State of the Environment Report 2010/2011 - Liverpool City Council

14 PART 1 / Our City
OUR city
Where our City
is and what it
looks like
The City of Liverpool has changed since
its establishment in 1810 by Governor
Lachlan Macquarie. The traditional
Aboriginal custodians of the land on which
Liverpool now sits are the Cabrogal Clan
of the Dharug Nation. The area was also
accessed by people of the Dharawal and
Gandangara Nations.
Liverpool is situated in South West Sydney,
a region of about 450,000 people. The
Liverpool City Centre has been identified
by the State Government as one of three
regional cities in metropolitan Sydney.
Liverpool is Australia’s fourth oldest town
after Sydney, Parramatta and Hobart.
Liverpool’s Collingwood House, St Luke’s
Church and the Liverpool TAFE College
are buildings that date back to this early
period of colonial history.
The Liverpool City Centre is about 30
kilometres south west of the Sydney CBD
and about one hour by train. Liverpool
residents travel to many of the major
employment, education, recreation and
entertainment areas of Sydney.
There are many types of housing in
Liverpool. There is high density around
the Liverpool City Centre, such as home
units. There is low density residential
in surrounding suburbs that is mainly
separate houses. There are rural villages in
our western areas.
The Liverpool City Council area covers
305 square kilometres and includes 42
suburbs. It is one of the largest council
areas in Sydney. The western portion
drains to the Nepean River while the
eastern portion drains to the Georges
River. The creeks that feed these rivers
experience flooding from time to time.
Of all the local creeks, the upper portion
of Cabramatta Creek suffers most from
poor water quality. Climate change and
a growing population mean an increased
risk of flooding and water pollution.
Who
lives here
Liverpool has grown from 12,600
people in 1947 to 185,600 in 2010, with
significant growth occurring in the 1960s
and 1990s. State Government projections
suggest a population of about 325,000 by
2036, which is an increase of more than
75 per cent on the current population.
Council is responsible for creating
suburbs that have necessary services and
infrastructure for new families moving into
the area. Council works closely with the
State Government and developers to make
this happen.
A higher percentage of people in the
Liverpool Local Government Area live in a
family household with children compared
with the Sydney metropolitan area. Many
people in Liverpool live in extended
families with grandparents and other
relatives.
There are approximately 33,000 children
aged to 11 years and approximately
32,000 young people aged between 12
and 24 years. These two groups make up
close to 40 per cent of Liverpool’s total
population. As the population grows,
Liverpool will continue to be a young
City with many new families with young
children moving into the area.
Liverpool is one of the most culturally
diverse cities in NSW, with one in three
people born overseas. The largest
overseas birthplaces are Fiji, Vietnam, Iraq,
Lebanon, Philippines, United Kingdom,
Italy, India and New Zealand. Almost half
of Liverpool’s residents speak a language
other than English at home. The languages
most spoken, besides English, are Arabic,
Vietnamese, Hindi, Italian, Spanish,
Serbian, Tagalog, Greek, Cantonese and
Assyrian.
The people of Liverpool have many
different religious beliefs. A higher
percentage of people in the Liverpool
local government area have a religious
affiliation with Catholicism, Islam,
Orthodox, Christianity, Buddhism and
Hinduism than in many other areas of
Sydney.
While internationally Liverpool is a
young city, the number of older people
is increasing. In 1996, there were about
8,500 people aged over 65. Ten years
later, this grew to 13,500 people. More
older people live in the established areas
of Liverpool and many receive the age
pension. By 2036, it is expected that
Liverpool will be home to nearly 50,000
people who are aged over 65.
Liverpool City Council ANNUAL REPORT