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Living in Australia community views

The Community Views team surveyed 207 residents from Southern NSW in May 2025.

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About the Living in Australia data-source
Living in Australia Report - 2024
About the survey - 2024

Southern NSW in Australia

Southern NSW is made up of Goulburn Mulwaree (A), Wollongong (C), Bega Valley (A), Shoalhaven (C), Eurobodalla (A), Shellharbour (C), Queanbeyan-Palerang Regional (A), Kiama (A), Snowy Monaro Regional (A), Wingecarribee (A), Hilltops (A), Yass Valley (A), and Upper Lachlan Shire (A).

Living in Southern NSW in May 2025

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Southern 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
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
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

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Southern NSW Overall Liveability Index

Southern NSW Overall Liveability Index 59.1

Australia Overall Liveability Index

Australia Overall Liveability Index 59.5

Southern NSW
Australia
Importance
Experience
Natural environment
Importance
Experience
63%
8.7
50%
7.6
Health services
Importance
Experience
60%
4.9
48%
6.1
Affordable decent housing
Importance
Experience
58%
3.7
56%
4.5
Feeling safe
Importance
Experience
57%
7.4
65%
6.2
Sense of community
Importance
Experience
42%
6.7
29%
6.2
Good job prospects
Importance
Experience
30%
4.8
29%
5.4
Social cohesion
Importance
Experience
29%
6.4
26%
6.3
Making your way
Importance
Experience
27%
5.7
30%
6.0
Shopping, leisure & dining
Importance
Experience
23%
5.0
26%
6.1
Public transport
Importance
Experience
22%
3.1
40%
5.2
A lack of road congestion
Importance
Experience
20%
6.5
21%
5.3
Education
Importance
Experience
18%
5.4
20%
6.3
Opportunity for all
Importance
Experience
18%
5.6
19%
5.9
A prosperous economy
Importance
Experience
13%
5.5
16%
5.6
Cultural facilities
Importance
Experience
12%
5.7
15%
5.8
Sports and recreation
Importance
Experience
9%
7.1
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

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Health and Wellbeing in Southern 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?
Southern NSW 2025 (n = 207)
6.8
Very poor
Excellent
Australia (n = 4907)
6.7
Very poor
Excellent
Significantly higher
Significantly lower
Southern NSW 2025 (n = 207)
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?
Southern NSW 2025 (n = 207)
7.0
Very poor
Excellent
Australia (n = 4907)
6.9
Very poor
Excellent
Significantly higher
Significantly lower
Southern NSW 2025 (n = 207)
11%
59%
30%
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?
Southern NSW 2025 (n = 207)
6.8
Very poor
Excellent
Australia (n = 4907)
6.5
Very poor
Excellent
Significantly higher
Significantly lower
Southern NSW 2025 (n = 207)
10%
69%
20%
Get worse
Stay the same
Get better
Australia (n = 4907)
11%
67%
22%
Get worse
Stay the same
Get better
Significantly higher
Significantly lower
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Financial circumstances in Southern 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?
Southern NSW 2025 (n = 207)
5.7
Very poor
Excellent
Australia (n = 4907)
5.7
Very poor
Excellent
Significantly higher
Significantly lower
Southern NSW 2025 (n = 207)
26%
56%
18%
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?
Southern NSW 2025 (n = 201)
Australia (n = 4683)
Always late
2%
2%
Often late
8%
6%
Sometimes late
29%
30%
Never late
61%
63%
Significantly higher
Significantly lower
Southern NSW 2025 (n = 207)
50%
37%
13%
Get worse
Stay the same
Get better
Australia (n = 4907)
42%
48%
11%
Get worse
Stay the same
Get better
Significantly higher
Significantly lower
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Impacts of climate change in Southern NSW in May 2025

Which of the following best describes your personal views on climate change?
Southern NSW 2025 (n = 207)
Australia (n = 4907)
It's happening - caused entirely or mostly by human activities
42%
43%
It's happening - caused equally by human activities and natural causes
31%
32%
It's happening - caused entirely or mostly by natural causes
9%
9%
It's happening - not sure what is causing it
7%
6%
I do not believe climate change is happening
12%
11%
Significantly higher
Significantly lower

Among those that believe in climate change, 58% indicated that their local area is currently feeling the effects of climate change and a further 28% expected their local area to feel the effects within their lifetime. Of those, 1% were very confident that their local area would be able to adapt to the effects of climate change and a further 31% 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?
Southern NSW 2025 (n = 181)
Australia (n = 4304)
My local area is feeling the effects of climate change
58%
49%
My local area is not feeling the effects of climate change, but expect it will in my lifetime
28%
36%
My local area is not feeling the effects of climate change, and do not expect it will in my lifetime
14%
15%
Significantly higher
Significantly lower
Southern NSW 2025 (n = 153)
Australia (n = 3585)
Very confident
1%
5%
Somewhat confident
31%
35%
Not very confident
40%
39%
Not at all confident
25%
15%
Don't know
3%
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: Bushfires (79%), Storms (68%) and Flooding (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 (69%), Educate residents on how to live more sustainably (67%) and Conserve natural resources (61%).

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?
Southern NSW 2025 (n = 153)
Australia (n = 3490)
Bushfires
79%
50%
Storms
68%
53%
Flooding
63%
48%
Droughts
54%
42%
Extreme heat
54%
74%
Severe wind
53%
44%
Sea level rise
49%
24%
Landslide
31%
7%
Extremely cold temperatures
12%
16%
Cyclones
8%
24%
Earthquakes
1%
5%
Other
7%
5%
None of these
1%
1%
Significantly higher
Significantly lower
Southern NSW 2025 (n = 153)
Australia (n = 3585)
Protect and enhance local biodiversity
69%
60%
Educate residents on how to live more sustainably
67%
53%
Conserve natural resources
61%
48%
Adopt renewable energy sources
56%
48%
More sustainable building and development practices
54%
44%
Provide options for recycling waste
50%
47%
Reduce pollution of the environment
50%
51%
Create renewable energy sources
50%
38%
Host renewable energy projects in the local area
49%
36%
Encourage residents to buy locally
45%
30%
Reduce carbon emissions in the local area
45%
35%
More sustainable transport options
37%
41%
Other
3%
6%
None of these
0%
2%
Significantly higher
Significantly lower
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Impacts of climate change on residents

Among those that believe in climate change, 56% indicated that they themselves are currently feeling the effects of climate change and a further 30% expected to within their lifetime. Of those, 8% were very confident that they would be able to adapt to the effects of climate change and a further 53% somewhat confident. 39% 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?
Southern NSW 2025 (n = 181)
Australia (n = 4304)
I am feeling the effects of climate change
56%
47%
I am not feeling the effects of climate change, but expect to in my lifetime
30%
37%
I am not feeling the effects of climate change, and do not expect to in my lifetime
14%
16%
Significantly higher
Significantly lower
Southern NSW 2025 (n = 152)
Australia (n = 3506)
Very confident
8%
8%
Somewhat confident
53%
52%
Not very confident
32%
30%
Not at all confident
7%
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 (76%), Food production, making it harder and more expensive to get food items (61%) and Essential infrastructure vulnerability (52%). 48% feel climate change will reduce their quality of life somewhat, and a further 29% 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?
Southern NSW 2025 (n = 152)
Australia (n = 3506)
Increased household running costs
76%
77%
Food production, making it harder and more expensive to get food items
61%
61%
Essential infrastructure vulnerability
52%
40%
My ability to access nature due to weather
43%
32%
Loss or damage to your home/property
42%
29%
My ability to leave my home due to weather
41%
46%
Challenges getting around
40%
36%
Challenges accessing essential services
37%
28%
Transport infrastructure vulnerability
37%
29%
Reduction in air quality
29%
36%
Reduced personal safety or health to myself and/or those around me
27%
26%
Reduced value to your home/property
19%
15%
None of these
1%
2%
Other
3%
3%
Significantly higher
Significantly lower
Southern NSW 2025 (n = 152)
Australia (n = 3506)
It will improve a lot
3%
2%
It will improve somewhat
4%
7%
It will not change
13%
14%
It will reduce somewhat
48%
49%
It will reduce a lot
29%
22%
Don't know
3%
6%
Significantly higher
Significantly lower
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Concerns in Southern NSW in May 2025

What are the top three issues facing your local area?
Southern NSW 2025 (n = 207)
Australia (n = 4907)
Housing/Price of Housing
66%
50%
Inflation/Cost of Living
51%
54%
Healthcare/Hospitals
43%
20%
Transport
28%
20%
Law & order
18%
36%
The Economy
13%
12%
Household Debt/Personal Debt
12%
13%
Petrol Prices/Fuel
11%
12%
Poverty/Inequality
10%
11%
Unemployment
9%
9%
Drug/Alcohol Abuse
9%
15%
Population/Overpopulation
9%
13%
Environmental Concerns
7%
10%
Education
4%
3%
Race Relations/Racism
3%
5%
Immigration
3%
7%
Issues Facing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders
2%
4%
Taxation
2%
6%
Defence
2%
1%
Significantly higher
Significantly lower
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Residential Development and Local Area Decision-Making in Southern NSW in May 2025

What concerns do you have with residential development (building more homes to accommodate more people) in your local area?
Southern NSW 2025 (n = 207)
Australia (n = 4907)
Strain on infrastructure and public services
54%
42%
Lack of affordable housing
44%
38%
Increased traffic and congestion
39%
46%
Environmental impact
31%
20%
Rising housing costs
29%
35%
Loss of green space or natural areas
26%
28%
Changes to neighbourhood character
20%
21%
Overcrowding
11%
18%
Noise or disruption during construction
2%
10%
Other
3%
5%
None/not applicable to my area
8%
5%
Don't know
1%
1%
Significantly higher
Significantly lower
What other concerns do you have with residential development in your local area?
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What do you see as the potential benefits of residential development (building more homes to accommodate more people) in your local area?
Southern NSW 2025 (n = 207)
Australia (n = 4906)
Increased housing availability
48%
49%
Support for local businesses and services
37%
42%
More affordable housing options
36%
37%
Attraction of new residents and economic growth
26%
23%
Improved infrastructure and amenities (e.g. roads, parks)
17%
18%
Revitalisation of underused or vacant areas
14%
20%
Greater diversity in housing types
12%
10%
Opportunity for more sustainable, energy-efficient housing
11%
15%
Enhanced public transport options
11%
13%
Other
4%
4%
None/not applicable to my area
15%
13%
Don’t know
4%
3%
Significantly higher
Significantly lower
What do you see as the other potential benefits of residential development in your local area?
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To what extent do you feel your community’s views are considered in local area decision-making?
Southern NSW 2025 (n = 207)
Australia (n = 4907)
Very well considered
3%
4%
Somewhat well considered
19%
27%
Not well considered
42%
34%
Not considered at all
32%
27%
Don't know
4%
9%
Significantly higher
Significantly lower