Bundy in top 20 growth list

Kallee Buchanan | 3rd July 2009

MITCHELL Gerahty thinks Bundaberg could use a few extra faces.

Living in the region for about five years, Mr Gerahty welcomed news yesterday Bundaberg was predicted to grow from 67,000 people to more than 90,000 in the next 18 years.

“I think Bundaberg needs it,” Mr Gerahty said.

“It would be a boost for everyone.”

A report projecting Australia's population growth between now and 2027 lists Bundaberg as the 14th highest-growth area in the country, with the population set to rise 34%, or by 23,000 people.

Bundaberg Regional Mayor Lorraine Pyefinch said the high level of predicted growth was not a surprise but with state government cuts to infrastructure, funding new development would be carefully considered.

“What we need to make sure is that any new housing developments are in areas within the approved urban footprint, in areas that have a infrastructure capacity to cope with that growth,” Cr Pyefinch said.

“In other words we don't want out of sequence growth that puts communities or development outside of our existing capability to provide infrastructure.”

Cr Pyefinch said Bundaberg had development already approved within the footprint areas “ready to go” and she would like to see those developments go ahead.

“I think they should have absolute confidence in the future of this region as an opportunity to see good growth and I certainly hope that those quality developers get on board and get going,” she said.

Member for Bundaberg Jack Dempsey said the new figures should come as no surprise to the state government, but he feared Bundaberg was already playing catch-up when it came to housing.

“It just highlights the (planning) mismanagement because they've known this population growth is coming,” Mr Dempsey said.

“It's incumbent on governments to make sure they plan properly for the future.