This document summarizes information from a workshop on peri-urban areas held in Melbourne. It discusses the characteristics and issues facing peri-urban environments, including balancing food production with urban growth, rural lifestyles versus farming, and attracting city residents while maintaining environmental habitats and agricultural land. The document also provides population and demographic statistics for Wingecarribee Shire, including its aging population and goals to retain a distinct rural character and protect natural resources outlined in the shire's community strategic plan through 2031.

1. Peri-Urban Areas
Where Two Worlds Meet as
One
Workshop by
Mark Pepping
Group Manager Strategic and Assets
Wingecarribee Shire Council
Peri Urban Conference
La Trobe University Melbourne
2 October 2013

2. Peri-Urban Environments
2

3. • County of
Cumberland
Plan 1948
3

4. Sydney Region
Outline Plan
1968
4

5. Vision for Sydney 2031
5

6. Wingecarribee Shire
6

7. Settlement and History
7

8. Land Use Statistics
Area of Shire
2700km2
Urban Land area
7300ha
3%
Agricultural Land area
152,000ha
56%
National Parks and Conservation Areas
59,700ha
22%
Special Areas
51,000ha
19%
8

9. Agriculture
9

10. Agriculturally Productive Land
10

11. Land Use in the Rural Lands
11

12. Census 2011
Shire Population
50000
45000
44395
40000
40636
36586
Numbers
35000
33240
30000
25000
42272
28187
Shire Population
20000
15000
10000
5000
0
1981-1986
1986-1991
1991-1996
1996-2001
2001-2006
2006-2011
Census Intervals
Our population is now 46,000 (2013) which is a 9% increase from our
population in 2006 (42,272).
12

13. Population Growth
% Average Annual Growth
3.50%
3.50%
3.00%
2.20%
2.00%
2.50%
2.00%
%
1.50%
0.80%
1.00%
% Average Annual Growth
1.00%
0.50%
0.00%
1986-1991
1991-1996
1996-2001
2001-2006
2006-2011
Census Interval
The population increase for the 5 year period from 2006-2011 was 5% (representing a
1% per annum growth rate which was slightly higher than the previous 5 year period
however considerably lower than the growth rates of the late 1980s and 1990s of 3.5%
and 2% per annum respectively).
13

14. Population Totals
Population by Age Group 1996-2011
4,000
3,500
1996
2,500
2001
2,000
2006
2011
1,500
1,000
500
94
ye
95
ar
-9
s
an 9
d
ov
er
89
84
79
10
0
90
-
85
-
80
-
75
-
69
64
59
54
49
44
39
34
29
24
19
14
74
70
-
65
-
60
-
55
-
50
-
45
-
40
-
35
-
30
-
25
-
20
-
15
-
10
-
59
0
04y
rs
Numbers
3,000
Age Group (yrs)
14

15. Facts
•
The age groups under 60 are stable, increasing slightly or declining.
•
Age groups from 60 onwards are increasing by rates of 16% or greater with most age groups in
this category experiencing 30% or greater increases.
•
The population who are aged over 65 yrs is 21.6% of the Shire compared to the NSW figure of
14.7%. This is an increase of 3.6% in the 5 years.
•
The proportion of Shire residents aged 55 yrs plus has increased from 31.9% in 2006 to 36% in
2011.
•
The median age of the Shire population has increased from 42 in 2006 to 45 in 2011 compared
to 38 for NSW. The Shire’s median age increased by 3 years compared to the State median age
which increase by 1 year
•
In 2011 the age group with the largest number of persons is the 60-64 years age group with
3,420 people. This is the first time an adult age group has surpassed a child’s age group.
•
80% of the Shire’s population were born elsewhere
15

16. Aging Population Facts
• Life expectancy has increased by more than 25 years since
Federation
• By 2016 it is expected that in NSW there will be more people
over 65 years than 14 years of age or under. This occurred in
Wingecarribee during 2009.
• Wingecarribee is already there with 0-14yrs with 8609
compared to 65+ with 9608.
• By 2031 the number of children in NSW will be fewer than in
2001 and the number of older people will be more than
double
16

17. Wingecarribee Community
Strategic Plan 2011-2031
17

18. IN 2031 - PEOPLE
Goal 2.2 Wingecarribee people have a healthy
lifestyle and inclusive community
2.2.1 Increase access to fresh local produce for
all and build local food security through
supporting local food production and
consumption
Goal 2.4 Wingecarribee fosters a diverse,
creative and vibrant community
2.4.1 Proactively value, attract and hold a
diverse population of young people, families,
cultures and socio-economic backgrounds to
the Shire to ensure a balanced community
18

19. IN 2031 - PLACES
Goal 3.2 Wingecarribee has maintained a
distinct character of separate towns and
villages
3.2.1 Retain the rural landscape between
towns and villages
3.2.2 Retain and make more distinctive the
special qualities that make each town or
village unique
3.2.3 Ensure growth of towns and villages does
not compromise separation distance
between those towns and villages
19

20. IN 2031 - ENVIRONMENT
Goal 4.1 Wingecarribee’s distinct and diverse
natural environment is protected and
enhanced
4.1.1 Conserve the key natural resources of the
Shire water catchments, arable land, key
wildlife corridors, vegetation and scenic
landscapes
4.2.2 Ensure that no development takes place
in Wingecarribee that would threaten the
underpinning natural resources of the area as
a water catchment, food bowl, and
tourist and recreational attraction
20

21. IN 2031 - ECONOMY
Goal 5.2 The ‘Southern Highlands’ is a
recognised tourist destination throughout
Australia
Goal 5.3 Wingecarribee has agribusiness
suited to our distinct climate and geography
5.3.1 Optimise our current agribusiness
5.2.1 Develop and implement a compelling economy by developing closer and mutually
and competitive brand identity for the
beneficial relationships between producers and
Southern Highlands, based on our distinctive consumers in the Southern Highlands
lifestyle factors of climate, horticulture,
recreation, landscape and heritage
5.2.2 Develop and implement a
comprehensive Tourism Strategy for the
Southern Highlands, based on the unique
Southern Highlands brand of climate,
horticulture, recreation, landscape and
heritage
5.3.2 Develop and implement programs to
extend our agribusiness economy by pursuing
new lines of business which best fit our climate
and brand identity
21

22. PERI-URBAN AREAS
Characteristics and Issues
•Food Bowls vs Urban Growth Land
•rural living lifestyle vs farming
•Cosmopolitan vs country
•Tourist destinations
•Source of Raw materials
•Water Catchment areas
•Producer of employment
•Environmental Habitat Areas
22

23. WORKSHOP
Purpose of the workshop
Recognise the benefits and impacts of attracting
people from the City to the peri urban environments.
Lifestyle living v rural production v tourism
How to accommodate population growth and at the
same time retain a rural productive environment.
What role can Governments play in retaining land in
perpetuity for productive purposes
23