City of Penrith

The City of Penrith is a Local Government Area in western Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia.

Demographics
According to the Australian Bureau Statistics there were 177,544 people as at 30 June 2006, the seventh largest Local Government Area in New South Wales which was 2.6% of the New South Wales population of 6,827,694.

There was an increase of 181 people over the year to 30 June 2006, the 67th largest population growth in a Local Government Area in New South Wales, which was 0.3% of the 58,753 increase in the population of New South Wales.

In percentage terms, an increase of 0.1% in the number of people over the year to 30 June 2006, the 129th fastest growth in population of a Local Government Area in New South Wales. In New South Wales the population grew by 0.9% There was an increase in population over the 10 years to 30 June 2001 of 9,676 people or 5.8% (0.6% in annual average terms), the 66th highest rate of a Local Government Area in New South Wales. In New South Wales the population grew by 622,966 or 10% (1.0% in annual average terms) over the same period.

Penrith is also known to be one of the fattest regions of Sydney with a serious obese epidemic that is worrying medical professionals region wide.

Suburbs in the local government area
There are 35 suburbs in the City of Penrith:
 * Agnes Banks
 * Berkshire Park
 * Cambridge Gardens
 * Cambridge Park
 * Castlereagh
 * Claremont Meadows
 * Colyton
 * Cranebrook (including the area formerly known as Mt Pleasant)
 * Dunheved
 * Emu Heights
 * Emu Plains
 * Erskine Park
 * Glenmore Park
 * Jamisontown
 * Kemps Creek
 * Kingswood
 * Kingswood Park
 * Leonay
 * Llandilo
 * Londonderry
 * Luddenham
 * Mount Vernon
 * Mulgoa
 * Orchard Hills
 * Oxley Park
 * Penrith
 * South Penrith
 * Regentville
 * St Clair
 * St Marys
 * North St Marys
 * Wallacia
 * Werrington
 * Werrington County
 * Werrington Downs

Political divisions
Penrith City is divided into three council wards, each having its own set of council members responsible for it:
 * North Ward - Population: 56,384 (2001 Census)
 * South Ward - Population: 58,683 (2001 Census)
 * East Ward - Population: 57,327 (2001 Census)

International Links
Since it signed its first agreement with Fujieda, Japan in 1984, Penrith City has gradually expanded its international links program. Presently Penrith has international links with: >Fujieda City, Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan - Sister City >Penrith, Cumbria, England - Sister City >Hakusan City (incorporating Matto City), Ishikawa Prefecture, Japan - Friendship City >Gangseo-gu, Seoul, Republic of Korea - Mutual Co-operation Agreement >Xicheng District of Beijing City, China - Mutual Co-operation Agreement >Kunshan, Jiangsu Province, China - Friendship City

A range of programs are run between Penrith and its international links in areas such as education, culture and the economy. Penrith City Council manages the programs with support from members of the local community.