'Don't be the Gold Coast': Northern NSW wrestles with its future identity
The Northern Rivers region of New South Wales has seen property prices surge over the past five years, as the area now reaches a point where it needs to address the issues brought about by strong population growth.
Demographer Bernard Salt highlighted the population growth that has resulted in Northern Rivers housing unaffordability for many of the workers the region needs. (Image source: Solve Property Group)
Marked by an ageing population and with a determination “not to be the Gold Coast”, the Northern Rivers region of New South Wales has found itself with an affordability problem, housing shortages, soaring rents and something of an identity crisis.
Defined by the serpentine routes of the Clarence, Richmond and Tweed rivers, the Northern Rivers encompasses 300,000 residents and almost 30,000 businesses in the local government areas.
The largest r…
