Wyong's attractive low prices on Sydney's outskirts triggers population spike

Wyong on the NSW central coast had the highest population growth from domestic migration for all of the greater Sydney municipalities between in 2010.

But the spurt was confined to Wyong's north-east precinct, where there were 6,450 domestic arrivals and 4,987 domestic departures, giving a net migration jump of 1,463 people. The south and west precinct had slower growth of just 167 people.

The north-east now has a population of 77,757, according to the 2011 census, and 33,361 private dwellings. It has had net gain in migrants every year since at least 2006.

The population is somewhat skewed towards younger people, with the age brackets from 0-19 representing the greatest proportion of residents.

Some 6.7% of the population are university educated, well below the state average of 14.2%. Census data shows 83.2% of the population are Australian born, compared with a state figure of 68.6%. The next most common country of birth is England at 4.1%, slightly higher than the state figure of 3.3%. 

A Wyong Council spokesperson says people are likely attracted to Wyong by its relatively inexpensive house prices.

"What would bring people here would be cheaper house prices than the Sydney market. That would be the major one. The fact you can live in a coastal area with a family and if need be it’s only 1.5-hour commute to Sydney every day via a train service or a drive along the freeway," he says.

RP Data says the median house price in Budgewoi, one of the larger localities in the area, is $278,250, with a median weekly rent of $300.

"There are three new housing developments in the area in suburbs like Wadalba, Hamlyn Terrace and Woongarrah. Developers are developing greenfield sites on traditionally semi-rural hobby farms," the council spokesman says.

"They're predicting in 10 to 15 years it will almost become a satellite city of 40,000. Obviously there's not that many people there at the moment, but they’re our three new areas"

In Hamyln Terrace, a four-bedroom, two-bathroom house on 678 square metres (pictured below) is listed for $390,000.

Another three-bedroom, two-bathroom home is listed for rent at $415 a week

The area was followed by Camden in outer south-western Sydney, with 4,748 domestic arrivals and 3,535 domestic departures, giving a net gain of 1,213 people; and The Hills Shire North in Central Northern Sydney with 5,274 domestic arrivals and 4,269 domestic departures giving a net figure of 1,005.

In the whole of Sydney there was a net loss of 20,249 people due to emigration, as 347,335 people immigrated from within Australia and 367,584 emigrated to other parts of Australia.

The figures represent the largest increases in population due to domestic migration and do not include births and deaths.

Canterbury in Canterbury-Blacktown was the area in Sydney with the greatest number of people leaving, with a net migration loss of 2,570. In fact Canterbury topped the list in Australia for the area with the highest net loss due to migration.

Fairfield East in Fairfield-Liverpool was next with a net migration figure of -1,468, followed by Randwick in the eastern suburbs with a net figure of -1,464.

The ABS data is experimental and is the first time it had been published on an statistical local area level. For some regions with very small populations and unreliable data, internal migration estimates were assumed to be zero.

Net regional migration is the net gain or loss of population through the movement of people from one location to another location within Australia.

The ABS found just over 2 million people moved between statistical local areas during 2010, which was 1.6% lower than in 2009.