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Northern NSW in Australia

Northern NSW is made up of Lake Macquarie (C), Central Coast (C) (NSW), Mid-Coast (A), Ballina (A), Newcastle (C), Coffs Harbour (C), Maitland (C), Clarence Valley (A), Lismore (C), Tamworth Regional (A), Tweed (A), Kyogle (A), Muswellbrook (A), Port Macquarie-Hastings (A), Byron (A), Inverell (A), Bellingen (A), Armidale Regional (A), Kempsey (A), Moree Plains (A), Tenterfield (A), Port Stephens (A), Cessnock (C), Liverpool Plains (A), Uralla (A), Narrabri (A), Glen Innes Severn (A), Richmond Valley (A), Walcha (A), Nambucca (A), Singleton (A), Upper Hunter Shire (A), Gunnedah (A), and Gwydir (A).

Living in Northern NSW in May 2025

Northern NSW Overall Liveability Index
Australia
59.5
Adelaide
62.9
Central NSW
59.0
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
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

Northern NSW Overall Liveability Index

Northern NSW Overall Liveability Index 55.7

Australia Overall Liveability Index

Australia Overall Liveability Index 59.5

Northern NSW
Australia
Importance
Experience
Feeling safe
Importance
Experience
64%
5.9
65%
6.2
Affordable decent housing
Importance
Experience
59%
3.9
56%
4.5
Health services
Importance
Experience
55%
5.0
48%
6.1
Natural environment
Importance
Experience
55%
8.1
50%
7.6
Sense of community
Importance
Experience
49%
6.5
29%
6.2
Good job prospects
Importance
Experience
30%
4.6
29%
5.4
Making your way
Importance
Experience
25%
5.5
30%
6.0
A lack of road congestion
Importance
Experience
23%
6.5
21%
5.3
Social cohesion
Importance
Experience
22%
6.0
26%
6.3
Public transport
Importance
Experience
20%
3.1
40%
5.2
A prosperous economy
Importance
Experience
20%
5.1
16%
5.6
Shopping, leisure & dining
Importance
Experience
20%
4.8
26%
6.1
Education
Importance
Experience
17%
5.5
20%
6.3
Cultural facilities
Importance
Experience
17%
5.7
15%
5.8
Opportunity for all
Importance
Experience
16%
5.5
19%
5.9
Sports and recreation
Importance
Experience
8%
6.6
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 Northern 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?
Northern NSW 2025 (n = 218)
6.7
Very poor
Excellent
Australia (n = 4907)
6.7
Very poor
Excellent
Significantly higher
Significantly lower
Northern NSW 2025 (n = 218)
18%
53%
29%
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?
Northern NSW 2025 (n = 218)
7.0
Very poor
Excellent
Australia (n = 4907)
6.9
Very poor
Excellent
Significantly higher
Significantly lower
Northern NSW 2025 (n = 218)
12%
69%
19%
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?
Northern NSW 2025 (n = 218)
6.5
Very poor
Excellent
Australia (n = 4907)
6.5
Very poor
Excellent
Significantly higher
Significantly lower
Northern NSW 2025 (n = 218)
14%
67%
19%
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 Northern 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?
Northern NSW 2025 (n = 218)
5.8
Very poor
Excellent
Australia (n = 4907)
5.7
Very poor
Excellent
Significantly higher
Significantly lower
Northern NSW 2025 (n = 218)
31%
45%
24%
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?
Northern NSW 2025 (n = 210)
Australia (n = 4683)
Always late
1%
2%
Often late
6%
6%
Sometimes late
33%
30%
Never late
60%
63%
Significantly higher
Significantly lower
Northern NSW 2025 (n = 218)
44%
47%
9%
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 Northern NSW in May 2025

Which of the following best describes your personal views on climate change?
Northern NSW 2025 (n = 218)
Australia (n = 4907)
It's happening - caused entirely or mostly by human activities
40%
43%
It's happening - caused equally by human activities and natural causes
35%
32%
It's happening - caused entirely or mostly by natural causes
8%
9%
It's happening - not sure what is causing it
8%
6%
I do not believe climate change is happening
10%
11%
Significantly higher
Significantly lower

Among those that believe in climate change, 71% indicated that their local area is currently feeling the effects of climate change and a further 19% expected their local area to feel the effects within their lifetime. Of those, 7% were very confident that their local area would be able to adapt to the effects of climate change and a further 27% somewhat confident. 65% 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?
Northern NSW 2025 (n = 192)
Australia (n = 4304)
My local area is feeling the effects of climate change
71%
49%
My local area is not feeling the effects of climate change, but expect it will in my lifetime
19%
36%
My local area is not feeling the effects of climate change, and do not expect it will in my lifetime
10%
15%
Significantly higher
Significantly lower
Northern NSW 2025 (n = 172)
Australia (n = 3585)
Very confident
7%
5%
Somewhat confident
27%
35%
Not very confident
38%
39%
Not at all confident
27%
15%
Don't know
1%
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: Flooding (81%), Bushfires (70%) and Storms (63%). The top actions residents felt should be taken to address the effects of climate change in their local area were: Protect and enhance local biodiversity (54%), Conserve natural resources (53%) and Educate residents on how to live more sustainably (52%).

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?
Northern NSW 2025 (n = 170)
Australia (n = 3490)
Flooding
81%
48%
Bushfires
70%
50%
Storms
63%
53%
Extreme heat
54%
74%
Droughts
48%
42%
Cyclones
42%
24%
Severe wind
34%
44%
Sea level rise
24%
24%
Landslide
22%
7%
Extremely cold temperatures
7%
16%
Earthquakes
1%
5%
Other
0%
5%
None of these
0%
1%
Significantly higher
Significantly lower
Northern NSW 2025 (n = 172)
Australia (n = 3585)
Protect and enhance local biodiversity
54%
60%
Conserve natural resources
53%
48%
Educate residents on how to live more sustainably
52%
53%
More sustainable building and development practices
45%
44%
Adopt renewable energy sources
43%
48%
Provide options for recycling waste
43%
47%
Reduce pollution of the environment
42%
51%
Host renewable energy projects in the local area
35%
36%
Create renewable energy sources
34%
38%
Encourage residents to buy locally
34%
30%
Reduce carbon emissions in the local area
29%
35%
More sustainable transport options
25%
41%
Other
8%
6%
None of these
2%
2%
Significantly higher
Significantly lower

Impacts of climate change on residents

Among those that believe in climate change, 58% indicated that they themselves are currently feeling the effects of climate change and a further 33% 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 58% somewhat confident. 30% 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?
Northern NSW 2025 (n = 192)
Australia (n = 4304)
I am feeling the effects of climate change
58%
47%
I am not feeling the effects of climate change, but expect to in my lifetime
33%
37%
I am not feeling the effects of climate change, and do not expect to in my lifetime
9%
16%
Significantly higher
Significantly lower
Northern NSW 2025 (n = 169)
Australia (n = 3506)
Very confident
9%
8%
Somewhat confident
58%
52%
Not very confident
22%
30%
Not at all confident
8%
6%
Don't know
3%
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 (74%), Food production, making it harder and more expensive to get food items (52%) and Challenges getting around (51%). 44% feel climate change will reduce their quality of life somewhat, and a further 23% 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?
Northern NSW 2025 (n = 169)
Australia (n = 3506)
Increased household running costs
74%
77%
Food production, making it harder and more expensive to get food items
52%
61%
Challenges getting around
51%
36%
My ability to leave my home due to weather
47%
46%
Essential infrastructure vulnerability
44%
40%
Loss or damage to your home/property
43%
29%
Transport infrastructure vulnerability
33%
29%
Challenges accessing essential services
33%
28%
My ability to access nature due to weather
28%
32%
Reduced personal safety or health to myself and/or those around me
24%
26%
Reduction in air quality
24%
36%
Reduced value to your home/property
22%
15%
None of these
0%
2%
Other
5%
3%
Significantly higher
Significantly lower
Northern NSW 2025 (n = 169)
Australia (n = 3506)
It will improve a lot
3%
2%
It will improve somewhat
4%
7%
It will not change
19%
14%
It will reduce somewhat
44%
49%
It will reduce a lot
23%
22%
Don't know
7%
6%
Significantly higher
Significantly lower

Concerns in Northern NSW in May 2025

What are the top three issues facing your local area?
Northern NSW 2025 (n = 218)
Australia (n = 4907)
Housing/Price of Housing
50%
50%
Inflation/Cost of Living
44%
54%
Law & order
39%
36%
Healthcare/Hospitals
29%
20%
Drug/Alcohol Abuse
22%
15%
Transport
20%
20%
Environmental Concerns
16%
10%
Unemployment
15%
9%
The Economy
11%
12%
Household Debt/Personal Debt
10%
13%
Population/Overpopulation
9%
13%
Petrol Prices/Fuel
8%
12%
Poverty/Inequality
7%
11%
Issues Facing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders
6%
4%
Education
6%
3%
Taxation
3%
6%
Race Relations/Racism
2%
5%
Defence
2%
1%
Immigration
1%
7%
Significantly higher
Significantly lower

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

What concerns do you have with residential development (building more homes to accommodate more people) in your local area?
Northern NSW 2025 (n = 218)
Australia (n = 4907)
Lack of affordable housing
45%
38%
Strain on infrastructure and public services
45%
42%
Rising housing costs
36%
35%
Environmental impact
34%
20%
Increased traffic and congestion
33%
46%
Loss of green space or natural areas
23%
28%
Changes to neighbourhood character
22%
21%
Overcrowding
10%
18%
Noise or disruption during construction
5%
10%
Other
6%
5%
None/not applicable to my area
5%
5%
Don't know
1%
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?
Northern NSW 2025 (n = 218)
Australia (n = 4906)
Support for local businesses and services
54%
42%
Increased housing availability
47%
49%
More affordable housing options
38%
37%
Attraction of new residents and economic growth
32%
23%
Improved infrastructure and amenities (e.g. roads, parks)
21%
18%
Opportunity for more sustainable, energy-efficient housing
15%
15%
Revitalisation of underused or vacant areas
13%
20%
Enhanced public transport options
11%
13%
Greater diversity in housing types
10%
10%
Other
3%
4%
None/not applicable to my area
13%
13%
Don’t know
1%
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?
Northern NSW 2025 (n = 218)
Australia (n = 4907)
Very well considered
3%
4%
Somewhat well considered
25%
27%
Not well considered
39%
34%
Not considered at all
27%
27%
Don't know
5%
9%
Significantly higher
Significantly lower