Camden Council is located in the south-western region of Sydney and contains a mix of agricultural lands, country towns and new residential areas, with associated commercial and industrial development. Camden is called the “Birthplace of the Wealth of the Nation” in recognition of the commencement of Australia’s wool industry in the area. Significant heritage assets remain in Camden to provide evidence of its history. Further, significant cultural landscapes, including the floodplains and hills, continue to be used for agriculture and serve as a reminder of Camden’s agricultural past. Camden also has an important natural environment, with remnant pockets of the endangered ecological communities of Cumberland Plain Woodland, Sydney Coastal River Flat Forest, Dry Rainforest and Elderslie Banksia Scrub, along with a number of other threatened species and communities. The environment of Camden is dominated by the floodplains of the Nepean River and South Creek and their tributaries and by important landforms such as the Central Hills, Crear Hills and Cobbitty Hills. The Camden Local Government Area is 201km² in size and has a current population of approximately 48,000 (December 2003). Since 1981 Camden has grown rapidly with an annual growth rate of 7.8%. It is expected that Camden will continue to grow over the coming years as existing release areas continue to be developed. Campbelltown Council borders Camden to the east, with the City of Campbelltown being the nearest regional centre to Camden. The local government area of Liverpool is to the north and Wollondilly Council is to the south and west of Camden.