The populations of Whittlesea and Hume will each mirror that of Geelong come 2031, the state government’s latest population report forecasts.
The Victoria in Future 2015 report, released this month, estimates that within the next two decades Whittlesea’s population will exceed 316,000, roughly equivalent to the numbers of people presently living on the New South Wales central coast.
And Hume will not be far behind, with about 292,000 residents by 2031, due to sustained population growth of about 2.6 per cent.
If estimates play out, Melbourne’s two northern municipalities will be the fourth and fifth largest metropolitan councils in the state.
Whittlesea mayor Ricky Kirkham said there was constant pressure to not only meet the needs of residents in established suburbs, but cater for the 8000 new residents moving in each year. He said despite the north’s population growth, state funding had not kept pace.
“This gap has created serious consequences for our residents, such as poor educational outcomes and restricted access to jobs and services and less time spent with family.”
In Whittlesea, the number of households is expected to more than double, from about 54,000 to 108,000. More than 28 per cent of residents will be aged under 20, and 14 per cent aged over 65. This demographic make-up will be about the same in Hume.
National Growth Areas Alliance’ spokeswoman Ruth Spielman said the report was further evidence that a dedicated growth areas infrastructure fund was needed.
“There is already an enormous backlog of infrastructure because successive governments have failed to fund and build the infrastructure growth areas need and deserve,” she said.
Hume mayor Adem Atmaca said the council had forecast a need for at least four new primary schools, one new secondary school and the expansion of an existing primary school by 2031, plus facilities for new suburbs, such as Aitken Hill, Merrifield West, and Lockerbie.
He stressed the need for Sunbury, Mickleham and Somerton roads to be duplicated, building the Bulla bypass, more parking at train stations and a new train station at Lockerbie.
