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'Lake Macquarie' is the name of a Local Government Area (the City of Lake Macquarie) located in NSW, Australia, approximately 150km north of Sydney, and 20km south of Newcastle.

Contents

The City of Lake Macquarie

Demographics

Incomes

Main towns/villages

Economics

Geography

Photographs

Sister cities

See also

External links

The City of Lake Macquarie

The 'City of Lake Macquarie' has an estimated population of 189,150 as of June 2003 (Australian Bureau of Statistics) and is the fourth or fifth largest Local Government Area in NSW by population (three of the largest, Sutherland, Blacktown, and Fairfield, are all within metropolitan Sydney). Its population is slightly larger than that of the City of Newcastle and similar to that of the City of Wollongong. One of its major tourist attractions is its lake, also named Lake Macquarie.
Lake Macquarie is classified as a "city", but there is no significant distinction between the terms "city", "shire", and "municipality" as applied to Local Government Areas in New South Wales. The area is demographically a set of closely contiguous towns that surround a coastal saltwater lake, and merge with the suburbs of Newcastle to the north. Some suburbs, such as Adamstown Heights are partly in the City of Newcastle and partly within the City of Lake Macquarie.

Demographics

According to the Australian Bureau Statistics ^[1], there:



- were 189,596 people as at 30 June 2006, the 4th largest Local Government Area in New South Wales. It was equal to 2.8% of the New South Wales population of 6,827,694


- was an increase of 309 people over the year to 30 June 2006, the 53rd largest population growth in a Local Government Area in New South Wales. It was equal to 0.5% of the 58,753 increase in the population of New South Wales


- was, in percentage terms, an increase of 0.2% in the number of people over the year to 30 June 2006, the 126th fastest growth in population of a Local Government Area in New South Wales. In New South Wales the population grew by 0.9%


- was an increase in population over the 10 years to 30 June 2006 of 12,846 people or 7.3% (0.7% in annual average terms), the 58th highest rate of a Local Government Area in New South Wales. In New South Wales the population grew by 622,966 or 10% (1.0% in annual average terms) over the same period.

Incomes

According to the Australian Bureau Statistics ^[2] during 2003-04, there:



- were 69,380 wage and salary earners (ranked 7th in New South Wales and 15th in Australia, 2.7% of New South Wales's 2,558,415 and 0.9% of Australia's 7,831,856)


- was a total income of $2,618,903,032 (around $2.6 billion) (ranked 10th in New South Wales and 19th in Australia, 2.4% of New South Wales's $107,179,688,262 (around $107 billion) and 0.9% of Australia's $304,034,755,876 (around $304 billion))


- was an estimated 'average' income per wage and salary earner of $37,747 (ranked 54th in New South Wales and 154th in Australia, 91% of New South Wales's $41,407 and 97% of Australia's $38,820)


- was an estimated 'median' income per wage and salary earner of $34,073 (ranked 53rd in New South Wales and 157th in Australia, 96% of New South Wales's $35,479 and 100% of Australia's $34,149).

Main towns/villages

Lake Macquarie is home to several prominent suburbs such as Blacksmiths Beach, which is known for its world-famous surfing conditions.
Significant population centres include:

★ Belmont

★ Cardiff

★ Charlestown

★ Glendale

★ Morisset

★ Mount Hutton

★ Swansea

★ Toronto

★ Warners Bay
The various towns and suburbs are classified as being part of the Newcastle Statistical District, so their population is included when Newcastle is commonly listed as Australia's sixth largest city. However, the City of Lake Macquarie has its own independent local government (Lake Macquarie City Council), which is planning to develop a new Central Business District. The largest commercial centre in the region is Charlestown which has a turnover greater than that of Newcastle's central business district.
'Shopping'

★ Charlestown Square

★ Glendale Super Centre

★ Lake Macquarie Fair

★ Morisset Mega Market

Economics

Lake Macquarie has a significant coal mining industry and smaller agriculture and manufacturing industries. Eraring power station, a 1980s-era coal-fired power station, supplies 25% of New South Wales' power. As of September 2002, Lake Macquarie had an unemployment rate of 8.7%, which is higher than the state average but lower than that of surrounding areas. Some areas have become a popular retirement destination. There is very little tourism, with the area being virtually unknown even to residents as close as Sydney. Lake Macquarie has a number of Constructed Wetlands with the council placing an empasis on the environment.

Geography

For information regarding the saltwater lake in the centre of the city see here Lake Macquarie, New South Wales

Photographs

Sister cities

★ Hakodate, Hokkaidō, Japan

★ Rotorua, New Zealand

★ Tanagura, Fukushima, Japan

See also

★ List of cities in Australia

★ Eraring power station

★ Vales Point power station

★ Pulbah Island

External links

★ Lake Macquarie City Council

★ Lake Macquarie Yacht Club

★ Belmont 16ft Sailing Club

★ Clickable map of New South Wales LGAs (NSW Dept. of Local Government)

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★ Panoramic shots of Lake Macquarie