Better planning critical for projected population growth: UDIA

The Urban Development Institute of Australia says the recent Australian Bureau of Statistics population forecast has highlighted the critical need to improve the supply of land and new housing, as well as increase investment in new urban infrastructure.

The ABS projected the Australian population to double to 45 million by 2075.

“Our population is going to grow enormously over the coming decades, which will bring fantastic economic benefits for Australia and provide new opportunities for our society,” says UDIA national president Cameron Shephard.

“It is essential however that we manage that growth sustainably, by ensuring we are well prepared to provide the new homes, roads, schools, public transport and other community infrastructure that those additional people will need.

“Failure to do so is likely to worsen existing congestion and housing affordability problems, threatening both the quality of life in our cities, as well as Australia’s economic productivity,” says Shephard.

The UDIA is calling on both state and federal governments to work together to ensure there is better planning, greater land release and more investment in critical urban infrastructure to support the population growth.

“It is vital that the new federal government increases its focus on urban policy and Australia’s cities, and that the recent abolition of bodies such as the National Housing Supply Council does not negatively impact on this vital area of economic and social policy. The ABS figures clearly show that as a nation we need to be putting more resources into planning and managing the growth of our cities, not less.”

“Australia already suffers from a chronic housing shortage of several hundred thousand dwellings.  Addressing the existing shortage as well as the additional demand caused by population growth is a major challenge for our policy makers,” says Shephard.