Ballarat has continued to grow with a two per cent increase in the city’s population between 2015 to 2016.
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The latest data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics showed Alfredton, including the suburb of Lucas, was the second fastest growing suburb in the state outside of Melbourne.
It added 610 people and grew by 5.9 per cent from 2015-16, with only Grovedale in Geelong growing at a faster rate.
Delacombe also saw a 4.5 per cent increase in population, while Ballarat North, and South grew two per cent and Buninyong grew 1.5 per cent.
The statistics put Ballarat ahead of other regional cities including Bendigo, Horsham and Mildura.
Bendigo’s population grew by 1.7 per cent.
Only the Geelong and the Surf Coast, which both grew by 2.4 per cent, outstripped Ballarat.
Helping the growth at the Lucas housing estate was 500 new homes.
Another 1400 homes will also be added to west Ballarat suburbs Alfredton, Lucas, Delacombe and Sebastopol in the next 30 years.
Work has started at a development at the Carngham Road precinct and new land estates have launched next to the Delacombe Town Centre.
Integra land development director Nick Grylewicz said the growth at Alfredton was bringing to fruition a well-established vision for west Ballarat.
“One of the reasons Alfredton has been so appealing to new home buyers is the early provision of services and substantial investment in new community infrastructure to support the anticipated growth,” he said.
“The economic impact will underpin employment in the Ballarat development industry and deliver more work for Ballarat-based companies, create new jobs and help retain a skilled workforce.”
The growth has extended to land sales at stage one of the Ballarat West Employment Zone where five businesses are already involved.
Broadbent Grain, farming equipment business Agrimac, freight company Kane Transport, massage table producer Athlegen and Broo brewery have all purchased land.