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Key Statistics

This section contains some key locational, demographic and economic profiles of the Bland Shire.

Accessibility

East-West: Mid-Western Highway (SH 6)   

North-South: Newell Highway (SH 17)

North-West: Ungarie Road (MR57)&(MR 231)

South-East: Temora Road (MR 57)

Distances from Capital Cities

Sydney - 483 kms

Canberra - 256 kms

Melbourne - 593 kms

Brisbane - 1167 kms

Adelaide - 938 kms

Dubbo - 263 kms Rail

Passenger Freight Service

Country Link provides a rail service to Cootamundra with connecting bus to West Wyalong.         

Daily coach passenger services to and from Canberra, Sydney, and Melbourne.

Airport Features Main Runway - 1585 metres long - 30 metres wide seal

Cross Runway - 780 metres long - 18 metres wide gravel

Radio Navigational Aids: - NDB (non-directional beacon)

PAL (pilot actuated lighting on Main Runway)

Economic Activity

Agricultural

ABS) Bland Shire has 587 (2001) establishments with agricultural activity, covering an area of 756,850 hectares.

The gross value of agricultural commodities produces totals $121,456M (1995/96) (Previous year $56,630M).

There are 143,607 hectares of land under cultivation and livestock including sheep, cattle and pigs number 1,052,822.

Number of Business Locations ABS) (SEPT 1998)

Thirteen (13) manufacturing establishments in the Shire, 63 retail establishments and 222 "other" businesses. Of all these businesses, four had 50 employees or more.

Tourism at June 1997(ABS, TOURISM NSW)

The June 1997 statistics showed that there were 13 tourism accommodation establishments in the Shire with 270 Guest rooms, 864 bed spaces and a room occupancy rate of 41.39%.

Takings from accommodation were $2.128M.

Mining

The Bland Shire has great potential for mining.

Barrick Australia has received approval from the State Government for a large gold mine development at Lake Cowal.

The construction stage is now complete and the mine is now operational.

Education

The Shire contains eight public schools (including two high schools) and one private school.

At a tertiary level the West Wyalong Campus of TAFE services the area.

Sporting Facilities

Facilities in the Shire accommodate golf, tennis, bowls, cricket, netball (indoor and outdoor), volleyball, basketball, horse racing, equestrian activities, motor sports racing, football (4 codes), swimming, shooting, athletics and darts.

Health

West Wyalong Hospital

A 22-bed hospital completed in 1999 provides the district facilities for accident/emergency, medical, surgical, pediatric, physiotherapy and ancillary services.

Waratah Village provides a range of hostel and nursing home accommodation and day activities for the districts aged residents.

Council completed the 20-bed nursing home in 1999 with state government assistance as a result of the deletion of long stay beds from the new West Wyalong hospital redevelopment, which adjoins the site.

Community Health

West Wyalong Community Health Centre provides a comprehensive range of community health and visiting services. Ungarie Community Health Centre - opened in 2002 -provides facilities for accident/emergency, domiciliary, community health and day activities for aged residents.

Doctors

West Wyalong has 5 full time GPs plus visiting specialists.

The local GPs also provide visiting services to the village communities usually out of the local Community Health Centre or CWA rooms.

© 2008 Bland Shire Council
This page: http://www.blandshire.nsw.gov.au/about/1571.html