Central Coast, New South Wales

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The Central Coast is an urban region in the Australian state of New South Wales, located on the coastline north of Sydney and south of Lake Macquarie and Newcastle. The Central Coast has an approximate population of 304,600 making it the third largest urban area in New South Wales and the ninth largest urban area in Australia. Geographically, the Central Coast is generally considered to include the region bounded by the Hawkesbury River in the south, the Watagan Mountains in the west and the southern end of Lake Macquarie in the north. Politically, it is administered as two local government areas, Gosford City Council and Wyong Shire Council.

1 Geography
2 Population
3 Transport
4 Future issues
5 Radio Stations
6 Notes

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Geography

The region is a network of towns that have been linked in recent years by expanding suburban development. The main urban cluster of the region surrounds the northern shore of Brisbane Water and includes the Coast's central town, Gosford, stretching east to the retail centre of Erina. Other major commercial centres on the Coast are Wyong, Tuggerah, The Entrance, Terrigal, and Woy Woy. Large numbers of people who live in the southern part of this area commute daily to work in Sydney. It is also a popular destination for holidaying, and for retirement. As a result, the cultural identity of the region is distinct from that of the large, diverse metropolis Sydney and the Newcastle and Hunter Valley region, with its mining, industry and port.

On December 2, 2005, the Central Coast was officially recognised as a stand alone region rather than an extension of Sydney or the Hunter Valley Template:Ref. This contrasts with the view of most Sydneysiders and Novocastrians towards the Central Coast as a bedroom community for Sydney.

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Population

The Australian Bureau of Statistics considers the Central Coast part of the Sydney Metropolitan Area when analysing population statistics, therefore accurate population figures are difficult to acquire. The 2001 census reported the combined population of Gosford and Wyong Council areas as approximately 285 000. The estimated population as of July 2004 was 304 600, growing at 0.7% per annum. (Source: population NSW Bulletin, June 2005 [1].)

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Transport

The region is connected to Sydney and Newcastle via Cityrail's Newcastle/Central Coast rail line and the F3 freeway with vast amounts of commuters using these services daily. A ferry also operates from Ettalong across Broken Bay to Sydney's Palm Beach.

The Central Coast has an extensive public transport network. The western section of the Central Coast is serviced by CityRail's Sydney-Newcastle line and the rest of the region is served by private bus networks connecting the suburbs and localities within the Gosford and Wyong Local Government Area's.

The private bus operators in the region are Busways which has depots at Kincumber and Wyong and The Entrance Red Bus Service. Busways operates services predominatley south of Gosford, Erina and Terrigal, as well as along the Pacific Highway to Lake Haven and around Budgewoi Lake. The Entrance Red Bus Service operates services mainly between Wyong and The Entrance as well as The Entrance and Gosford, although some services do reach Ourimbah and Wyong Hospital at Kanwal.

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Future issues

In recent years the Central Coast's main issues have centred around sustainable development and creation of local employment as the population of the region expands rapidly. High-rise development has been at the centre of many disputes as well as an ongoing water supply issue.

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