7.4 NORTH COAST

SUPPORTING GROWTH WHILE PROTECTING THE ENVIRONMENT

- The North Coast region covers an area of 35,800 square kilometres and includes the major population centres of Tweed Heads, Port Macquarie, Lismore, Coffs Harbour, Grafton, Taree, Ballina and Sawtell.

- The North Coast extends from the Hunter in the south to the Queensland border in the north. It is the most biologically diverse region in New South Wales, and infrastructure and growth needs to pay heed to this sensitivity.

- Population projections for the North Coast indicate an increase of around 58,200 people, or 11.0 per cent, between 2006 and 2016. This increase is not expected to be uniform across age groups with:

• the population aged 0-14 years falling by 7.0 per cent

• the population aged 15-64 years increasing by 7.3 per cent

• the population aged over 65 years increasing by 41.5 per cent

- A Draft Far North Coast Regional Strategy has been prepared and applies to the local government areas of Ballina, Byron Bay, Kyogle, Lismore, Richmond Valley and Tweed. The Draft Regional Strategy caters for the region's population to increase by 60,400 between 2006 and 2031 and for up to 51,000 additional homes. 35 per cent of future housing will be located in the Regional centres of Tweed Heads, Ballina and Lismore.

- The Draft Regional Strategy protects coastal areas, locates future settlement around existing centres and towns and provides for rural living. The Draft Regional Strategy is flexible and can be reviewed to provide additional Greenfield urban areas if population growth projections are exceeded.

- The Draft Regional Strategy supports 32,500 extra jobs by ensuring a sufficient supply of employment land. These lands are located to take advantage of centres of population, major regional transport links (road, rail and air) and the Pacific Highway upgrade.

SOURCE: NEW SOUTH WALES STATE AND REGIONAL POPULATION PROJECTIONS 2001 - 2051, 2005, TRANSPORT AND POPULATION DATA CENTRE

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