Port Stephens Council is using Bang the Table as part of its ongoing commitment to community engagement. The Port Stephens LGA is located at the boundary of the mid north and central coasts of New South Wales and covers an area of 850 sq. km. One of the key attractions to residents and visitors in Port Stephens is the natural beauty of the area. The LGA has a substantial estuary system which combined with its surrounding environment are used extensively for tourism and recreation, as well as supporting fishing and oyster growing industries. Port Stephens has become a major recreational, tourist and retirement centre, as well as a place in which people choose to live and work. With a population of 63,408 people in 2006 it has a diverse range of economic activities comprising tourism, agriculture, manufacturing, building industry and a mix of retail and small business activities.