City of Lake Macquarie New South Wales | |||||||||||||||
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Coordinates | 33°02′S151°38′E / 33.033°S 151.633°E | ||||||||||||||
Population | 213,845 (2021 census) [1] (23rd) | ||||||||||||||
• Density | 315/km2 (820/sq mi) | ||||||||||||||
Established |
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Area | 648 km2 (250.2 sq mi) [2] | ||||||||||||||
Time zone | AEST (UTC+10) | ||||||||||||||
• Summer (DST) | AEDT (UTC+11) | ||||||||||||||
Mayor | Kay Fraser [3] | ||||||||||||||
Council seat | Speers Point | ||||||||||||||
Region | Hunter [4] | ||||||||||||||
State electorate(s) | |||||||||||||||
Federal division(s) | |||||||||||||||
Website | City of Lake Macquarie | ||||||||||||||
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The City of Lake Macquarie is a local government area in the Hunter Region in New South Wales, Australia. It was proclaimed a city from 7 September 1984. The city is situated adjacent to the city of Newcastle and is widely considered as a part of the Greater Newcastle area. [11] The city is approximately 150 km (93 mi) north of Sydney. One of its major tourist attractions is its lake, also named Lake Macquarie.
The mayor of the City of Lake Macquarie Council is Councillor Kay Fraser, a member of the Labor Party. [3]
The Royal Australian Navy ship HMAS Tobruk was granted the Right of Freedom of Entry to the City of Lake Macquarie on 9 August 1991. [12]
The Shire of Lake Macquarie was proclaimed on 6 March 1906. It became a Municipality on 1 March 1977, and a city on 7 September 1984. [13] [14]
Lake Macquarie is home to several prominent coastal suburbs such as Catherine Hill Bay, Caves Beach, Blacksmiths and Redhead. Retail and commercial centres include Belmont, Cardiff, Charlestown Glendale, Swansea, Toronto and Morisset.
The towns and villages in the City of Lake Macquarie are split into three wards – East, North and West. [15] These include:
The Australian Bureau of Statistics classifies various towns and suburbs in the LGA as being part of the Greater Newcastle Statistical District. The City of Lake Macquarie has its own independent local government (Lake Macquarie City Council). The largest commercial centre in the area is Charlestown.
Lake Macquarie suburbs (2021) | |||
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Charlestown | 13,601 | ||
Cameron Park | 9,977 | ||
Warners Bay | 8,237 | ||
Belmont | 7,289 | ||
Cooranbong | 7,077 | ||
Eleebana | 6,460 | ||
Edgeworth | 6,401 |
The area is a set of contiguous towns that surround a coastal saltwater lake. These towns 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. There are 92 identified settlements ranging from small rural style communities through to larger and higher density areas such as Toronto, Warners Bay, Belmont, Charlestown and Morisset.
At the 2011 census, there were 189,006 people in the Lake Macquarie local government area, of these 48.8% were male and 51.2% were female. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people made up 3.0% of the population, which was higher than the national and state averages. The median age of people in the City of Lake Macquarie was 41 years, which was significantly higher than the national median of 37 years. Children aged 0 – 14 years made up 18.6% of the population and people aged 65 years and over made up 18.4% of the population. Of people in the area aged 15 years and over, 51.0% were married and 12.2% were either divorced or separated. [16]
Population growth in the City of Lake Macquarie between the 2001 census and the 2006 census was 3.36%; and in the subsequent five years to the 2011 Census, population growth was 3.20%. When compared with total population growth of Australia for the same periods, being 5.78% and 8.32% respectively, population growth in Lake Macquarie local government area was approximately half the national average. [17] The median weekly income for residents within the City of Lake Macquarie was marginally below the national average. [16] [18]
At the 2011 Census, the proportion of residents in the Lake Macquarie local government area who stated their ancestry as Australian or Anglo-Celtic exceeded 81% of all residents (national average was 65.2%). In excess of 58% of all residents in the City of Lake Macquarie nominated a religious affiliation with Christianity at the 2011 census, which was slightly higher than the national average of 50.2%. Meanwhile, as at the census date, compared to the national average, households in the Lake Macquarie local government area had a significantly lower than average proportion (5.4%) where two or more languages are spoken (national average was 20.4%); and a significantly higher proportion (93.0%) where English only was spoken at home (national average was 76.8%). [16]
Census year | 2001 [17] | 2006 [18] | 2011 [16] | 2016 [19] | 2021 [1] | ||
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Population | Estimated residents on Census night | 177,185 | 183,138 | 189,006 | 197,371 | 213,845 | |
LGA rank in terms of size within New South Wales | 4th | 4th | 13th | ||||
% of New South Wales population | 2.73% | 2.64% | 2.65% | ||||
% of Australian population | 0.94% | 0.92% | 0.88% | 0.84% | 0.84% | ||
Cultural and language diversity | |||||||
Ancestry, top responses | Australian | 33.7% | 32.0% | 42.7% | |||
English | 32.2% | 31.9% | 43.9% | ||||
Scottish | 8.2% | 8.6% | 11.8% | ||||
Irish | 7.7% | 8.3% | 10.9% | ||||
German | 3.0% | 3.1% | |||||
Language, top responses (other than English) | Italian | 0.3% | 0.3% | 0.3% | 0.2% | ||
Macedonian | 0.3% | 0.3% | 0.3% | 0.3% | 0.2% | ||
Mandarin | 0.3% | 0.3% | |||||
Italian | 0.3% | 0.2% | |||||
German | 0.3% | 0.3% | 0.3% | 0.2% | 0.2% | ||
Cantonese | n/c | 0.2% | 0.2% | ||||
Spanish | n/c | n/c | 0.2% | 0.2% | 0.2% | ||
Religious affiliation | |||||||
Religious affiliation, top responses | No Religion | 12.5% | 15.5% | 19.7% | 28.9% | 42.0% | |
Anglican | 29.1% | 27.6% | 26.2% | 21.3% | 15.7% | ||
Catholic | 23.0% | 22.9% | 22.8% | 20.8% | 18.0% | ||
Uniting Church | 10.0% | 8.8% | 5.8% | 5.9% | 4.1% | ||
Presbyterian and Reformed | 4.4% | 4.0% | 3.6% | ||||
Median weekly incomes | |||||||
Personal income | Median weekly personal income | A$394 | A$520 | A$609 | A$759 | ||
% of Australian median income | 84.5% | 90.1% | 92% | 94.3% | |||
Family income | Median weekly family income | A$922 | A$1,396 | A$1,610 | A$2,050 | ||
% of Australian median income | 89.8% | 94.3% | 92.8% | 96.7% | |||
Household income | Median weekly household income | A$1,102 | A$1,177 | A$1,313 | A$1,623 | ||
% of Australian median income | 94.1% | 90.5% | 91.3% | 93.0% |
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. [20] Lake Macquarie has a number of Constructed Wetlands with the council placing an emphasis on the environment.
Lake Macquarie City Council is composed of thirteen councillors, including the mayor, for a fixed four-year term of office. The mayor is directly elected while the twelve other Councillors are elected proportionally as three separate wards, each electing four Councillors. The most recent election was held on 04 December 2021, and the makeup of the council, including the mayor, is as follows: [21]
Party | Councillors | |
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Labor Party | 7 | |
Liberal Party | 3 | |
Lake Mac Independents | 3 | |
Total | 13 |
The current Council, elected in 2021, in order of election by ward, is:
Ward | Councillor | Party | Notes | |
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Mayor [22] | Kay Fraser | Labor | ||
East Ward [23] | Adam Shultz | Labor | ||
Nick Jones | Liberal | |||
Christine Buckley | Labor | |||
Kate Warner | Lake Mac Independents | |||
North Ward [24] | Brian Adamthwaite | Labor | ||
Jack Antcliff | Liberal | |||
Keara Conroy | Labor | |||
Colin Grigg | Lake Mac Independents | |||
West Ward [25] | David Belcher | Labor | ||
Jason Pauling | Liberal | |||
Luke Cubis | Lake Mac Independents | |||
Madeline Bishop | Labor | |||
Major shopping centres include:
Lake Macquarie has a number of cultural and artistic locations: [26]
The City of Lake Macquarie has sister city relations with the following cities: [27]
The Hunter Region, also commonly known as the Hunter Valley, Newcastle Region or simply Hunter, is a region in northern New South Wales, Australia, extending from approximately 162 km (101 mi) to 310 km (193 mi) north of Sydney. It contains the Hunter River and its tributaries with highland areas to the north and south. Situated at the northern end of the Sydney Basin bioregion, the Hunter Valley is one of the largest river valleys on the NSW coast, and is most commonly known for its wineries and coal industry.
City of Cessnock is a local government area in the Hunter region of New South Wales, Australia. The area under administration is located to the west of Newcastle. The largest population centre and council seat is the city of Cessnock.
The Lane Cove Council is a local government area located on the Lower North Shore of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. The administrative seat of Lane Cove is located 10 kilometres (6.2 mi) north-west of the Sydney central business district.
The City of Parramatta, also known as Parramatta Council, is a local government area located to the west and north-west of Sydney CBD in the Greater Western Sydney region. Parramatta Council is situated between the City of Ryde and Cumberland, where the Cumberland Plain meets the Hornsby Plateau, approximately 25 kilometres (16 mi) west of the Sydney central business district, in New South Wales, Australia. The city occupies an area of 84 square kilometres (32 sq mi) spanning across suburbs in Greater Western Sydney including the Hills District, and a small section of Northern Sydney to the far north east of its area. According to the 2016 census, City of Parramatta had an estimated population of 226,149. The city houses the Parramatta central business district which is one of the key suburban employment destinations for the region of Greater Western Sydney.
The City of Liverpool is a local government area, administered by Liverpool City Council, located in the south-west of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. The area encompasses 305.5 square kilometres (118.0 sq mi) and its administrative centre is located in the suburb of Liverpool.
Port Macquarie-Hastings Council is a local government area in the Mid North Coast region of New South Wales, Australia.
Speers Point is a suburb of Greater Newcastle, and the location of the council seat of the City of Lake Macquarie local government area in New South Wales, Australia. It is 17 kilometres (10.6 mi) west-southwest of the city of Newcastle on the northern shore of Lake Macquarie, in Cockle and Warners Bays, between the suburbs of Cardiff and Warners Bay.
Port Stephens Council is a local government area in the Hunter Region of New South Wales, Australia. The area is just north of Newcastle and is adjacent to the Pacific Highway which runs through Raymond Terrace, the largest town and Council seat. The area is named after Port Stephens, which is the major geographical feature of the area. It extends generally from the Hunter River in the south, to near Clarence Town in the north, and from the Tasman Sea in the east, to just south of Paterson in the west. The mayor of Port Stephens Council is Ryan Palmer. Palmer was caught in a major scandal in 2022 following the purchase of an $86,000 Ford Ranger for mayoral and personal use. Port Stephens is about two and a half hours north of Sydney.
Great Lakes Council was a local government area in the Mid North Coast region of New South Wales, Australia. The area is situated adjacent to the shores of Port Stephens, Myall Lakes and Wallis Lake and the Pacific Highway and the Lakes Way. On 12 May 2016 the council was dissolved and the area included in the Mid-Coast Council, along with the City of Greater Taree and Gloucester Shire.
Central Darling Shire is a local government area in the Far West region of New South Wales, Australia. The Shire is located adjacent to the Barrier Highway. Central Darling Shire was constituted in 1959 and at 53,511 square kilometres (20,661 sq mi), it is the largest incorporated local government area in New South Wales.
Windale is a suburb of the city of Lake Macquarie, in the Newcastle metropolitan area. It is located west of the junction of the Pacific Highway and Newcastle Inner City Bypass, covering an area of 1.7 km2 (0.7 sq mi). Windale is a lower socio-economic area consisting largely of public housing homes, and has historically been known for its high rates of alcoholism, crime and unemployment, however recent local government efforts to regenerate the area have been somewhat successful. The suburb was listed as one of the most socially disadvantaged areas in the State according to the 2015 Dropping Off The Edge report.
The City of Maitland is a local government area in the lower Hunter region of New South Wales, Australia. The area is situated adjacent to the New England Highway and the Hunter railway line.
The City of Newcastle is a local government area in the Hunter region of New South Wales, Australia. The City of Newcastle incorporates much of the area of the Newcastle metropolitan area.
Dungog Shire is a local government area in the Hunter region of New South Wales, Australia. The Shire is situated adjacent to the Barrington Tops and consists predominantly of very rugged to hilly country which becomes less rugged from north to south.
Wyee is a small town in Greater Newcastle that is located in the City of Lake Macquarie local government area in the Hunter region of New South Wales, Australia. The town is near the Pacific Motorway and has a railway station which opened in 1892 that is on NSW TrainLink's Central Coast & Newcastle Line which is part of the Main Northern NSW line. It had a population of 1,487 in 2001, which significantly increased to 2,588 in 2011, and decreased to 2,406 in 2016.
Barnsley is a township in New South Wales, Australia, 21 kilometres (13 mi) west of Newcastle's central business district. It is a suburb of the City of Lake Macquarie local government area.
Lakelands is a residential suburb of the City of Lake Macquarie, New South Wales, Australia 16 kilometres (10 mi) south-west of Newcastle's central business district near the northern end of Lake Macquarie. It is part of the City of Lake Macquarie west ward, and was formerly part of Warners Bay.
Kilaben Bay is a suburb of the city of Lake Macquarie in the Hunter Region of New South Wales, Australia.
Adamstown Heights is a southern suburb of Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia, located 8 kilometres (5 mi) west-southwest of Newcastle's central business district along the Pacific Highway. It is split between the City of Lake Macquarie and City of Newcastle local government areas. On 6 September 1991 Adamstown heights officially become a suburb of Newcastle.