Population growth in WA affects urban planning
City and urban planners must account for population growth by preparing accordingly.
Some considerations for future projections are infrastructure, residential property, educational facilities and transportation networks. The speed and level of growth should correspondingly affect development.
Australia's populace has been growing at a rate between one and just over two per cent a year for the last 35 years according to World Bank data.
The majority of growth is accounted for by migration, with the national fertility rate growing at a significantly lower rate.
Planning minister John Day reported Western Australia's population is now projected to grow to 3.06 million by 2026 - 400,000 more than a projection made in 2006.
Mr Day says the state government is staying abreast of the situation and appropriately adapting to the increase. He described the need to focus on Perth city projects like City Link and Perth Waterfront.
He said: "There is no doubt that we need these projects to help meet the needs of our growing city just as we need to continue to encourage the provision of a diversity of housing options and choices across Perth."
