WINGECARRIBEE Shire Council general manager David McGowan's concerns over growth in the Southern Highlands have been reflected in this year's Census data.

Mr McGowan warned that the 11 per cent influx of new residents since 1996 would soon start to take its toll on already strained infrastructure in the region.

Wingecarribee's population now stands at 40,840 - an increase of

4063 people since 1996 - and comp-rises 19,812 males and 21,028 females.

The average age of residents is now 38, rising from 35 in 1996 and 32 in 1991, reflecting the aging population now residing in the Southern Highlands.

For the 2001 Census, 32,552 people (80 per cent) stated they were Australian born.

This compares to 29,784 people (81 per cent) in 1996 and 27,517 (83 per cent) in 1991.

Of those born overseas, the three main countries of birth were the United Kingdom (6.9 per cent), New Zealand (1.3 per cent) and Germany (0.65 per cent).

The average weekly income for people aged 15 years and over in 2001 was between $300 and $399, rising from between $200 and $299 in 1991.

In the week preceding the 2001 Census, 17,267 people (42 per cent) had used a personal computer at home.

There were 6448 people (16 per cent) aged up to 19 years, 5753 people (14 per cent) aged 20 to 44, 4099 people (10 per cent) aged 45 to 64 years and 967 people (2.4 per cent) aged 65 years and over.

The total number of persons who had used the Internet in the week preceding the 2001 Census was 13,313.

There were 1504 people (3.7 per cent) who had used the Internet at work, 7940 people (20 per cent) at home only and 1343 (3.3 per cent) elsewhere only.