Gosford statistics

The Gosford Local Government Area contains 96 individual localities, 27 of which are on the Peninsula, according to the NSW Australian Electoral Commission.

It covers an area of 1028 square kilometres.

The area stretches from the Hawkesbury River in the south, west to Wisemans Ferry, and north to Bucketty.

The boundary then extends south east to Kulnura, south through to Central Mangrove and Somersby, then east to include part of Bateau Bay.

The main centres include Gosford, Terrigal, Erina and Woy Woy.

Surrounding councils include Baulkham Hills Cessnock, Hawkesbury, Hornsby, Pittwater and Wyong.

All 10 councillors are seeking re-election at the September 13 council elections, with the exception of Cr Robert Bell who will be retiring.

According to the 2006 Australian Bureau of Statistics census data, the population of the area is 158,158.

The largest age group is 0-17 year olds, with a total of 37,948 (24 per cent).

The second largest age group is 45-59 year olds, with 20.6 per cent of the total population.

The 2006 ABS census also shows that 40 per cent of the population earns between $1 and $399 per week, 26.6 per cent has an individual income between $400 and $799, and 15.9 per cent between $800 and $1299.

Only three per cent of the population receives an individual income of $2000 or more per week.

Of the total, 84.3 per cent were born in Australia.

Thirty-two per cent of population is Anglican, 28.8 per cent is Catholic and 17.3 per cent has no religion.

Website, 29 Aug 2008 NSW Electoral Commission