MELTON’S reputation as a major growth area has been confirmed, with the latest census data showing a 38per cent population increase in the past five years.
The 2011 census figures, released last week, show the shire’s population increased from 78,912 in 2006 to 109,259 last year.
The number of residents aged 0-4 has increased from 4228 in 2001 to 10,074.
In 2011, there were 643 people aged 85 years and over compared to 199 in 2001.
Melton Council’s acting general manager of community services Adam Boyle said that while the explosive growth was putting pressure on services, the council had been doing its best to plan for change. He said the census data would help determine what infrastructure was needed for the community and where.
George and Meredith Bambery, who have lived in Rockbank since 1950, said they had witnessed considerable change.
“When we first came here it was a case of no shops at all, other than a baker, two pubs, a haberdashery shop, a blacksmith and a general store,” Mr Bambery said.
“Virtually anything you wanted, you had to go to Footscray and beyond.”
While there had been considerable growth in the shire, he said not enough had happened in the way of roads and train services.
There had also been an obvious increase in overseas migration and people coming from other areas of Melbourne, Mr Bambery said.
“In the mid-70s Melton was very cheap in comparison to other areas.
“At that time it was almost too cheap to get interested in, then the subdivision started.”
Mr Boyle said census data helped the council to understand “who we are as a community” and to underpin strategic planning.
“On top of our fast growth the census highlights our shire’s growing diversity. We note the large increase in the countries of birth, with a particular increase in people from Asian countries such as India and the Philippines,” he said.
Mr Boyle said the data confirmed that the typical Melton resident was young, with a median age of 32.
The census showed median income had increased from $1217 a fortnight in 2006 to $1486 last year.
The median rent went from $186 a week to $270.
The median mortgage increased from $1300 a month to $1733.
