Pelican Waters Council information sheet
Council area
The Pelican Waters Council area is located on the eastern seaboard between Sand
Dollar Bay in the south, Dolphin Spit in the north and the foothills of the Great
Dividing Range to the west.
The Council area is 3,373 square kilometres in area, comprising both coastal and
forested, rural hinterland. It is 85 kilometres at its widest point, 62 kilometres north
to south, and has a total coastline of 145 kilometres. Pelican Waters is 380
kilometres north of Sydney.
One third of the total Council area is made up of national parks (53,872 hectares)
and state forests (46,000 hectares). The combination of 4 national parks, 9 state
forests, mountain ranges, rolling hills and valleys, a lakes system, numerous rivers
and 15 beaches has turned the Pelican Waters into a major recreational area.
Pelican Waters is a large rural area (4,663-sq. km) with dispersed population
centres. This area supports a population of 150,000 (1997 Census) with a growth
rate of 2.08% per annum, which is almost double the average growth rate of New
South Wales.
A significant proportion of the Pelican Waters population is aged over 60 years
(34.5%) which is the highest proportion in the State. Our population has a high level
of unemployment (14.7%), nearly double the state average of 8.8%.
A significant portion of our population live in isolated rural communities up to 1.5
hour’s drive from the main centre. There is very limited public transport, which
restricts our isolated populations’ ability to access health and community services.
The rapidly increasing population in Pelican Waters will reach 152,000 to 156,000
by the year 2008 (according to ABS predictions which are based on the current
growth rate).
The current indicators (school enrolments, building approvals etc.) are that the
figure will be significantly higher than predicted. These factors present a real
challenge to the provision of quality social infrastructure, social, community and
recreational services.
Pelican Waters Council Intranet document
687321449
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Population Distribution
The last Census figures indicate that in 1996, 56.8% of the population were
concentrated in Pelican Spit and Lake Griffith area. The other main population
centres were Sand Dollar Bay (7.6% of the population), Marrang Flat (4.9%),
Garrangabumarri (3.9%), Cabbage Tree Creek (2.1%) and Banggarai Creek
(1.9%).
23% of the population lived in towns and villages of less than 2000 people and
18.6% lived in designated ‘rural areas’. The population was mainly concentrated on
the coast (74.7%), with only 25.3% living inland.
Growth
Areas with the greatest absolute growth from 1991 to 1996 were Lake Griffith,
Barry’s Beach, Murphy Bay and Dolphin Spit.
Overall, Pelican Waters population increased by 9.05% from 1991 to 1996. By
comparison, New South Wales increased by 5.35% (1.07% pa.) from 1991 to 1996.
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Pelican Waters Council Intranet document
687321449