daves11

Wonderful scenery - the Clarence River is a beauty, the beaches are superb, the views from most everywhere spectacular.
Great climate - OK the 3 summer months are a bit humid but winter is to die for (I've never needed a heater), spring and autumn are warm and sunny. However, when it rains it really rains, 10 inches in a day isn't that unusual, and low-lying areas flood, occasionally the town gets cut off as it only has one access road.
Poor public infrastructure - even though rates are very high the water supply is periodically poor and many buy their drinking water. Local roads are a problem, there is only one road in and out and it is really stretched during peak tourist periods where the towns population trebles. Police presence is inadequate even though crime is low, more often than not you wait if you need a policeman. Medical facilities are OK GP-wise, but local hospitals in Maclean and Grafton are limited in expertise and equipment, if you're really sick it's Lismore or the Gold Coast. If you need public transport to get around you'll find life difficult.
Sport and leisure - the golf course is magnificent, the bowling club very well patronised (it even has a ten pin bowling alley), sports fields for rugby league and union, cricket, gyms, annual triathlon, surfing, deep sea and river fishing, the list goes on and on. Two of the best sited pubs in the land, quality and reasonable restaurants, bowling and golf clubs, an upmarket backpackers hostel, dozens of indoor/outdoor cafes, a cinema, a thriving U3A, Wires animal rescue, bridge and euchre clubs, etc.
Employment - plenty of work for the skilled, all tradesmen, professionals such as doctors, dentists, vets, accountants, lawyers, optometrists, physios, a thriving tourist and hospitality sector, and quality aged care hostels..
Schooling - state and catholic primary schools, high school in Maclean, Tafe offering limited courses, good library facilities.
Shopping - a reasonably sized Coles supermarket, butchers, bakers, clothing stores, post office, telecoms, IT, alcohol outlets, half a dozen service stations, travel agent, newsagents, reject shops, shoe shops, and a large industrial centre with furniture and floor covering, hardware, paints, boat building, engineering, etc.
Cost of living - food is reasonable, fuel a bit expensive, ocean and riverfront real estate expensive.

In summary, I wouldn't live anywhere else but it's a horses for courses thing. If you aren't sporty, don't like the outdoors and can't cope with mass tourism in peak season the town isn't for you. If you want to change the place into a metropolis, a 'jobs and growth' precinct, then you'd be better off living in a big city because most locals resist 'progress'.