Northern Rivers Regional Profile NOVEMBER 2013 Northern Rivers Regional Profile 2013 i 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 RDA–Northern Rivers would like to acknowledge the contributions of its officers Jamie Seaton, Kyllie Walker, Katrina Luckie and Geof Webb in researching, analysing and communicating the data in this report. Cover photo: Students at Brunswick Heads Public School © 2013 Verity Bee © Regional Development Australia – Northern Rivers, October 2013 Citation: Regional Development Australia – Northern Rivers, Northern Rivers Regional Profile 2013, RDA–Northern Rivers, 2013. We respectfully acknowledge the Aboriginal peoples of the Northern Rivers – including the peoples of the Bundjalung, Yaegl and Gumbaynggirr 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 ............................................................................................................................ 1 OVERVIEW OF THE REGION ........................................................................................................... 2 SOCIAL AND DEMOGRAPHIC PROFILE: OUR PEOPLE ....................................................................... 9 Population ...................................................................................................................................... 9 Regional population structure ..................................................................................................... 10 Indigenous population structure ................................................................................................. 11 Population forecast ...................................................................................................................... 13 Internal migration ........................................................................................................................ 14 Cultural diversity .......................................................................................................................... 16 Housing ........................................................................................................................................ 18 Income ......................................................................................................................................... 25 Crime ............................................................................................................................................ 30 Health ........................................................................................................................................... 35 Education ..................................................................................................................................... 39 Socio-economic indexes for areas (SEIFA) ................................................................................... 43 SERVICES .................................................................................................................................... 44 Infrastructure investment ............................................................................................................ 44 Transport ...................................................................................................................................... 45 Information Technology and Communications ........................................................................... 47 Education ..................................................................................................................................... 48 Health ........................................................................................................................................... 49 Retirement and aged care facilities ............................................................................................. 51 Community, cultural, sport and recreation ................................................................................. 52 ECONOMIC PROFILE .................................................................................................................... 54 Employment ................................................................................................................................. 54 Business profile ............................................................................................................................ 56 Industry growth and share ........................................................................................................... 60 Gross regional product................................................................................................................. 61 Regional competitiveness ............................................................................................................ 63 ENVIRONMENTAL PROFILE.......................................................................................................... 64 Cultural heritage .......................................................................................................................... 65 Biodiversity .................................................................................................................................. 67 Protected areas ............................................................................................................................ 70 Water resources ........................................................................................................................... 72 Energy resources .......................................................................................................................... 73 REFERENCES ............................................................................................................................... 77 ACRONYMS ................................................................................................................................ 81 AUSTRALIAN BUREAU OF STATISTICS POPULATION DEFINITIONS ................................................. 82 Northern Rivers Regional Profile 2013 iii LIST OF TABLES TABLE 1 – ESTIMATED RESIDENT POPULATION ....................................................................................... 9 TABLE 2 – POPULATION CHANGE 2001-2011 ....................................................................................... 9 TABLE 3 – POPULATION FORECAST NORTHERN RIVERS AND NSW 2011-2031 ......................................... 13 TABLE 4 – POPULATION FORECAST FIGURES BY LGA 2011-2031 ........................................................... 13 TABLE 5 – INTERNAL MIGRATION 2006-2011 ..................................................................................... 15 TABLE 6 – CHANGES IN INTERNAL MIGRATION 2006 & 2011 ................................................................. 15 TABLE 7 – CHANGES IN INTERNAL MIGRATION BY AGE GROUP 2006 AND 2011 ......................................... 16 TABLE 8 – COUNTRY OF BIRTH .......................................................................................................... 17 TABLE 9 – MEDIAN HOUSING COSTS 2012 .......................................................................................... 19 TABLE 10 – TYPE OF HOUSING TENURE 2011 ...................................................................................... 22 TABLE 11 – HOMELESSNESS ESTIMATES: AUSTRALIA 2006 AND 2011 ..................................................... 23 TABLE 12 – NUMBER OF HOMELESS PERSONS 2011 ............................................................................. 24 TABLE 13 – WEEKLY PERSONAL INCOME 2011 .................................................................................... 26 TABLE 14 – LABOUR FORCE DECEMBER 2012 ..................................................................................... 29 TABLE 15 – SELF-RATED HEALTH AS EXCELLENT, VERY GOOD OR GOOD ...................................................... 35 TABLE 16 – BURDEN OF DISEASE ....................................................................................................... 38 TABLE 17 – HEALTH INEQUALITIES ..................................................................................................... 38 TABLE 18 – HIGHEST LEVEL OF POST-SECONDARY EDUCATION ATTAINMENT .............................................. 40 TABLE 19 –SEIFA SCORES AND RANKINGS .......................................................................................... 43 TABLE 20 – PASSENGER VEHICLE, BUS AND MOTORCYCLE REGISTRATIONS PER 7,000 (NORTHERN RIVERS) .....