In most pre-census ABS estimates, Ballarat has experienced growth at a comfortable but upbeat rate between 1.5 and 2 percent with a total LGA population of around 104,000.  Of course what becomes critical is what these growth figures are made up of, whether there is concurrent increase in employment and median incomes as well as a healthy reflection of diversity. 

But in 2017 the talk more than ever before focusses on how this growth is balanced between the bursting capitals and the regions. The Federal and State Governments want to shift government departments as part of this re-balancing and last week the State Opposition raised the spectre of a Melbourne of 8 million in the decades to come to show the urgency was not simply an equity option but an economic imperative.   

The underlying fear is continued population and economic growth in major metropolitan centres threatens to create a “two Australia” scenario, where growth improvements and assets are not replicated in regional areas.  In 2012, 66 percent of Australians lived in a capital city; by 2061 some estimates have this closer to three quarters. Victoria, the fastest growing Australian state, is already much more concentrated into its main city. Following this trend unabated will see more than 85 per cent of the population living in Melbourne.

So countering this is the steady growth and prosperity of regional cities and centres, unencumbered   by the intensity of infrastructure lag, land shortage, sprawl and congestion. There is also new research indicating the return on investment in regional cities is at least as strong as it is in the capital cities.

According to University of Canberra research, Ballarat is classified as slow and steady cities but with relatively high creative industries scores, “coupled with robust rates of business entries”, means the foundations for growth is there but the greater stimuli are still needed to get this future balance right.

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