Wyndham’s population is expected to balloon past half a million people within the next 20 years, according to new forecasts.
Figures released by forecast analysts, .id, show that by 2040 Wyndham’s population will surge past half a million people, and by 2041 it will be 512,591.
Wyndham Mayor Josh Gilligan said this growth would only increase the need for governments to close the infrastructure and services gap between Wyndham and other areas.
“This is the first time ever that forecasts have shown Wyndham’s population will reach 500,000 people. That’s a growth of 88 per cent on today’s population,” Cr Gilligan said.
“We are already growing at almost triple the rate of regional hubs Geelong, Ballarat and Bendigo combined. Previously it was predicted that our population would reach 480,000 people by 2041. Now that data shows that we will hit that number three years earlier than expected.”
“This will make us almost as big as Tasmania is today, larger than Canberra and almost four times the size of Ballarat and Bendigo.”
“We need governments to work with us on creating a local transport network that reduces reliance on car travel, but also includes creating more car parks at local train stations.”
Cr Gilligan said projects such as the Westlink, which includes the vital Ison Road Bridge grade separation, and the construction of new Regional Rail Link stations, were priorities.
“We are focused on building a liveable city not just a big city,” he said.
This article was originally published on www.starweekly.com.au.