Sydney's population density increasing, here are the top growth areas: Urban Taskforce

Estimating the number of properties that need to be built in any city to cater for a forecasted population change can be a tricky job.

Particularly when forecasts are prone to change.

Urban Taskforce CEO Chris Johnson notes that the projections over 20 years have changed – from 1.3 million people from the 2013 Metropolitan Strategy for Sydney to 1.575 million in the 2014 projections.

“If the robust population growth continues over 50 years we will need to double the number of houses or apartments in Sydney from the current 1,673,800. Clearly this is a big task and this will require a pro-growth attitude from community groups and councils and strong leadership from the state government. The stalled planning reforms will need to be reactivated to help drive housing supply.” This works out to around 90 dwellings a day.

Property Observer has made the supply situation, from the Urban Taskforce statistics, a little more digestible below (click to open in new window):

Sydney’s future will be one of density, Johnson more recently noted.

“Sydney will become more dense through the trend towards apartment living in urban areas and this will need an efficient rapid transit rail service with an under harbour crossing. By aligning the areas of future growth with new infrastructure Sydney can move from being a provincial city to a real global city rivalling the economic centres of London, New York and Shanghai. We must aspire to a bold future for Sydney but this needs good infrastructure,” he said.

Urban Taskforce predicts that the majority of these new dwellings will be in urban centres and along transport nodes.

Stand out LGA Population Predictions for 2031 (figure stated is total people in LGA for 2031)

1. Penrith: 261,450
   Due to: Overseas migration (some internal migration loss noted)
   
   
2. Blacktown: 473,300
   Due to: Overseas migration and fertility rate
   
   
3. Auburn: 130,600
   Due to: Overseas migration and fertility rate (some internal migration loss noted)
   
   
4. Parramatta: 253,900
   Due to: Overseas migration (some internal migration loss noted)
   
   
5. The Hills: 280,900
   Due to: Overseas migration
   
   
6. Liverpool: 288,950
   Due to: Overseas migration and fertility rate
   
   
7. Camden: 162,350
   Due to: Internal migration gain and fertility rate

Source: NSW government 'Your Future NSW'

Click here to see the projections for your LGA.

Photo courtesy of Duncan Hill/Flickr/Creative Commons.