33,433 now call CBD home

33,433 now call CBD home

By Sean Car

The population in the CBD rose by 8.3 per cent last year according to latest figures from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS).

According to the ABS data, 33,433 people now call the CBD home, which is thanks to an additional 2565 people moving in between 2014 and 2015.

The findings show that the CBD’s growth was the third highest inner-city suburb. Docklands experienced the most growth with 8.8 per cent, followed by Collingwood with 8.6 per cent.

The CBD was also recorded as the suburb with the highest population density, with 14,100 inhabitants per square kilometre. This was also off the back of the largest increase in density, up by 1100 people per square kilometre.

Planning Minister Richard Wynne said, given the increases, improving access to services in the city would be essential in the ongoing efforts to cater for growth.

“We need to make sure housing is available to everyone, delivering housing options through the city with the access to education, health services and transport people deserve,” he said.

More generally, the latest figures show greater Melbourne’s population growth went up 2.1 per cent – adding 91,600 people during the year.

Despite being down from 2.2 per cent from the year prior, greater Melbourne is still experiencing the nation’s fastest growth, ahead of Darwin, which is growing at 1.9 per cent.

The State Government has targeted improving housing affordability by encouraging development across the city and Mr Wynne said proper planning was required.

“We are the world’s most liveable city. People are naturally drawn to Melbourne and we need to plan accordingly,” he said.

"Our government has a plan for smart growth - that's a stark contrast to the previous government's strategy of shunting new residents into boxy CBD apartments, while protecting the blue-ribbon leafy east."

Since Labor has been in power …

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March 20th, 2024 - Evan Mulholland
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