Census results - Coast growth stalls

Only data for the Gosford-Wyong  Statistical Subdivision is presently available but a snapshot of the region overall can now be made and compared with previous periods.

Population
The data shows that the Central Coast’s population growth has almost come to a standstill. Over the past five years the average population growth has been running at less than 1%. The Coast’s population has increased to 297,956 people in 2006 or an increase of 4.3% over the past five years, since the 2001 Census. This is the lowest increase in twenty years and shows that since the high growth era of the 80's has slowed to a trickle.

Age Groups
One of the most significant aspects of the change in population characteristics over the past five years is the Age Group change over the period.
The number of children in the population aged 0 – 14 years has declined from 21.9% in 2001 to 20.4% in 2006.
At the same time the number of persons aged 25 – 54 has declined from 39.7% to 38.0% while in the older age group 55 years and over, the number of persons is now 29.5% compared with 27.0% in 2001. The median age of persons in the Region is now 40 years compared with the Australian median age of 37. 

Country of birth
The Census also reveals that 79.6% of persons usually resident in the Region were born in Australia with 5.6% being born in the UK and 1.7% in New Zealand. The region continues to have a high level of residents who speak English at home at 90.7% compared with Australia which is 78.5%.

Income
The median weekly individual income for persons aged 15 years and over who were usual residents was $407 per week compared with the rest of Australia at $466 per week.
The median household income was $856 per week and for Australia $1,027.
The median family income was $1,081 per week and for Australia $1,171.

Family characteristics
Over the past five years the number of ‘Couple families with children’ has fallen from 43.3% of total families to 42.%.
At the same time the number of  ‘Couple families without children’ has risen from 30,629 in 2006 from 29,752 in 2001 although as a percentage of Total families remains almost unchanged at 38.3%. The number of ‘One parent families’ has risen to 14,850 in 2006 from 13,506 in 2001 and now represents 18.6% of Total families.

Dwellings
According to a comparison of the 2006 and 2001 Census data for ‘Private Dwellings’ a total of 5,307 houses have been built over the past 5 years. Over the same period the number of semi-detached or terrace houses, townhouses etc have increased by 1,272 and the number of flats, home units and apartments have increased by 1,256.
‘Other dwellings’ which showed a large decline is yet to be explained.
The median rent for a dwelling in 2006 was $200 per week while the median housing loan repayment was $1,500 per month.
35.2% of residents fully owned their own home while 31.7% of residents are buying their home.
24.9% of Coast residents live in rented premises.
According to a further comparison of the 2001 and 2006 Census data the number of dwellings rented from a state housing authority declined from 3,673 in 2001 to 3,633 in 2006.

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