Population explosion

Source: BRIONY SNEDDEN, The Maitland Mercury

Maitland is at the centre of a bigger-than-expected population explosion with predictions the city’s residents will number 102,597 in 2031.

Updated Hunter Valley Research Foundation projections show Maitland’s population will double based on an average annual growth rate of 2.14 per cent – increasing by about 2000 people each year until eclipsing 100,000 in 2030.

Maitland leads the Lower Hunter in population growth. Port Stephens is next with 1.64 per cent.

The Hunter’s regional population is projected to rise from 589,000 in 2006 to almost 710,000 in 2026.

The revised modelling, issued yesterday, incorporated the latest Census data, fertility rates, death rates and building approvals.

“There isn’t a great change in the average annual growth rate for the Hunter – but in Maitland, it’s very significant because it would mean the population would double in 30 years,” the foundation’s researcher Michael Jonita said.

He said the data could be influenced by other factors.

“The 2.14 per cent figure is a 20-year average annual rate and that could change,” he said.

Maitland City Council is already preparing for such a rate to transpire. The city’s Settlement Strategy works on a 2.5 per cent growth rate to 2020, which will see the population reach 86,000. That will mean a need for between 8500 and 9500 new homes in the next 13 years.

Work is already underway on new land releases to accommodate the growth, including:

• 5000 new lots at Chisholm;

• 1200 lots at Gillieston Heights;

• 1200 to 1500 lots at Aberglasslyn; and

• 5000 lots at Lochinvar (development is expected to begin about 2020).

“With new land releases in Thornton North and the city’s west, we can
more than accommodate that rate of growth,” city strategy manager
Monica Gibson said yesterday.

While the council was prepared for such a growth rate Ms Gibson said
Maitland’s burgeoning growth was surprising when compared to
neighbouring local government areas.

“The Department of Planning has big plans for Lake Macquarie and
Newcastle as well but those areas are already coming from a large
population base,” she said.

Posted by Admin on November 7th, 2007 | Leave a Comment »
Posted under: Maitland