That is an increase of 16.8 per cent or 6000 people in the next 20 years which is predicted to be largely driven by the region’s retiree population. 

The state wide and local area projections are the first new figures to be released in three years.

Regional NSW is projected to grow by 200,000 over the next 20 years, taking the population from 1.8 million to two million.

Meanwhile, Sydney’s population is set to jump significantly more from 4.3 million to 5.8 million and for NSW as a whole the figures are 7.2 million to 9.2 million. 

The data collected shows that higher birth rates, compared to deaths, will drive more than half of the growth in NSW. 

State wide, the number of children aged 15 years and under is predicted to rise by 26 per cent while people aged 65 and over are expected to increase by a whopping 78 per cent. 

On a local scale, the Great Lakes is expected to have a 52.9 per cent increase in people aged 65 years and older while young families with kids aged 15 years and under will help boost our population by 6.5 per cent. 

The predicted population growth for the Great Lakes can be attributed to internal state migration from areas like Sydney and other parts of NSW as well as high fertility rates and retirees.   

Great Lakes Council’s director of planning and environmental services Lisa Schiff said planning at a local level will need to be supported by all tiers of government to ensure our region has all the necessary infrastructure and housing for the predicted growth.

She said future developments like the multi-million dollar aged care complex at Kularoo Drive and Karloo St is a good example of beneficial infrastructure. 

“That’s a group of forward thinking individuals (developers),” she said. 

“They are building a range of accommodation types which means people in their 50’s can move there and as they get older and their needs change they don’t have to move out of their community.”

Mrs Schiff said the re-zoning of land by the Great Lakes Council had ensured that pockets of land in the region were ready for development.  

“We (council) welcome these population projections,” she said. 

“We have land available to provide the opportunities to cater for the growth that  these figures project. 

“We’ve actively planned for future growth in very responsible ways which ensures there are opportunities in the appropriate places at the appropriate time. 

“In realistic terms, it really is about growing communities. 

“The provision of infrastructure to support this growth needs a collaborative approach between all forms of government.  

“We are well located, with good proximity to larger centres but we lack a number of basic services that would be expected by expanding population so it’s the infrastructure support were going to need. 

“We really do live in a glorious place so why wouldn’t people want to live here.”

Snapshot

Predictions of population increases in regional NSW

Greater Taree – 5.6 per cent 

Gloucester – 14.0 per cent 

Port Stephens – 36.0 per cent 

Port Macquarie – 19.3 per cent

Newcastle - 24.3 per cent