7.6 ILLAWARRA-SOUTH EAST

PROTECTING NATURAL ASSETS WHILE SUPPORTING GROWTH IN REGIONAL CENTRES

- The Illawarra-South East region covers an area of 60,000 square kilometres and includes the population centres of Wollongong, Queanbeyan, Nowra-Bomaderry, Goulburn, Kiama, Southern Highlands, Batemans Bay, Cooma, Young and Bega. It extends along the coast from the Victorian border to Sydney and inland to the Snowy Mountains and the area near the Australian Capital Territory.

- Wollongong is the third largest city in the State after Sydney and Newcastle and the Illawarra contains over a third of the region's population. The steel industry and port define this city and continue to contribute to its growth.

- The region has a mix of smaller communities whose main industries include dairying, tourism, forestry and fisheries.

- Population projections for the Illawarra-South East indicate an increase of some 60,700 people, or 9.7 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 7.2 per cent

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

• the population aged over 65 years increasing by 39.5 per cent

- A Draft South Coast Regional Strategy has been prepared and applies to the local government areas of Shoalhaven, Eurobodalla and Bega Valley. By 2031, the Draft Regional Strategy is designed to accommodate up to 60,300 new residents and will support up to 45,600 additional dwellings. It will also provide for an extra 19,100 jobs. The Draft Regional Strategy proposes to give priority to residential development located adjacent to well-serviced centres and towns.

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

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