Mid-Coast

Mid-Coast ranks =80th of 128 overall in NSW, with lifestyle & amenity the area most needing attention.

"Manning Valley and Great Lakes — Forster-Tuncurry, Taree, and lakeside living"

See where Mid-Coast ranks: Best Councils in New South Wales 2026

New South Wales · regional council · Pop. 98,582

Data last updated: 2023-24 · Data confidence: high

Overall Score

48 out of 100

#46 of 79 regional councils in NSW

#80 in New South Wales

Score Breakdown

CategoryScore
Sustainability48/100
Community Services49/100
Lifestyle & Amenity45/100
Core Operations50/100

What This Means For You

Among regional councils, Mid-Coast performs strongest in Core Operations (scoring 50 out of 100 against peers). Performance in Lifestyle & Amenity is moderate, scoring 45 out of 100 against peers.

What Makes This Place Unique

Manning Valley and Great Lakes — Forster-Tuncurry, Taree, and lakeside living

Mid-Coast covers Forster-Tuncurry, Taree, Gloucester, and the Great Lakes region.

Known For

  • Forster-Tuncurry — twin towns on Wallis Lake
  • Great Lakes — Myall Lakes National Park
  • Manning River valley
  • Barrington Tops — World Heritage wilderness

Living Here

Mid-Coast offers diverse lifestyle options: beach at Forster, country at Gloucester, river at Taree. Affordable and growing.

Hidden Gem

Barrington Tops — World Heritage subtropical and temperate rainforest with platypus, snow in winter, and virtually no crowds.