The shire is ranked number 10 amongst country and city shires in NSW and 34th in Australia. Wagga finished 291st, Albury 410th and Griffith was 432nd.

These are the findings of the inaugural Bank West quality of life index which ranked 590 local government areas in Australia against 10 key criteria.

Quality of life variables

included home ownership,

employment, income levels, Broadband internet access, detached housing, empty homes, volunteering rates, school enrolments, health and crime rates.

“The best value for money local government area in NSW was Greater Hume Shire in the Murray region,” the index report said. It has a median house price of $168,000 which is $206,424 or 55 percent less than the median NSW house price.

Greater Hume Shire Mayor Denise Osborne said, “it’s fabulous, it’s publicity money can’t buy!”

The news was a great follow on from Greater Hume Shire’s display during Country Week, Council’s purpose, to attract business, industry and residents to the area.

Asked what was so good about Greater Hume Shire, Cr Osborne said, “I think we have a fist full of things in our shire that others would give their eye teeth for - its geography, location, fabulous communities, fabulous lifestyles.

“We have got diversity of land-use, communities, locations, and opportunities that people can take up,” she said.

“We have a range of lifestyles and business opportunities to attract all ages, and we are well priced,” she added with a certain satisfaction.

Lockhart in the Murrumbidgee region was ranked 22nd in NSW (89th in Australia) with a median house price of $117,000, 60 percent less than the median NSW house price.

Volunteering rates were also highest in Lockhart at 42 percent.

Ku-ring-gai a northern suburb of Sydney topped the local

government areas in Australia; and Mosman, a harbour suburb of Sydney had the highest annual taxable income.

In the NSW Murray region, Jerilderie had 100 percent of 16 year olds enrolled in secondary school.

Crime was lowest at Coolamon with only 1.5 percent of the local population.