According to the Victoria in 2019 report produced by the department of environment, land, water and planning, Wodonga's population will be nudging 60,000 people in 2036 with an annual growth rate of 2 per cent.

If the long-term prediction comes to fruition Wodonga will remain smaller than Albury, but will be nearly double the size of Wangaratta and growing at twice the rate of Shepparton.

But the report has also brought some welcome news for Towong, Alpine and Indigo shires and Wangaratta Council.

IN OTHER NEWS

They have improved population predictions from those made for 2031 by the same state government departmental source three years ago.

They have all experienced double digit improvements with Wangaratta and Towong leading the way with a 13 per cent change followed by Alpine with 12 per cent and Indigo 10 per cent.

Towong will remain one of the smallest local government areas in 2036 in the state, but now has a projected 0.2 per cent growth rate.

In comparison, neighbouring Wodonga is steaming ahead with council chief executive Mark Dixon not surprised by the report as its own modelling showing the city would grow to more than than 57,000 people by 2036.

"Good strategic planning means we know the city has the capacity to support an ultimate population of 100,000 people," he said.

"Following year-on-year increases in our population and the transformation of our city centre, we are seeing continued growth in the interest and confidence in our city from private investors, particularly following the completion of the High Street works.

"The forecast increase to the population of 17,000 people will see an expected demand of 7000 to 7500 dwellings.

"The city has a residential land supply of 32 to 36 years of zoned land and more than 50 years of unzoned capacity with the Leneva-Baranduda growth area and its precinct structure plan ready to accommodate an additional 14,000 homes and the infrastructure that additional population will require."

Wodonga has enjoyed a 1.72 per cent average annual growth over the last decade which places it just behind Ballarat (1.78 per cent), but ahead of Geelong (1.7 per cent) and Bendigo (1.69 per cent).

Its previous highest annual growth rate topped out at 2.2 per cent per cent five years ago has hovered between 1.3 and 1.9 per cent in recent years.

Wangaratta's population is tipped to only grow by 3080 to 32,160 or 0.6 per cent between 2018 and 2036 and Shepparton's population will surge by 11,690 to 77,690.