3.1 POPULATION GROWTH AND DISTRIBUTION

Population growth will be largely along the coast with the largest increases in Sydney and the North and South Coast.

- The New South Wales population is projected to grow from 6.8 million in 2006 to 7.4 million in 2016.1

- Planning for New South Wales population growth is reflected in long term planning strategies such as the Sydney Metropolitan Strategy.

- The average size of households is projected to reduce across the State adding to housing demand and to the demand for utilities and services.

- These population changes will drive spending on new infrastructure in coastal areas while spending in lower growth areas will focus on maintenance and improvement.

- As annual population growth rates vary the Government will monitor future changes so that the timing for delivering infrastructure aligns with what is happening in communities.

POPULATION GROWTH WILL OCCUR MAINLY IN THE COASTAL REGIONS

GOSFORD ON THE CENTRAL COAST

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

1 NSW State and Regional Population Projections 2001-2051, 2005 Release, TPDC, Department of Planning