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Census count troubles Bass Strait Islanders keen for economic growth

Monday, 22 Aug 2016 06:35:59 | Ted O'Connor

Flinders Island is part of the Furneaux Islands group. (Rose Grant)

Community leaders on King and Flinders islands hope new census data will reveal population growths after more than a decade of declines.

But there are fears the census night shutdown and controversy over the shift to online could lead to inaccurate data being recorded, which could affect bids for increased resources.

Flinders Island Mayor Carol Cox and King Island Mayor Duncan McFie both want to use fresh population data to lobby for more state and federal grant money, particularly to spend on tourism infrastructure.

"A lot of grant money depends on the people it serves, so it makes it easier for us to prove that we've got a larger number [of people] that will benefit," Alderman Cox said.

On King Island, the number of tourists visiting the Island is expected to more than double this year to 17,000.

Alderman McFie said he hoped the boom time would be reflected in the census.

"This is King Island seeing the most amount of growth and development that it's ever seen," he said.

Alderman McFie said the catalyst was the Cape Wickam golf course being named 24 on a world ranking.

"You get anything restaurant, museum, golf course and ski resort, you put it in the top 50 in the world and people will come," he said.

Both islands main economic drivers are agriculture and tourism.

The 9th hole at the Currie golf course on King Island Photo: King Island is looking to become a destination for tourists with up to four famous golf courses (Rose Grant)

Island mayors look for census turnaround

The past three national snapshots have shown the population of King Island decline by more than 100 residents to 1,566 in 2011.

Alderman McFie said he was tipping a turnaround for 2016.

"My gut is that we're seeing an increase in population for the first time in an extremely long time, but I would like some actual data to verify that," he said.

The population of the Furneaux group, which includes Flinders Island, has steadily declined in the past 20 years from 924 in 1996 to 783 in 2015, according to the website Profile.ID.

Alderman Cox said she hoped data collected in the census would reveal an end to the worrying trend.

"What we're looking for is to actually prove on paper that's actually what is happening," she said.

"Just to have it grow 5 per cent would be good."

Both mayors said they were worried the problems with the census would cause an inaccurate count.

"Without knowing the whole story, I would say do it all again," Alderman McFie said.

"If you're counting small numbers, there's always that risk if a few people miss out, or something goes wrong, you'll get a very skewed answer," Alderman Cox said.

Google map image of King Island Photo: King Island sits halfway between Tasmania and Victoria off the north-west, with Flinders Island north-east of Tasmania. (Google )

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