REGIONAL SNAPSHOT

Population and Distribution
Employment, Business & Industry

Quick Stats

Population:	103,668 people (2006 ABS Statistics)
Total Area:	62,000 square kilometres
Shires:	Balranald, Berrigan, Campaspe, Conargo, Deniliquin, Gannwarra, Jerilderie, Murray, Swan Hill Rural City, Wakool
Major Service Centres:	Echuca, Rochester, Cohuna, Kerang, Swan Hill, Robinvale, Balranald, Barham, Deniliquin, Barooga, Tocumwal, Finley, Berrigan, Jerilderie
Population Growth:	1.8%
Key Industries:	Agriculture (45.1%), Property & Business Services (11%), Construction (10.3%), Retail Trade (8.7%) and Transport & Storage (4.9%)

Polulation and Distribution

The estimated population of the Central Murray region as at 30th June 2006 was 103,668 people.  Over 67% of these people live in areas of the three Victorian municipalities, despite the fact that it is New South Wales that geographically covers more than three times the area of the Victorian portion of the region. Over the ten year period, between 1996 and 2006, four of the ten local Government areas within the Central Murray region experienced a positive growth rate. Berrigan, Campaspe, Swan Hill and Murray each experienced an increase, Murray being ranked as one of the fastest and largest population inclines within regional New South Wales.  The age profile of the region has also shifted considerably over the years. While in 1996, the median age across the region was 36, today it is between 41 and 42. The Wakool shire has experienced the largest shift in age, followed by Berrigan, Jerilderie and Balranald, all outlying rural districts of New South Wales. These findings reinforce the need for communities to address the issue of youth retention. Employment, Business & Industry Similar to the population distribution, the majority of employment within the Central Murray region is provided within the three Victorian shires of Campaspe, Swan Hill and Gannawarra, combined contributing to over 67% of employment in the region. The seven New South Wales shires contribute the remaining 33% of employment in the region. In the 12 month period between September 2006 and September 2007, each of the ten local Government areas in the Central Murray has reduced the rate of unemployment considerably. Campaspe, the shire which provides over one third of the total employment within the region, has shown considerable improvement, reducing the unemployment rate by 1.4%, providing 270 employment positions. Furthermore, the Central Murray region as a whole had positive results, reducing the unemployment rate by 0.9% to 3.7%, which translates to over 511 employment positions in the region. Agriculture has long been, and continues to be, the most significant individual employment sector in the Central Murray region, contributing to over 45% of all businesses. Property and business services and Construction each represent over 10% of businesses in the region, followed closely by the Retail trade.