Great Lakes Council

Infobox Australian Place | type = lga
name = Great Lakes Council
state = nsw


caption = Location in New South Wales
pop = 34,695 [cite web
publisher = Australian Bureau of Statistics
title=Regional Population Growth, Australia, 2004-05
url = http://abs.gov.au/Ausstats/abs@.nsf/Latestproducts/3218.0Main%20Features22004-05?opendocument&tabname=Summary&prodno=3218.0&issue=2004-05&num=&view=
accessdate = 2006-12-03 ]
area = 3376
est =
seat = Forster (Breese Parade}
mayor = John Chadbancite web
title=Great Lakes Council
publisher = Department of Local Government
url = http://www.dlg.nsw.gov.au/dlg/dlghome/dlg_CouncilContactDetails.asp?slacode=3400
accessdate = 2006-11-22 ]
region = Mid North Coast

url = http://www.greatlakes.nsw.gov.au
stategov = Myall Lakes
Upper Hunter
fedgov = Paterson
near-nw = Gloucester
near-n = Greater Taree
near-ne = Greater Taree
near-w = Dungog
near-e = Pacific Ocean
near-sw = Port Stephens
near-s = Port Stephens
near-se = Pacific Ocean

Great Lakes Council is a Local Government Area (LGA) in New South Wales, Australia on the shores of Port Stephens, Myall Lakes and Wallis Lake. It is on the Pacific Highway and the Lakes Way.

Demographics

In the 2006 Census of Population and Housing there were 32,766 usual residents living in Great Lakes Shire Council. Of this count, 16,091 (or 49%) were males and 16,675 (or 51%) were females.

By age, 16% of the population was under 15 years old, 56% were between 15 and 65, and 28% were over 65 years old.

Most people living in Ballina Shire Council were born in Australia (84%). The median age was 50 years.

Economy

According to the 2006 Census of Population and Housing, the median individual income was $338 per week (equal to approximately $17,624 per year). The median family income in 2006 was $747 per week (equal to approximately $38,951 per year); and, the median household income in 2006 was $611 per week (equal to approximately $31,859 per year).

There were 10,619 people employed in 2006 (to give an employment to working age population ratio of 0.58), and 1,088 people unemployed. The most common occupations were Technicians and Trades Workers (16%); Labourers (15%); and, Managers (14%). The top 5 industries for employment were School Education (4.8%); Cafes, Restaurants and Takeaway Food Services (4.6%); Accommodation (3.4%); Residential Building Construction (3.4%); and, Residential Care Services (3.3%).

Housing

In the 2006 Census of Population and Housing, the median housing loan repayment was $1,161 per month. This equated to marginally under 48% of median household income.

The median rent in 2006 was $171 per week. This equated to just under 28% of median household income.

The average household size was 2.2 persons.

Geography

The Council's largest town and seat is Forster (12,188 people). It also includes the towns of Tuncurry (5,631), Bulahdelah (1,832), Hawks Nest, Tea Gardens (2,618 - Hawks Nest and Tea Gardens combined), Nabiac, Failford (2,184 - Nabiac, Failford and nearby rural areas combined), Pacific Palms (3,252, including nearby areas) and Stroud (2,384, including hinterland) and the villages of Smith Lake, Bungwahl, Coolongolook, Wootton, Girvan, Booral and Stroud Road.

Environment

The Great Lakes is home to the globally significant, Ramsar Convention listed Myall Lakes wetlands. These wetlands are an important foundation for the economies of the suburbs of the Great Lakes Council Local Government Area, particularly the recreational fisheries and tourism sectors. Due to a number of anthropogenic threats to these wetlands, concerned residents of the area have established [http://www.myallwetlands.com MyallWetlands.com] to promote the sustainable use of the regions natural resources.

uburbs

The following is a ist of all suburbs in the Great Lakes Council LGA.
* Alderley
* Alderley Creek
* Allworth
* Bennetts Head
* Blueys Beach
* Bombah Point
* Boolambayte
* Boomerang Beach
* Booral
* Booti Booti
* Bulahdelah
* Bulby Brush
* Bundabah
* Bungwahl
* Bunyah
* Bunyah Upper
* Burgess Beach
* Burraduc
* Cape Hawke
* Carrington
* Charlottes Bay
* Clareval
* Coolongolook
* Coomba
* Coomba Bay
* Coomba Park
* Craven
* Crawford River
* Cureeki Creek
* Darawank
* Dewrang
* Dirty Creek
* Dungog
* Elizabeth Beach
* Failford
* Fernhill
* Forster
* Forster Keys
* Forster Waters
* Friendship Key
* Gereeba Island
* Girvan
* Green Point
* Hawks Nest
* Johnsons Creek
* Karuah
* Legges Camp
* Lime Kiln
* Limeburners Creek
* Markwell
* Mayers Flat
* Milbrook
* Mill Creek Upper
* Minimbah
* Monkerai
* Mungo Brush
* Myall Lakes
* Myall Upper
* Nabiac
* Nerong
* New Forster
* Newells Creek
* Nooroo
* North Arm Cove
* North Pindimar
* Nugra
* Nugramudgee
* Pacific Palms
* Pindimar
* Pioneer Park
* Pipers Bay
* Rosenthal
* Sandbar
* Seal Rocks
* Smiths Lake
* South Pindimar
* Stroud
* Stroud Road
* Sugarloaf Point
* Tahlee
* Tamboy
* Tarbuck Bay
* Tea Gardens
* Telegherry
* Terreel
* The Branch
* Tiona
* Topi Topi
* Tuncurry
* Upper Karuah River
* Upper Monkerai
* Violet Hill
* Wallamba Island
* Wallingat
* Wallingat River
* Wallis Island
* Wallis Lake
* Wards River
* Warranulla
* Washpool
* Wattley Hill
* Weismantels
* Whoota
* Willina
* Winda Woppa
* Wootton
* Yagon
* Yagon Beach

References