Poor government planning risking Melbourne being defined by overcrowded trains, congested roads

Melbourne’s growing at a rate not seen for 50 years. But we’ve got to get one thing right, and quickly, if living standards are to be preserved.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison wants state governments to contribute to population planning.

Houses are sprouting up in growth areas more quickly than the infrastructure, including public transport, roads, hospitals and schools, needed to service them, a report warns.

The nation’s independent roads and rail advisers are urging major reform to future planning as booming population projections and mass interstate migration risk Melbourne being characterised by congested roads, overcrowded trains and buses, over-enrolment in schools and hospital bed shortages.

Today’s report by the independent advisory body, Infrastructure Australia, says the nation’s largest cities are growing and changing at a rate not seen for more than 50 years.

VICTORIA’S POPULATION GROWTH OUTPACING THE NATION

OVERSEAS MIGRATION DRIVING POPULATION BOOM

IA’s executive director of policy and research, Peter Colacino, said the infrastructure deficit was due partly to rapid population growth but also to poor consultation and “siloed” planning and decision-making.

This transformation will bring economic, social and cultural opportunities, it says, but local communities must be involved in the planning if living standards are to be preserved.

Poor planning is risking major cities being defined by congestion. Picture: Tony Gough

“It is absolutely possible to grow our cities and maintain their character and world-class liveability, but we need to be smarter about how we plan for it,” Mr Colacino said.

“Too many communities have witnessed the delivery of poor-quality housing development which is not well ­integrated into the local area and not accompanied by the infrastructure and services needed to support it.”

He said the report made a clear case for a “place-based approach” that would allow for more diverse housing, ­including at higher densities, in a way that supported the character and identity of each area.

“This approach will enable governments to link the delivery of infrastructure and housing — to ensure people have access to a good local park and playground, a well-located school and health service, and a frequent and reliable local bus,” he said.

Victoria’s population, now 6.3 million, is tipped to reach up to 8 million by 2027, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics.

Crowded trams will become the norm unless public transport is addressed by governments of all levels. Picture: Jake Nowakowski

And Melbourne’s booming population puts it at risk of a future characterised by congested roads, overcrowded trains and buses, school over-enrolment, and hospital bed shortages.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison has asked the Victorian government to outline at tomorrow’s Council of Australian Governments meeting in Adelaide how it plans to cope with this growth, and the roles skilled migrants should play.

In a letter to Premier Daniel Andrews, Mr Morrison has requested figures on what is considered to be Victoria’s population-carrying capacity, complete with regional breakdowns.

He has also asked for the state’s future needs under the Commonwealth’s migrant program and what skills it anticipates businesses will need over the next 15 years.

“We need to carefully manage population growth to protect the quality of life enjoyed by all Australians,” Mr Morrison said.

“This means working to avoid congestion in our major cities while supporting the growth of regional areas, where it is important to maintain and expand service delivery and create more jobs.

“It has to work in Melbourne as well as Darwin. In Rockhampton, as well as Bunbury.”

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