Health and Ageing
Not only is the Tweed one of the fastest growing regions in Australia, but in 2004 the Tweed Shire was identified by the New South Wales (NSW) Local Government and Shires Association as the fourth (4th) oldest local government area in NSW.
Whilst research suggests that the “Baby Boomer” generation is retiring with more disposable income than previous generations, the questions are “where are they spending their money”?, “how does their spend impact on the local and regional economy?” and “what implications does the ageing population have on the labour force; transport connectivity and infrastructure; health & medical services, and other services and infrastructure; the financial viability of local government; and the economic sustainability of the Tweed?”
While this growth in the ageing population poses serious concerns regarding provision of services and infrastructure, it also offers opportunities for significant growth in the health service sector, which is a natural phenomenon that follows on from population growth, and especially from that of an ageing population. Opportunities exist to expand on this natural growth to promote the development of specialist health and ageing services and products.
TEDC is in the process of scoping a project that aims to assess the implications of the ageing demographic on the Tweed economy.
