That could not be further from the truth.

We learnt this week that higher fertility rates and

rising migration will push Australia’s population to 35 million people in 40 years – considerably more than previously expected.

And with the Hunter’s many economic advantages and congenial lifestyle many people will continue to choose to call Maitland home.

With the Hunter’s infrastructure already under pressure – our roads and hospitals are just two examples – the path we tread during that time will need to be navigated carefully.

Add to that the added uncertainty that surrounds

climate change and we have a potential for disaster.

Those 35 million people will need food. But what is the future of farming in Australia’s traditional “foodbowls”? Those 35 million will also need jobs. But what is the future of jobs in, for example, the coal industry?

Maitland people may, or may not, choose to join the “Wake up Kevin” climate change protest in Ministers Park near the Tourist Information Centre in Maitland.

That, rightly, is something for individuals to decide.

There are a number of prominent scientists who are joining the ranks of the climate change sceptics who believe that mankind’s impact on this planet is not as great as climate change proponents would have us believe and their points of view also need to be considered.

But what is not in dispute is that we need informed debate on climate change.

Little progress has been made on the issue in the lead-up to the UN climate change summit to be held in Copenhagen in December.

With Australia’s projected population numbers now on the table for all to see, climate change is something that we all – including Maitland people – can ill afford to ignore.