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Central NSW in Australia

Central NSW is made up of Albury (C), Wagga Wagga (C), Griffith (C), Junee (A), Lithgow (C), Dubbo Regional (A), Forbes (A), Orange (C), Cowra (A), Greater Hume Shire (A), Hay (A), Narrandera (A), Blayney (A), Federation (A), Carrathool (A), Leeton (A), Parkes (A), Bathurst Regional (A), Edward River (A), Warrumbungle Shire (A), Mid-Western Regional (A), Bland (A), Cabonne (A), Walgett (A), Broken Hill (C), Oberon (A), Snowy Valleys (A), Gilgandra (A), Temora (A), Murrumbidgee (A), Cobar (A), Weddin (A), Cootamundra-Gundagai Regional (A), Bogan (A), Wentworth (A), Murray River (A), Narromine (A), Hilltops (A), Coolamon (A), Berrigan (A), Coonamble (A), Lachlan (A), Lockhart (A), Mid-Coast (A), Unincorporated ACT, Bourke (A), and Warren (A).

Living in Central NSW in May 2025

Central NSW Overall Liveability Index
Australia
59.5
Adelaide
62.9
Central QLD
57.2
Central VIC
60.8
Darwin
52.6
Eastern VIC
58.0
Far North Queensland
52.9
Hobart
58.1
Melbourne
60.6
Northern NSW
55.7
Perth
62.9
Regional NT
50.6
Regional SA
59.4
Regional Tas
58.8
Regional WA
61.0
Rest of QLD
66.5
South East Queensland
59.2
Southern NSW
59.1
Sydney
64.1
The ACT
64.2
Western VIC
60.9
Collected May 2025

Use the values and experiences matrix to understand the relationship between what your residents believe makes somewhere a good place to live and how they experience their local area in that regard. The matrix highlights the attributes that your community believe needs to maintained and improved to advance overall liveability.

Greater Importance & Worse Experiences    Greater Importance & Better Experiences    Less important attributes

Central NSW Overall Liveability Index

Central NSW Overall Liveability Index 59.0

Australia Overall Liveability Index

Australia Overall Liveability Index 59.5

Central NSW
Australia
Importance
Experience
Health services
Importance
Experience
70%
5.1
48%
6.1
Feeling safe
Importance
Experience
57%
6.5
65%
6.2
Affordable decent housing
Importance
Experience
57%
5.2
56%
4.5
Sense of community
Importance
Experience
39%
7.0
29%
6.2
Good job prospects
Importance
Experience
38%
5.4
29%
5.4
Making your way
Importance
Experience
32%
6.1
30%
6.0
Natural environment
Importance
Experience
31%
7.9
50%
7.6
Public transport
Importance
Experience
28%
3.3
40%
5.2
Education
Importance
Experience
27%
6.1
20%
6.3
Shopping, leisure & dining
Importance
Experience
25%
4.8
26%
6.1
A lack of road congestion
Importance
Experience
22%
7.5
21%
5.3
Social cohesion
Importance
Experience
19%
6.2
26%
6.3
A prosperous economy
Importance
Experience
18%
5.9
16%
5.6
Opportunity for all
Importance
Experience
15%
5.8
19%
5.9
Cultural facilities
Importance
Experience
11%
6.2
15%
5.8
Sports and recreation
Importance
Experience
11%
7.3
9%
6.9
The arrows indicate whether a difference is statistically significant. Significance testing helps determine if a difference between two groups is likely real (shown by an arrow) or due to random chance (no arrow).
Significantly higher
Significantly lower

Health and Wellbeing in Central NSW in May 2025

Physical Health
How would you rate your physical health?
Do you think your physical health will get better, worse or stay the same over the next year?
Central NSW 2025 (n = 198)
6.6
Very poor
Excellent
Australia (n = 4907)
6.7
Very poor
Excellent
Significantly higher
Significantly lower
Central NSW 2025 (n = 198)
26%
58%
16%
Get worse
Stay the same
Get better
Australia (n = 4907)
15%
56%
30%
Get worse
Stay the same
Get better
Significantly higher
Significantly lower
Mental Health
How would you rate your mental health?
Do you think your mental health will get better, worse or stay the same over the next year?
Central NSW 2025 (n = 198)
7.2
Very poor
Excellent
Australia (n = 4907)
6.9
Very poor
Excellent
Significantly higher
Significantly lower
Central NSW 2025 (n = 198)
11%
75%
14%
Get worse
Stay the same
Get better
Australia (n = 4907)
12%
64%
24%
Get worse
Stay the same
Get better
Significantly higher
Significantly lower
Social wellbeing
How would you rate your social wellbeing?
Do you think your social wellbeing will get better, worse or stay the same over the next year?
Central NSW 2025 (n = 198)
7.0
Very poor
Excellent
Australia (n = 4907)
6.5
Very poor
Excellent
Significantly higher
Significantly lower
Central NSW 2025 (n = 198)
5%
82%
13%
Get worse
Stay the same
Get better
Australia (n = 4907)
11%
67%
22%
Get worse
Stay the same
Get better
Significantly higher
Significantly lower

Financial circumstances in Central NSW in May 2025

How would you rate your personal financial circumstances?
Do you think your personal financial circumstance will get worse, stay the same or get better over the next year?
Central NSW 2025 (n = 198)
6.0
Very poor
Excellent
Australia (n = 4907)
5.7
Very poor
Excellent
Significantly higher
Significantly lower
Central NSW 2025 (n = 198)
29%
57%
14%
Get worse
Stay the same
Get better
Australia (n = 4907)
27%
47%
26%
Get worse
Stay the same
Get better
Significantly higher
Significantly lower
How often, if ever, are you late meeting your financial commitments?
Do you think the economic situation in your local area will get worse, stay the same or get better over the next year?
Central NSW 2025 (n = 191)
Australia (n = 4683)
Always late
2%
2%
Often late
6%
6%
Sometimes late
31%
30%
Never late
61%
63%
Significantly higher
Significantly lower
Central NSW 2025 (n = 198)
38%
52%
10%
Get worse
Stay the same
Get better
Australia (n = 4907)
42%
48%
11%
Get worse
Stay the same
Get better
Significantly higher
Significantly lower

Impacts of climate change in Central NSW in May 2025

Which of the following best describes your personal views on climate change?
Central NSW 2025 (n = 198)
Australia (n = 4907)
It's happening - caused entirely or mostly by human activities
29%
43%
It's happening - caused equally by human activities and natural causes
29%
32%
It's happening - caused entirely or mostly by natural causes
18%
9%
It's happening - not sure what is causing it
9%
6%
I do not believe climate change is happening
15%
11%
Significantly higher
Significantly lower

Among those that believe in climate change, 49% indicated that their local area is currently feeling the effects of climate change and a further 33% expected their local area to feel the effects within their lifetime. Of those, 4% were very confident that their local area would be able to adapt to the effects of climate change and a further 36% somewhat confident. 54% were not confident.

Please select the extent to which climate change is impacting or will impact your local area in your lifetime?
How confident are you that your local area will be able to adapt to the effects of climate change in your lifetime?
Central NSW 2025 (n = 168)
Australia (n = 4304)
My local area is feeling the effects of climate change
49%
49%
My local area is not feeling the effects of climate change, but expect it will in my lifetime
33%
36%
My local area is not feeling the effects of climate change, and do not expect it will in my lifetime
18%
15%
Significantly higher
Significantly lower
Central NSW 2025 (n = 134)
Australia (n = 3585)
Very confident
4%
5%
Somewhat confident
36%
35%
Not very confident
37%
39%
Not at all confident
18%
15%
Don't know
5%
6%
Significantly higher
Significantly lower

Among the group of residents that felt their local area is currently feeling, or will feel, the effects of climate change in their lifetime, the top local area climate-related events were: Droughts (88%), Extreme heat (84%) and Bushfires (66%). The top actions residents felt should be taken to address the effects of climate change in their local area were: Conserve natural resources (63%), Educate residents on how to live more sustainably (55%) and Protect and enhance local biodiversity (51%).

How is your local area currently, or how do you expect it will, feel the effects of climate change in your lifetime?
What do you feel are the best ways to address the effects of climate change in your local area?
Central NSW 2025 (n = 135)
Australia (n = 3490)
Droughts
88%
42%
Extreme heat
84%
74%
Bushfires
66%
50%
Storms
58%
53%
Flooding
43%
48%
Severe wind
32%
44%
Extremely cold temperatures
20%
16%
Earthquakes
4%
5%
Landslide
4%
7%
Sea level rise
2%
24%
Cyclones
2%
24%
Other
5%
5%
None of these
1%
1%
Significantly higher
Significantly lower
Central NSW 2025 (n = 134)
Australia (n = 3585)
Conserve natural resources
63%
48%
Educate residents on how to live more sustainably
55%
53%
Protect and enhance local biodiversity
51%
60%
Provide options for recycling waste
50%
47%
Create renewable energy sources
42%
38%
Adopt renewable energy sources
42%
48%
Reduce pollution of the environment
41%
51%
Encourage residents to buy locally
38%
30%
More sustainable building and development practices
37%
44%
Host renewable energy projects in the local area
37%
36%
More sustainable transport options
31%
41%
Reduce carbon emissions in the local area
23%
35%
Other
4%
6%
None of these
2%
2%
Significantly higher
Significantly lower

Impacts of climate change on residents

Among those that believe in climate change, 38% indicated that they themselves are currently feeling the effects of climate change and a further 41% expected to within their lifetime. Of those, 9% were very confident that they would be able to adapt to the effects of climate change and a further 55% somewhat confident. 35% were not confident.

Please select the extent to which climate change is impacting or will impact you personally in your lifetime?
How confident are you that you personally will be able to adapt to the effects of climate change in your lifetime?
Central NSW 2025 (n = 168)
Australia (n = 4304)
I am feeling the effects of climate change
38%
47%
I am not feeling the effects of climate change, but expect to in my lifetime
41%
37%
I am not feeling the effects of climate change, and do not expect to in my lifetime
21%
16%
Significantly higher
Significantly lower
Central NSW 2025 (n = 129)
Australia (n = 3506)
Very confident
9%
8%
Somewhat confident
55%
52%
Not very confident
27%
30%
Not at all confident
8%
6%
Don't know
1%
4%
Significantly higher
Significantly lower

Among the group of residents that felt they are currently feeling, or will feel, the effects of climate change in their lifetime, the top personal impacts were: Increased household running costs (80%), Food production, making it harder and more expensive to get food items (64%) and Essential infrastructure vulnerability (48%). 57% feel climate change will reduce their quality of life somewhat, and a further 12% feel it will reduce their quality of life a lot.

How are you currently, or how do you expect to, personally feel the effects of climate change in your lifetime?
Which of the following best represents how you believe the effects of climate change will affect your quality of life?
Central NSW 2025 (n = 129)
Australia (n = 3506)
Increased household running costs
80%
77%
Food production, making it harder and more expensive to get food items
64%
61%
Essential infrastructure vulnerability
48%
40%
My ability to leave my home due to weather
39%
46%
Challenges getting around
38%
36%
Transport infrastructure vulnerability
32%
29%
Challenges accessing essential services
30%
28%
Loss or damage to your home/property
26%
29%
Reduction in air quality
21%
36%
Reduced personal safety or health to myself and/or those around me
20%
26%
My ability to access nature due to weather
17%
32%
Reduced value to your home/property
14%
15%
None of these
3%
2%
Other
2%
3%
Significantly higher
Significantly lower
Central NSW 2025 (n = 129)
Australia (n = 3506)
It will improve a lot
0%
2%
It will improve somewhat
7%
7%
It will not change
16%
14%
It will reduce somewhat
57%
49%
It will reduce a lot
12%
22%
Don't know
8%
6%
Significantly higher
Significantly lower

Concerns in Central NSW in May 2025

What are the top three issues facing your local area?
Central NSW 2025 (n = 198)
Australia (n = 4907)
Healthcare/Hospitals
49%
20%
Inflation/Cost of Living
39%
54%
Law & order
39%
36%
Housing/Price of Housing
32%
50%
Transport
26%
20%
Petrol Prices/Fuel
24%
12%
Drug/Alcohol Abuse
19%
15%
Unemployment
12%
9%
Poverty/Inequality
11%
11%
Household Debt/Personal Debt
10%
13%
Environmental Concerns
10%
10%
The Economy
10%
12%
Education
5%
3%
Issues Facing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders
4%
4%
Population/Overpopulation
3%
13%
Taxation
2%
6%
Race Relations/Racism
2%
5%
Immigration
1%
7%
Defence
0%
1%
Significantly higher
Significantly lower

Residential Development and Local Area Decision-Making in Central NSW in May 2025

What concerns do you have with residential development (building more homes to accommodate more people) in your local area?
Central NSW 2025 (n = 198)
Australia (n = 4907)
Strain on infrastructure and public services
46%
42%
Lack of affordable housing
44%
38%
Rising housing costs
36%
35%
Changes to neighbourhood character
29%
21%
Increased traffic and congestion
22%
46%
Environmental impact
16%
20%
Loss of green space or natural areas
14%
28%
Overcrowding
6%
18%
Noise or disruption during construction
3%
10%
Other
5%
5%
None/not applicable to my area
11%
5%
Don't know
3%
1%
Significantly higher
Significantly lower
What other concerns do you have with residential development in your local area?

What do you see as the potential benefits of residential development (building more homes to accommodate more people) in your local area?
Central NSW 2025 (n = 198)
Australia (n = 4906)
Support for local businesses and services
52%
42%
Increased housing availability
45%
49%
More affordable housing options
41%
37%
Attraction of new residents and economic growth
40%
23%
Revitalisation of underused or vacant areas
21%
20%
Improved infrastructure and amenities (e.g. roads, parks)
19%
18%
Greater diversity in housing types
10%
10%
Opportunity for more sustainable, energy-efficient housing
9%
15%
Enhanced public transport options
8%
13%
Other
1%
4%
None/not applicable to my area
10%
13%
Don’t know
3%
3%
Significantly higher
Significantly lower
What do you see as the other potential benefits of residential development in your local area?

To what extent do you feel your community’s views are considered in local area decision-making?
Central NSW 2025 (n = 198)
Australia (n = 4907)
Very well considered
5%
4%
Somewhat well considered
21%
27%
Not well considered
42%
34%
Not considered at all
23%
27%
Don't know
9%
9%
Significantly higher
Significantly lower