Coonabarabran Times - 14.7.2022

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Coonabarabran Times THURSDAY, 14TH JULY 2022

• 1518 ML Vol. 36 No. 2 SINGLE COPY — $2.00 (includes GST) SUBSCRIPTIONS — $200 pa (print) $120 pa (digital)

COONABARABRAN – THE ASTRONOMY CAPITAL OF AUSTRALIA

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Open: Wed - Sun 10am - 5pm PH: 6842 2500 P: (02) 6842 1844 E: info@coonabarabrantimes.com www.coonabarabrantimes.com

OUT & ABOUT BARADINE

GREEN THUMB

PAGES 3 + 14

Nursery, Florist and

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Country vs City: Census data reveals disparities Coonabarabran residents are far behind the rest of the country when it comes to income. BY CHRIS WARD The 2021 Census data released reveals a median personal weekly income for people aged 15 years and over was just $559 across the Warrumbungle Shire, compared to a state average of $813. The disparity increases even further when the weekly incomes of couples are taken into account. The average income of families shire wide is just $1387, compared to the state average of $2185. Warrumbungle Shire C ou nc i l mayor, C r Ambrose Doolan said he wasn’t surprised by the figures. “There’s been a couple of projects f lagged that C ounci l is look i ng at , wh ich hopef u l ly cou ld go t owa rds helping t o improve those figures,” Cr

Doolan said. “ O ne i s d e v e l o pi n g the industr ial area in Coonabarabran so that we can attract more business to town and, in turn, more higher paying jobs. “We are also interested t o see the impact the Inland Rail project will have on our communities, effectively linking us with Melbourne and Brisbane.” Other projects Cr Doolan said could help improve the pay gap include a $1 million disability housing i n it i at ive , wh ich wa s recently passed by Council, and the impending wind and solar farms that are to be constructed in the southern part of the Shire. “We have some meetings coming up in the next couple of weeks in regards to the w ind and sola r farms around Coolah and Dunedoo,” Cr Doolan said.

“Eventually, up to 10 of those wind and solar farms will be built here and they will need around 3500 workers for those projects.” Cr Doolan said it was all part of a bigger picture to attract more people to the Shire and provide more career opportunities, which could help lift the median weekly wage. On top of those projects, Cr Doolan said he would also like Council to look into providing space for IT businesses in the Shire. “ In a meeting I had recently it was made very clear that IT businesses no longer need to be located in the middle of the city,” Cr Doolan said. “As long as they have an internet connection they can operate from just about anywhere. “That was definitely an interesting conversation,

w it h s ome ve r y g o o d points, and it’s something we could take advantage of here.” A nd why wou ld n’t businesses and staff want to move to Coonabarabran? T he C ensus f ig u res also revealed the median monthly mortgage repayment across Wa r r u m g u n g le S h i r e was just $922 per month, compared to to the state average of $2167 per month. R enta l pr ices a re a l s o much lower i n Warurmbungle Shire, at an average of $200 per week compared to the state median rental of $420. For businesses wishing t o de centra l ise, these savings could offer them “more bang for their buck” - an obvious cash-f low advantage rated against high city leasing costs.

Hayes’ Homemaker Heaven

A medical issue? The latest Census data reveals Coonabarabran is a hot spot for a number of medical issues. The town’s average is up on a number of instances from the state and national rate. The highest medical diagnosis with the biggest discrepancy is arthritis. A cc o r d i n g t o t h e r e c e n t l yreleased repor t there are more than 500 residents suffering from the illness - or 14.8 per cent of the town’s population. That is compared to the state average of 8.4 per cent. C o o n a b a r a b r a n G P, D o c t o r Aniello Iannuzzi said he had noticed the higher rate of arthritis sufferers, but believed it could be explained by a couple of points. “We are an older community than the average,” Dr Iannuzzi said. “It may also be related to a worse diet.” The Census data backs up Dr Iannuzzi’s claims, revealing the

median age of Coonabarabran residents is 50, compared to a state average of 39. Dr Iannuzzi offered tips when it comes to living with the illness. “ The re a re d i f fe rent t ypes of arthritis,” he said. “Exercise, stretching and staying active is the best approach. “Medication can be useful, but that depends on the type of arthritis being treated.” Other health conditions that are higher in Coonabarabran than the state average include: • Cancer (including remission) 3.9 per cent compared to 2.8 per cent; • Heart disease (including heart attack or angina) - 6.5 per cent, compared to 3.9 per cent. • Lung cond i t ions (i nclud i ng COPD or emphysema) - 3.0 per cent, compared to 1.7 per cent.

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• Three bedroom house with study/fourth bedroom • Large 1582.83m2 block with lots of potential, located close to CBD • Good bones with some renovations started • Dining room, spacious lounge room and generously sized bedrooms • Rear access to block

Your local Luxaflex blinds and awnings dealer P: 6842 1225

81 John Street, Coonabarabran

1 - Coonabarabran Times, Thursday, 14th July 2022

This information has been obtained from a third party. We make no representation to its accuracy. All photos, computer images and maps are indicative only. We are merely passing on the information. Interested parties should make their own enquires.

M: 0439 421 436

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P: 6842 7963

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Price - $145,000

E: grantd@bigpond.net.au

www.dglivestock-property.com.au


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