State Coalition calls for population debate as figures show huge growth in Melbourne

MELBOURNE’S population is booming and the State Opposition wants a national debate on growth. See which suburbs are growing the quickest.

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A STATE political leader has called for a broad population debate as new figures show that several Melbourne suburbs dominate national growth hot spots.

Melbourne grew by almost one million people to 4.73 million in the decade to June 30, 2016 - almost 200,000 more than Sydney’s growth in the same period, says a new Australian Bureau of Statistics report.

Melbourne is now only 300,000 people shy of Sydney’s population and on current trends will surpass the harbour city’s total in the medium term.

Tarneit in the city’s outer west had the biggest growth in the nation - adding 28,792 people to reach 36,532 over the decade, said the report Regional Population Growth Australia 2016.

Other suburbs in the top 10 were Melbourne CBD (up 26,224 to 41,473), Cranbourne East (up 22,596 to 26,826), Truganina (up 21,849 to 24,977) and Doreen (up 19,171 to 21,904).

On Friday, the Herald Sun revealed that an extra 500,000 cars have clogged state roads since 2011.

Victorian State Opposition Leader Matthew Guy says the city has a congestion crisis on its hands. Picture: Joe Castro, AAP.

Acting Planning Minister Lily D’Ambrosio said the government is rolling out a number of projects to combat the issue.

Opposition Leader Matthew Guy said Melbourne had a congestion crisis.

Mr Guy said the Andrews Government had scrapped East West Link while encouraging higher density living in established suburbs.

“The Government thinks that adding the population of Brisbane to Melbourne within the next 20 years can be accommodated simply by building one railway tunnel and dipping a few level crossings,” he said.

Mr Guy, who yesterday fronted a population forum in Bulleen, said the nation needed a population debate because it was the “biggest issue on Australians’ minds”.

“It’s a healthy thing to have ... I don’t think we should shut down any Australian who wants to have a debate about the kind of Australia we want to be,” he said.

The Coalition wants more growth diverted from Melbourne to regional areas, but acting Planning Minister Lily D’Ambrosio said the Government was rolling out major projects after “four long years of a do-nothing Liberal government”.

“We’re building new communities in the inner city, allowing appropriate development in the suburbs, and encouraging sustainable growth in the regions,” she said.

Projects included the $11 billion Melbourne Metro Tunnel, removing the worst 50 level crossings and the proposed Westgate Tunnel.

Meanwhile, Melbourne City Council has launched apps encouraging car pooling and trying other forms of transport.

The Freewheeler app offers rewards like free coffee and fruit, and discounted sports gear for leaving the car at home and the Joinwheels app is for car pooling.

Lord Mayor Robert Doyle said: “Everyone hates congestion. It wastes precious time, frustrates people and hinders productivity.”

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