WITH Victoria heading towards a crucial state election, across the next five weeks the North Central Review will be counting down our top five areas in desperate need of attention within the shire.
This week’s feature will be discussing the issue of rapid increase in the shires population, and how we currently do not have the infrastructure to cope.
#5: Population Growth Outpacing Infrastructure
Population growth within the Mitchell Shire is set to boom, potentially increasing by close to 250 per cent within the next 20 years.
But it’s fair to say the shire is underdeveloped and not prepared for the number of housing developments expected over that period.
Statistics from the Mitchell Shire Council website show the population is projected to grow by more than 150,000 people by 2046.
Without significant investment in infrastructure, many residents fear the projected population growth could place unsustainable pressure on roads, schools and healthcare.
Beveridge is set to grow from almost 12,000 people to more than 112,000 over the next 20 years, yet the town doesn’t have a high school, police station or any major healthcare facilities.
If you think crime, traffic and wait times for medical services are bad now, imagine them with another 100,000 people living just five minutes from Wallan.
There are two major hospitals in Melbourne’s north – The Northern Hospital in Epping, which has Victoria’s busiest emergency department, and the Austin in Heidelberg.
The Northern council groups including Hume, Mitchell and Whittlesea have advocated for the government to spend $45 million to acquire land for planning to begin for a hospital and train station, yet nothing has been done.
Not to mention the quality and lack of public transport within the community already — another major service Beveridge doesn’t have.
Improved rail services, including a future Beveridge station and more frequent train services, would significantly reduce pressure on the Hume Freeway.
Beveridge will need its own train station. Otherwise, Donnybrook and Wallan stations could overflow in a similar way to Craigieburn, forcing commuters to park hundreds of metres away and leave their cars in potentially unsafe areas without security surveillance.
“Beveridge is one of the fastest-growing areas in Victoria, and people moving here deserve access to reliable public transport. A local station will make a huge difference for families, workers and students who currently rely on driving to other suburbs just to catch a train,” Mayor Cr John Dougall said.
Morning traffic heading towards Melbourne via the Hume Freeway can already be delayed by 20 minutes on a good day. With another 20,000 homes planned, commuters could be looking at delays of an hour or more just to reach the M80 Ring Road.
Population growth and housing development need to be matched by infrastructure investment. Otherwise, communities risk falling further behind.
Crime has risen by 333 per cent over the past five years, raising concerns about whether police resources are keeping pace with population growth.
In Kilmore, three major supermarkets located at one end of town have created another infrastructure issue, with the main street often backed up for hundreds of metres, even at 11am on a Tuesday.
Infrastructure needs to be improved before major housing developments continue to emerge.
However, it could be argued we are already too far into that process, with new estates in Kilmore, Wallan and Beveridge expanding by the day.
Without better public transport, roads will become an even bigger issue than they already are. Healthcare services will come under greater pressure, while education services will continue to struggle to keep up with demand.
There are positives to population growth, including new business opportunities. Yet in Kilmore, it often appears to be the opposite, with businesses along the main street continuing to close their doors year after year.