2017年 09月 05日

Victorian population outstrips city growth

A Victorian Auditor General’s report has revealed what’s already common knowledge among Wyndham locals – that infrastructure is not keeping pace with population growth.

The planning for population growth report found that in Victoria’s greenfield areas – that is, developing parts of growth areas – infrastructure and services of all types were limited and lagged behind population settlement.

State government forecasts predict that the state’s population will grow from 6.1 million to 7.7 million by 2031, with 42 per cent of the projected population growth expected to occur in Wyndham, Melton, Hume, Whittlesea, Cardinia, Casey and Mitchell.

Among its recommendations, the Auditor General called on the Victorian Planning Authority to prepare a strategy that matched community facilities with estate and land releases.

Wyndham mayor Henry Barlow said the council supported the strategy.

“This will make it easier to bridge the gap between infrastructure delivery and population growth and allow council and the state government to better meet the needs of residents in growth areas,” he said.

The government has accepted all recommendations made by the Auditor General.

State Planning Minister Richard Wynne said: “we’ve wasted no time making landmark changes to Melbourne’s blueprint for growth, plugging the gaps ignored by the Liberals.

“The former government left the rollout of essential services for outer growth areas in disarray. We’re fixing their mess – building the schools, kinders and maternal health services new communities need.”

Opposition MP Tim Smith said the report was evidence that the state government had no plan to manage the state’s population growth.

“We need to ease the squeeze on Melbourne’s huge population growth,” Mr Smith said.

“Daniel Andrews has no plan, no vision and no interest in decentralisation. Under Labor, we will continue to see a Melbourne that expands forever and regional Victoria being ignored.”