Figures released last week by the ABS showed that there had been an increase in the rate of growth in the Tenterfield Shire between June, 30 2008 and June, 30 last year.

Tenterfield welcomed 177 new residents, representing a growth of 2.6 per cent, the same figure as the whole of the Northern Tablelands area.

Member for Northern Tablelands Adam Marshall welcomed the news by saying it was good to see a number of communities continue to expand.

“Given the difficult economic times the region has faced in the last few years, particularly in the midst of a crippling drought, these figures are very impressive and pleasing,” he said.

“A number of communities are growing at better than the New England North West average and those which are not, aren’t too far off the pace.”

It wasn’t all good news with neighbouring shire Glen Severn seeing a decline over the same period.

“The community’s stagnant population growth will no doubt be reversed if the much anticipated Flight Training Academy comes to fruition,” the MP said.

The tough times on the land shone through in Walcha and Gwydir’s figures with Walcha loosing 2.7 per cent of its population between 2008 and 2013 while Gwydir saw its population decline by 2 per cent.

“This is not too dissimilar to other parts of rural NSW where population decline is still occurring, but I’m very pleased to say that the overall figures for the Northern Tablelands are extremely positive,” Mr Marshall said.

“These figures highlight the need to continue to promote country NSW.”

The biggest mover was the Armidale Dumaresq local government area, with an increase of 770 people over the five year period at a rate of 3.2 per cent.  Inverell wasn’t far behind with 609 new residents at 3.8 per cent growth.