City of Lake Macquarie

The City of Lake Macquarie is a Local Government Area in New South Wales, Australia, approximately 150 km (93 mi) north of Sydney. It is immediately adjacent to the city of Newcastle and was proclaimed as a city from 7 September 1984.

The City of Lake Macquarie

The City of Lake Macquarie has an estimated population of 199,277 (Australian Bureau of Statistics 2009 estimate) and is the fourth largest Local Government Area in NSW by population (the two largest, Blacktown and Sutherland, are within metropolitan Sydney while the third largest is Wollongong). Its population is much larger than that of the City of Newcastle (pop. 152,659 ABS 2009) and similar to that of the City of Wollongong. One of its major tourist attractions is its lake, also named Lake Macquarie.

Lake Macquarie is classified as a "city", but there is no significant distinction between the terms "city", "shire", and "municipality" as applied to Local Government Areas in New South Wales. The area is demographically a set of closely contiguous towns that surround a coastal saltwater lake, and 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.

History

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.^[2][3][4]

Demographics

According to the Australian Bureau Statistics,^[5] there:

• were 189,596 people as at 30 June 2006, the 4th largest Local Government Area in New South Wales. It was equal to 2.8% of the New South Wales population of 6,827,694
• was, in percentage terms, an increase of 0.2% in the number of people over the year to 30 June 2006, the 126th fastest growth in population of a Local Government Area in New South Wales.
• was an increase in population over the 10 years to 30 June 2006 of 12,846 people or 7.3% (0.7% in annual average terms).

Main towns and villages

Lake Macquarie is home to several prominent coastal suburbs such as Catherine Hill Bay, Caves Beach, Blacksmiths Beach and Redhead. The area is known for its world-famous surfing conditions. Retail centres include Belmont, Cardiff, Charlestown, Glendale, Swansea, Toronto, and Morisset with its large area and rapidly increasing developments. (see below).

Significant population centres include:

• Belmont
• Boolaroo
• Booragul
• Cardiff
• Charlestown
• Eleebana
• Glendale
• Morisset
• Speers Point
• Swansea
• Toronto
• Valentine
• Warners Bay

The various towns and suburbs are classified as being part of the Newcastle Statistical District, so their population is included when Newcastle is commonly listed as Australia's sixth largest city. However, the City of Lake Macquarie has its own independent local government (Lake Macquarie City Council), which is planning to develop a new Central Business District. The largest commercial centre in the region is Charlestown which has a turnover greater than that of Newcastle's central business district.

Shopping

• Charlestown Square
• Stockland Glendale
• Lake Macquarie Fair
• Morisset Mega Market
• Morisset Square
• Morisset Industrial Estate
• Morisset Marketplace -under construction

Freedom of the City

The following persons have been granted Freedom to the City of Lake Macquarie.

Economics

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.^[7] Lake Macquarie has a number of Constructed Wetlands with the council placing an empasis on the environment.

Council

Lake Macquarie City Council is composed of twelve councillors elected proportionally. The area is divided into three wards, each electing four councillors. The mayor is directly elected.^[8] The current makeup of the council is as follows:^[8]

The current council, elected in 2008, is:^[8]

• ILA: Independent Lake Alliance

Gallery

Sister cities

See also

• List of mayors of the City of Lake Macquarie
• List of cities in Australia
• Eraring Power Station
• Vales Point Power Station

References

External links

• Lake Macquarie City Council
• Lake Macquarie Business Directory
• Lake Macquarie City
• Clickable map of New South Wales LGAs (NSW Dept. of Local Government)
• Rathmines Community Website and Forum

• Shires of Australia at statoids.com