The figures confirmed that our local government area (LGA) is growing and that we are on track to reach 250,000 residents by 2031.
We will be adding 55,000 more jobs between 2006 and 2036, the third highest rate of employment growth for a NSW LGA at 88%.
In 2011 our Gross Regional Product was an impressive $7.8 billion. The figures also revealed that the face of the LGA is changing.
Like much of Australia, the Sydney Hills has an ageing population, but our biggest service age group is still parents and young homebuilders aged 35-49.
The strongest growth was recorded among empty nesters and retirees (60-69) and seniors (70-84), recording 31% and 30% growth respectively.
We also became a more multicultural LGA, with the number of Mandarin speakers rising by 72%. Mandarin still ranks behind Cantonese but in front of Korean, Arabic and Hindi in the top five languages other than English spoken in the Sydney Hills.
So how do we manage this growing, yet ageing population? How do we accommodate all these new residents? By rejuvenating and renewing our infrastructure and improving connectivity - we can manage our future growth, connect our community and build a better quality of life for Sydney Hills residents and businesses.
The Sydney Hills has always had an idyllic, pleasant aura about it. People have seen the area as a great place to raise the kids and lead a quiet, peaceful suburban life.
They can still do that, but we’re now seeing multinational corporations set up shop in our own backyard. Instead of our residents having to travel to the CBD for work, they now have options close to home.
Our commercial and industrial centre is the Norwest Business Park and Castle Hill Trading Zone. Around 39% of all people who work in the Sydney Hills are based in the Business Park and Trading Zone.
Wages and salaries of $1.6 billion are paid annually to these workers. Most jobs are in retail (the bulk of those at Woolworths Head Office); wholesale trade; professional, scientific and technical services; technical equipment and appliance manufacturing; and financial and insurance services.
The Norwest Business Park and Castle Hill Trading Zones will be further opened up to business once the North West Rail Link is up and running.
Not only will our residents have a more reliable and efficient mode of transport to the CBD, but businesses based in the Sydney Hills will have greater access to talented employees and potential customers.
The arrival of the North West Rail Link may help rid the Sydney Hills of its heavy reliance on private cars. Currently, we’re the car capital of Sydney. 97% of our households have access to a car. An integrated, connected and reliable public transport network will ease congestion and improve quality of life.
The Census data also revealed where our new residents are coming from. The top ten LGA’s ranked by net gain to the Sydney Hills are all within the Sydney Metropolitan area. Most of our new residents come from Parramatta, Hornsby and Holroyd.
That underlines that the Sydney Hills is an area that Sydneysiders aspire to live in. So we welcome these new residents and encourage the growth of our economy. The Sydney Hills will continue to be that peaceful, pleasant, suburban corner of north-west Sydney, but it is also becoming a thriving commercial and industrial centre that will soon be better connected internally, and to the rest of Sydney.
Clr Dr Michelle Byrne is Mayor of The Hills Shire.
