1 in 3 Blacktown residents in financial survival mode from Covid pandemic

A study of over 80,000 people has revealed the alarming number of residents being crippled by the pandemic, with Blacktown being one of the main suburbs feeling the squeeze.

A National Growth Areas Alliance (NGAA)-commissioned study that analysed more than 80,000 interviews from outer Sydney residents revealed the true damage of the Covid pandemic on communities including Blacktown City.

The outer suburbs of Sydney faced some of the strictest lockdowns and restrictions during the ongoing pandemic and data has revealed that it has financially crippled many local residents.

The NGAA study, which used data compiled by Quantum, revealed that almost half of residents interviewed from the Blacktown LGA said they had strong concerns about the Covid-19 situation.

Of those respondents, the top five concerns include the impact on children’s education (66 per cent, burden on the healthcare system if cases were to accelerate (65 per cent) local businesses (60 per cent), the Australian economy (61 per cent), and personal financial situations (55 per cent).

Several essential workers call the Blacktown council area home.

What was even more alarming was one in three Blacktown LGA residents said they were living in financial survival mode, with two in three saying they felt that if the main income earner in their household became unemployed they would really struggle to find work.

Almost half of Blacktown City residents (47 per cent) said they had strong concerns about their ability to meet their financial needs in the next five years.

The research also revealed that over half of residents living in the outer metropolitan growth areas (51 per cent) said they were struggling to pay at least one bill, particularly energy, groceries, rent and personal loans. This figure reached 64 per cent for individuals under 40.

NGAA chief executive officer Bronwen Clark said outer metropolitan suburbs such as Blacktown consisted of the most “essential workers” and believes the government had failed to understand the stress that put on those residents.

Financial worries linger for the Blacktown community. Picture: James Gourley

“Our outer suburbs are home to the most essential workers and faced the strictest lockdowns,’’ she said.

“These are the communities that saw us through the pandemic and to date governments have failed to understand their needs. Now, governments must join the dots between high Covid rates, high outbreak risk factors and the lag in social infrastructure in fast growing outer suburbs.’’