Counting the Ridge — a fairer share through the Census

Lightning Ridge resident Victoria Lugovoy wants locals to become involved in the upcoming census. Photo: Supplied Lightning Ridge Area Opal Reserve.psd

Story: Kristin Murdock – kmurdock@outbackradio.com.au

For years, locals have joked that nobody really knows how many people live in Lightning Ridge.

With the 2026 Census on the horizon – Tuesday 11 August to be exact, one resident says getting an accurate count could be the key to unlocking better services and a fairer share of government funding.

The Australian Bureau of Statistics is currently seeking more than 2,700 Field Managers and looking to fill many other roles for the Census. For Lightning Ridge resident Victoria Lugovoy, signing up was an easy decision.

“Did I just apply to become a Census Field Officer for 2026? Yes. Do I have a full-time job? Yes. Do I have to go and knock on every single household to deliver and collect forms? Yes. Don’t I already have enough on my plate? Yes,” she said.

“But this data research is so important for Australia, and especially regional communities like ours in Lightning Ridge, where population numbers are so unknown that it’s the literal punch line of the town.”

Former census collectors say Lightning Ridge’s unique lifestyle and geography make it one of the more difficult communities in Australia to count accurately.

Many people live in off-grid camps or temporary dwellings on the opal fields, the population is highly transient, with miners and seasonal workers regularly moving in and out, and some residents deliberately choose a life of privacy and isolation.

The ABS recorded Lightning Ridge’s population at 1,946 in the 2021 Census, although many locals believe the true figure is closer to 4,000 or even 5,000 people. […]

Read more local news in the printed edition of The Western Herald.

To subscribe call (02) 6872 2333 today and receive The Western Herald in your letterbox next week or purchase and download a digital edition here.