Melton’s population is tipped to reach a quarter of a million by 2031.
While Victoria’s population increased by 1.9 per cent in the year to March, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, Melton’s annual population growth rate is more than 4 per cent.
The city’s current population is 130,000. By 2031 it is expected to reach 240,000.
Melton chief executive Kelvin Tori said the city was preparing for “unprecedented” growth. “Over the next four years, Melton City Council will invest in our community and make the most of the opportunities that our unprecedented growth affords us,” Mr Tori said.
To accommodate the city’s growing needs, Melton council has allocated about $32 million for the city’s infrastructure, recreation and roadwork projects in the 2014-15 budget.
Economic development and advocacy acting manager Tennille Bradley said the council was promoting the city and advocating on behalf of its people, at a state and federal level.
“As one of Australia’s fastest-growing communities, there are incredible opportunities across a range of growth-related industries including construction, health and community services, property and business services and retail trade,” Ms Bradley said.
The Metropolitan Planning Authority has approved precinct structure plans (PSPs) for Rockbank North, Taylors Hill West, Diggers Rest, Melton North, Toolern and Eynesbury, with their collective population expected to rise by more than 100,000 people by 2031.
Four additional PSPs – Rockbank, Kororoit, Plumpton and Mt Atkinson/Tarneit Plains – are in the pre-planning stage.
According to Mr Tori, an average of 33 families move to the municipality every week. “Many of them are young couples starting a family,” he said.
According to City of Melton information, its residents originate from more than 100 countries and more than 100 languages are spoken in the city.
The population of Victoria grew by 108,800 to about six million people in the year to March.
