The one indisputable statistic to emerge from the latest State of our City report is that the population of Campbelltown is steadily increasing.
In 2023, our population was 184,784, compared with 177,778 just two years earlier in 2021.
There was an increase of more than 11 percent in the number of dwellings in Campbelltown over a 10 year period. There are currently more than 63,000 dwellings – and many more on the way.
One of the most positive signs from the report was the pick up in the number of local jobs to 58,792 in 2022.
Chief executive officer Lindy Deitz says council will continue to do the heavy lifting needed to make Campbelltown an even better place to live, work and play.
“The community has been clear about a desire to see revitalisation in the Campbelltown and Ingleburn CBDs,’’ says Ms Deitz in the foreword to the report.
“We are committed to the revitalisation of the Campbelltown CBD with the On Q program of activations and events, infrastructure improvements to the streetscape, small business support and the City Centre Planning Proposal.
“The imminent relocation of HJ Daley Library to Queen Street is expected to bring a major economic boost to the area while further infrastructure works are planned to improve the Ingleburn CBD through the Western Sydney Infrastructure Grant Program,’’ the CEO said.
“We will continue to work with partners in the community and advocate to NSW and Federal Government to ensure access to essential services is improved.’’
The report provides information that sets the scene for the new council when it meets for the first time next Tuesday night.
It also contains observations on what Campbelltown can celebrate and future focus areas.
“Our population continues to grow and diversify. Our increased cultural diversity offers substantial benefits to enrich our LGA,’’ says the report.
This is what the State of our City report had to say about economic prosperity:
“Over the 2021-2024 term, we have seen an increase in the proportion of residents that work in the LGA.
“Growing number of residents with a bachelor’s degree or higher.
“Several indicators point to a strengthening of our local economy – especially in relation to local business numbers and gross domestic product.
“There has also been increased investment in non-residential buildings within the LGA.’’
Local residents certainly felt confident enough in the future of Campbelltown to start their own small businesses, up from 10,653 in 2021 to 11,896 in 2023, which was right in the middle of a certain epidemic.
The report said Campbelltown’s gross regional product was $8.39 billion in 2022, slightly down from 2021.
HJ Daley library is a perfectly good facility only about 30 years old in walking distance from Queen St. What is the point of demolishing it to build a new library? This is exactly the same logic as those who thought it was a good idea to blow $40 million of ratepayers money to build what is effectively a new toddlers pool “billabong” right next to the existing public pool. As far as I can tell, no one including Lindy Deitz has been held accountable for this gross waste of ratepayers money.