Inner Melbourne, including the City of Yarra, is growing fast. Based on the State Government housing capacity targets, the Melbourne 9 (M9) region is expected to accommodate approximately 1 million additional residents, 525,000 additional dwellings and 618,00 additional jobs over the next 25 years.
In Yarra specifically, we’re expected to see a population increase of 83,300 over that period; as well as 44,000 additional dwellings. That means more pressure on our infrastructure and services to provide for this growth.
Forecast population increases will result in increased demand for local infrastructure that directly supports neighbourhoods and is primarily planned, delivered and maintained by local government. By 2051, it is estimated that the M9 region will require an additional 49 local community centres; 12 libraries; 196 sports fields; 71 kindergarten facilities; 62 maternal and child health rooms; 16 aquatic and leisure facilities.
This is in addition to estimated demand for State and Federal Government infrastructure – 46 additional government primary schools, 27 government secondary schools, 12 district libraries, 4 university campuses and approximately 2,350 additional public hospital beds.
These statistics come from M9, the alliance of nine-inner Melbourne councils. M9 have today released their Investing in Growth: Funding Essential Infrastructure report, detailing the impacts of this growth on the region.
M9 comprises the 9 inner metropolitan councils of Melbourne: Melbourne, Darebin, Hobsons Bay, Maribyrnong, Merri-bek, Moonee Valley, Port Phillip, Stonnington, and Yarra.
The report states that accommodating current levels of expected growth will require significant investment in the infrastructure that supports communities, businesses and the broader metropolitan economy – well beyond what local government is able to deliver within our current funding mechanisms.
M9 estimates that M9 councils will require approximately $923 million of capital investment each year to provide the local infrastructure needed to support expected growth. This is compared to the projected capital funding capacity of M9 councils of approximately $763 million per year.
Roughly $28,900 in capital investment will be required per additional dwelling.
Even allowing for more efficient delivery models, M9 estimate an average funding gap of approximately $803 million every five years for local infrastructure.
Yarra stands alongside M9 as a proud partner, advocating that the State and Federal Governments step up and provide the investment needed to structural and city shaping infrastructure to unlock growth opportunities in the region.
You can read the full report from M9 here: Investing in Growth: Funding Essential Infrastructure
