Thread: AUSTRALIA: Sydney's population to grow by one million

Sydney's population to grow by one million

Sydney's population is expected to grow by one million people over the next 13-years, putting strain on the city's already struggling infrastructure.

Fairfax Media reports that Sydney's population is expected to jump from about 4 Million now past 5 Million residents in the year 2021.

The figure is nearly half a million more people than developers had expected, raising questions over whether the city can cope.

It comes as the state's Labor Government seeks to pour nearly $58 Billion into roads and infrastructure during their Budget delivery tomorrow night.

The population spike is largely due to the Rudd Government's commitment to increase immigration levels.

The Federal Government has boosted the numbers from nearly 40,000 each year up to 190,000-a-year.

The Government says the measures are required because of a shortage in skilled labour across Western Australia and Queensland.

It's estimated that the city loses about 30,000 people each year to other states - largely due to the rising cost of living within Sydney.

Developers say that historically Sydney absorbs up to a third of all immigration into Australia, meaning the population within the state could explode over the next decade.

"This is adopting a one-track mind to immigration, one that fails to recognise that Sydney historically absorbs about one-third of the people who arrive in Australia," Dr Birrell, director of the Centre for Population and Urban Research at Monash University said.

"It also fails to recognise the fact that their arrival imposes such huge stresses on existing resources that without the allocation of further funds to accommodate them, it can end of costing taxpayers and governments plenty."
http://www.scopical.com.au/articles/New ... ne-million

Yes but the immigrants will donate money and volunteer on Rudds campaigns and if they get to vote will vote for Rudd. So everything is OK... at least for Rudd.