The population of Moree Plains Local Government Area (LGA) has been steadily declining since 2001, with the latest census figures revealing a two per cent decline in the past five years.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
From 2011 to 2016, Moree Plains LGA lost 270 people, going from a total population of 13,429 to 13,159.
More than 2,500 people have left the district since 2001, when Moree had a population of 15,680.
Moree township itself only lost 35 people (-0.37 per cent) from 2011 to 2016, with the biggest declines coming from Mungindi (-18.56 per cent) and Boggabilla (-13.23 per cent).
Moree Plains LGA’s declining population is in direct contrast to the rest of the Northern Tablelands, with every other LGA in the electorate recording an expanding population over the five year period.
Inverell LGA recorded a population increase of 2.54 per cent, while Narrabri and Gunnedah shires increased by 1.23 per cent.
Member for Northern Tablelands Adam Marshall said despite the drop, there has been a slight growth in Moree in the last couple of years which has ensured the decline since 2011 isn’t larger.
“There’s no denying that the implementation of the Murray Darling Basin Plan and the water buybacks that ensued hurt the Moree economy and community and I think the census figures bare that out,” Mr Marshall said.
“I believe that with the inland rail and other huge infrastructure investments in the region, the future is looking very positive for the Moree district.”
Of the 13,159 people living in the Moree Plains shire in 2016, 50.4 per cent are males and 49.6 per cent females, with the median age 38.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people made up 21.6 per cent of the population, a 3.85 per cent increase on 2011.
Of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander population, 53.2 per cent are female and only 46.8 per cent are male, while the median age is just 25.
What does the ‘typical’ Moree-an look like?
According to the census figures, the ‘typical’ person living in Moree in 2016 was a 38-year-old male who is married with children and living in a separate three-bedroom house which is most likely rented.
We’ll call this ‘typical’ Moree-an Michael – the most popular baby name for boys in 1978, the year a 38-year-old was born.
Michael was born in Australia and speaks English at home and most likely identifies as either Catholic or Anglican, despite more than 30 percent of the national population saying they did not belong to any religion in 2016.
Michael’s family most likely own two motor vehicles and have internet at home.
Moree’s census data can be found at http://www.censusdata.abs.gov.au/census_services/getproduct/census/2016/quickstat/LGA15300?opendocument
