Census night in the Whitsundays

 A snapshot of life in the Whitsundays on Tuesday August 9 will lay the foundation for the next five years.

 Tuesday August 9 is Census night, conducted by the Australian Bureau of Statistics every five years.

 Whitsunday Regional Council Mayor Mike Brunker asks residents and visitors of the region to support the Census and help make it a success.

 “The Census underpins Australia’s democracy and is crucial to community organisations, the private sector and all levels of government for planning services and facilities across Australia,” Cr Brunker said.

 “It is therefore important that everyone who is living, staying or working in the Whitsunday Regional Council area on Census night takes the time to fill out their Census form accurately and in full,” he said.

 “This will ensure that our community has the right information we need to support planning for important infrastructure, like emergency services, road improvements and other services that will support the people who live and work in our area day to day”.

 Fully trained Census collectors and area supervisors across the region have been working tirelessly since July 29 to get the Census forms out.

 Area supervisor for Cannonvale John Powell said people could complete the census on paper or online.

 “We are encouraging people to do this online where possible. It’s a secure site and it can be done in your own time,” he said.

 Mr Powell said it was compulsory to do the census and “in an area like ours it is vital that the information is gathered”.

 “Because it’s done every five years population trends and predictions are the deciding factor in what Canberra allocates in federal funding. For example, ten years ago the Census figures resulted in Canberra identifying a need for water treatment plants, more schools and kindergartens – basically the general infrastructure people take for granted,” Mr Powell said.

 Mr Powell stressed even our visitors have an important part to play.

 “The proportion of interstate and overseas visitors who are counted here on August 9 will indicate where future marketing needs to be directed,” he said.

 Mr Powell said Census information was entirely confidential and in no way linked to organisations like Centrelink or the ATO.

 For further information call the Census Inquiry Service on 1300 338 776, or visit www.abs.gov.au/census, or for eCensus information, www.census.gov.au.