Baldivis population growth fuels boom

Baldivis continues to play a substantial part in the growth of the City of Rockingham’s population and its own population could more than double over the next 16 years.

From being a sparsely populated rural area at the turn of the millennium, the freeway-bordering suburb is now a thriving suburb and home to more than 34,500 people.

This high level of growth is expected to continue over the next 20 years, with City projections indicating the suburb will be home to about 70,000 people by 2036.

From 2012-2017, the City’s annual average rate of growth has been 2.88 per cent, fluctuating from 4.66 per cent growth in 2012 to 1.59 per cent in 2017.

The population was estimated to be 114,511 in 2012 and 131,038 in 2017.

The Perth metropolitan area is now home to an estimated 1.7 million people, with an average growth rate of 1.97 per cent over the past seven years since 2011, ranging from 0.77 per cent to 3.7 per cent and adding 20,000-90,000 people each year during the period.

Despite the slowing down of the mining boom, WA continues to have the fastest growth rate in the country.

The City has been subjected to criticism from residents in recent years, with rates going up for 10 successive years, but as the population grows and more people make the City of Rockingham their home, the City needs to provide more infrastructure and services to meet demand.

Mayor Barry Sammels said some strategic planning objections had been planned to meet future needs.

“As the City’s population increases, there is a growing need for community infrastructure and community-based services,” he said.

“Demand for things such as parks, large-scale sporting reserves and community centres continues to increase each year.”