ABS data shows how many people moving to Coffs Coast from cities
We all know the Coffs Coast is experiencing a boom but where are all the people coming from and which local towns are the most popular.
Coffs Harbour
Don't miss out on the headlines from Coffs Harbour. Followed categories will be added to My News.
With a booming housing market, renters feeling the pinch and homelessness on the rise the pace of population growth in the regions has been well publicised.
But where are people moving to the Coffs Coast coming from?
According to data released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics and collated by demographic experts Id Australia, more people moved to Coffs Harbour from the Clarence Valley than any other Local Government Area.
A total of 1171 people moved to Coffs from the Clarence, however, there were just as many people (1163) headed the other way between July 2016 and June 2020.
While the data is yet to encapsulate the post-pandemic boom, the numbers shows Coffs Harbour has had net growth of an estimated 466 internal migrants in just four years.
Perhaps an indication of the growing housing issues impacting Bellingen, the LGA topped the list for net migration to Coffs Harbour with 1,001 people moving out and just 770 moving inland.
However, like Coffs Harbour the population of Bellingen is growing and the LGAs with the highest net migration to the mid north coast village are the Northern Beaches (91) and the Inner West (66).
In fact, more people from the Northern Beaches moved to Bellingen than they did Darwin.
When it comes to losing residents it seems those in Coffs Harbour have a soft spot for the sun, with a huge number moving to either Brisbane (1,003) or the Gold Coast (1,156).
The data is taken from the ABS’ Regional Internal Migration Estimates dataset which forms part of annual population estimates and is derived from a variety of sources including Medicare records.
While the data shows internal migration slowed in 2019-20 anecdotal evidence and housing data points to a surge in population growth in regional towns over the past year.
So much so, housing has been put firmly on the agenda by the community as various levels of government look to find ways of easing the crisis.
Last week Coffs Harbour City Council decided to forge ahead with its plan to develop an affordable housing policy by considering allocating $110,000 to the project at its next quarterly budget review.
While traditionally the remit of the State Government, council is looking to step in and investigate ways it can play a role in the provision of affordable and/or social housing.
Cr Sally Townley thanked staff for their work on the “new direction” which began in May.
“I think we all agree (housing) is a huge area and we want to do what we can towards it,” she said. “I look forward to seeing what comes of it.”
Ground ‘covered in junkie needles’ ahead of kids sporting event
Several syringes have been found strewn across the grass near a major international sports stadium in the lead-up to one of the state’s biggest junior sporting events of the year.
‘You look grown up’: Landscaper preyed on teen
A Mid-North Coast landscaper told a teen “you look grown up” before grabbing her on the breasts and on another occasion lay next to her and said “you smell good”.