WODONGA is the second fastest-growing regional city in Victoria, a result that will give the centre need for a renewed focus on additional infrastructure and services, mayor Mark Byatt said yesterday.
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Wodonga welcomed 677 new residents during the 2009-10 financial year, a 1.9 per cent increase on the previous 12 months.
The city was ranked as having the 15th fastest rate of growth across 79 local government areas in Victoria, just behind Ballarat, which was ranked 14th, and the state’s fastest-growing regional city with 1950 new residents.
There were 641 newcomers to Albury during 2009-10, a 1.3 per cent increase on the previous year and giving the city a ranking for growth of 55 among 148 local government areas in NSW.
Cr Byatt said the result was “outstanding for us as a city, demonstrating how we are evolving as a regional city with a true and sincere respect to our rural roots”.
He said Wodonga’s population was predicted to reach about 55,000 in 2031, an average annual increase of 1.89 per cent.
“The figures match this prediction which is important as it allows the council to plan accurately for Wodonga’s future,” Cr Byatt said.
“The availability of flat affordable land, employment opportunities and first home owner grants coupled with Wodonga’s envious lifestyle are reasons why more people are choosing to move to our wonderful city from capital cities and other regional cities.”
Following Wodonga among Victoria’s fastest-growing regional cities was Bendigo with 1800 new arrivals, Geelong (3600), Warrnambool (527), Shepparton (929), Latrobe (838), Wangaratta (257), Horsham (178) and Mildura (427).
The shire of Bass Coast grew the fastest in regional Victoria with a growth rate of 4.6 per cent.
“To be benchmarking for growth among significant cities such as Ballarat, Geelong and Bendigo is a solid indication of where we are as a regional city,” Cr Byatt said.
Among the strongest regional performers in NSW were Wollongong with 2300 new arrivals, Newcastle (1500), Port Macquarie-Hastings (1300) Maitland (1200), Tamworth (1000), Cessnock (920) and Queanbeyan (810).
Regional cities growing faster than Albury included Bathurst (1.6 per cent), Dubbo (1.4 per cent), Orange (1.8 per cent), Tamworth (1.9 per cent) and Queanbeyan (2 per cent).
Cr Byatt said as part of his role as chairman of Regional Cities Victoria, the issue of regional growth had already been a subject for discussion with the previous Brumby government and the new Baillieu government.
“Regional cities have a role in easing the burden on Melbourne and can be part of the population solution for Victoria,” he said.
“That is something we are getting traction with, with government.
“But it requires an investment to harness that population growth and increase the service offering to regional centres.
“What incentives the state government puts out there will be something we have to look at, and this result positions us well to have a first hand, valued discussion as a priority with government.”