By XAVIER SMERDON
WYNDHAM is still the fastest growing municipality in Victoria according to the council, despite a recent report suggesting otherwise.
The Housing Industry Association recently released the HIA–JELD-WEN Population and Residential Building Hotspots report which provides a snapshot of Australia’s fastest growing metropolitan and regional areas.
The report claims that Canberra City is the fastest growing area in Australia with a population growth rate of 39.6 per cent over the last year.
Whittlesea is second on the list with a rate of 17.4 per cent while Wyndham has fallen to third with a rate of 14 per cent.
But Wyndham’s Mayor Kim McAliney said according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics Wyndham is still the fastest growing municipality in Victoria.
“The report by the HIA refers to Statistical Local Areas (SLAs), as defined by the Australian
Bureau of Statistics. SLAs are the smallest units defined by the ABS and cover areas within a municipality. Wyndham has been divided into Wyndham South, Wyndham West and Wyndham North,” Cr McAliney said.
“According to the ABS, Wyndham is still the fastest growing municipality in the State
and among the fastest in Australia.”
Cr McAliney said that being the fastest growing area was not something the council strived to be known as.
“This title is not a badge of honour and creates many challenges when it comes to funding infrastructure and services for a rapidly increasing population,” she said.
The rate of growth is unsustainable in the long term, making it vital that the State and Federal Government’s acknowledge the pressure being place on our residents and commit to funding to alleviate some of these growing pains.”
