Mayor's Message Tuesday 13 April 2021

Published on 13 April 2021

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The feature in The Maryborough District Advertiser on 6th April on changes to Central Goldfields Shire population data raises important issues for our future.

According to 2019 projections by the Department of Environment Land Water and Planning population is likely to boom in most municipalities across central Victoria.

Central Goldfields is situated in between two of the fastest growing regional cities within Australia with population in Ballarat projected to grow from 107,330 in 2018 to 145,930 in 2036 an average increase of 1.7%. Bendigo is projected to grow from 116,050 to 153,760 an average of 1.6% during this period.

Smaller municipalities in growth corridors within our region are also projected to grow strongly with average annual rates of growth for Moorabool of 2.1%; Golden Plains 2% and Macedon Ranges 1.5% showing us that growth corridors really offer opportunity.

Our own projected growth rate is modest growing by 920 people to 14,130 an average of 0.4%.

Sustainable population growth offers better opportunities; boosted job creation; higher levels of services: improved transport and broader educational options.

Council will review its Population Growth Strategy to inform the development of the Council Plan.  

The development of the Ballarat Maryborough growth corridor offers critical benefits to us and Council has indicated to the State Government it is our key partnership priority with added passenger rail services through to Maryborough and Dunolly and the sewering of Talbot being early objectives.

We have huge possibilities ahead but capturing those is essential and something Council is absolutely determined to achieve.

 

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