hughenden, followed by a fire on Warenda Station 1918 October 2 >100 000 sheep Fires spread over a huge area from Charleville to Blackall, Barcaldine, Hughenden 1918 October 5 Saltern Creek 1926 Forests, farms, sugar South-east corner of Queensland
    [Show full text]