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Population rises 4.7 per cent

The population of the Peninsula has increased 4.7 per cent in five years, according to postcode-based Census figures.

This compares with a State average of 5.5 per cent and a figure of 2.7 per cent used by Gosford Council in its Peninsula open space contributions plan.

The population living in 2256 and 2257 postcode areas was 41,360 on Census night, August 7 last year, according to figures released last month.

This compares to a population of 39,494 for the same postcode areas in the previous census, and was an increase of 4.7 per cent.

The male population increased just 4.0 per cent from 18,994 to 19,746 while the female population increased 5.4 per cent from 20,500 to 21,614.

The median age of the population was 43, compared to a State average of 35.

The total number of occupied dwellings increased from 16,571 to 17,568, a 6.0 per cent rise.

The total number of households/families in the area increased more slowly, however, from 16,275 to 16,849, a 3.5 per cent increase.

This meant that the number of persons per household increased from an average of 2.43 to 2.45, compared to a State average of 2.6.

The median weekly housing loan repayment ($1000-$1199), the median weekly rental ($150-$199) and the median weekly individual income ($300-$399) were all in the same brackets as the NSW average.

The median weekly household income, however, was $600-$699 in 2257 areas and $500-$599 in 2256 areas, compared to a State median in the $800-$999 range.

The most common household type remained lone person households, increasing slightly from 29 to 30 per cent of all households over the five year period.

In the Woy Woy 2256 area, they represented 35 per cent of all households. This is more than four times the State average of 8.8 per cent.

Couples without children were the next most common at 28 per cent (NSW 35 per cent).

Couples with children were just 25 per cent, almost half the State average of 48 per cent.

Single parent families increased from 10.9 per cent of households to 12.6 but still less than the State average of 15.5 per cent.

The proportion of Peninsula residents who did not state a classifiable qualification was higher than the State average, at 70.3 per cent compared to 63.8 per cent across the State.

However, the number of people claiming a qualification rose from 8088 to 10,021, an increase of 29.7 per cent - much higher than the State average of 22.0 per cent.

Most qualifications were certificate level, with the average for certificates and diplomas (23.4 per cent) being slightly above the State average (22.7 per cent).

The average for bachelor degrees (4.8 per cent) and post-graduate qualifications (1.6 per cent) were both less than half the State averages of 10.1 per cent and 3.4 per cent respectively.

More than half the population (57.6 per cent) has not had schooling beyond Year 10, with almost a quarter (24.2 per cent) not having schooling beyond Year 9.

The numbers of employed persons rose 6.9 per cent, with the numbers of employed professionals rising 21.8 per cent.

The professionals represented 14.6 per cent of those employed, well below the State average of 19.1 per cent.

The Peninsula had a higher than average proportion of tradespeople (14.2 per cent compared to 11.9) and an increasing, above average proportion of intermediate (27.5 per cent) and elementary (11.3 per cent) skilled workers.

Mark Snell, December 11