Melbourne has been the fastest growing city this century, growing an insane 1.6 million people (around 45%) since 2000.
Any long-term resident of Melbourne will have experienced the fallout, with roads, trains, trams, schools and hospitals all crush-loaded.
The latest population forecasts from the federal budget show that Melbourne will again lead the nation’s population growth, with Victoria to grow by an insane 694,000 over the five years to 2026-27:
That’s 1.5 Canberra’s worth of additional population to land in Victoria (read Melbourne) in only five years!
At the same time as Melbourne’s population will grow like an out of control science experiment, infrastructure investment across Victoria is facing the axe.
A 90-day independent evaluation of the nation’s $120 billion 10-year infrastructure pipeline will analyse the majority of Victoria’s transportation projects that are set to get federal cash.
This has put the Airport Rail, Geelong Fast Rail, North East Link, and M80 Ring Road projects in jeopardy.
However, the contentious Suburban Rail Loop (SRL) will continue receiving federal funds.
On Wednesday, the Victorian Andrews Government pressed pause on the $10 billion Airport Rail link.
“While this national review is undertaken, we’re being upfront with our contractors, workforce, and the public, and following the direction from the federal government”, Deputy Victorian Premier and Minister for Transport and Infrastructure Jacinta Allan said.
There is also growing speculation that the debt-ridden Andrews Government will slash infrastructure investment in the state budget.
Victoria’s net debt is expected to top $165 billion by 2026, and the interest bill is already $10 million a day.
Victoria is the fastest growing state with Melbourne the fastest growing capital city.
For two decades, it has struggled to build infrastructure and deliver services to its expanding population.
Now infrastructure is being cut at the same time as the Albanese Government floods the state/city with record numbers of migrants, meaning the crush-loading and traffic congestion will only worsen.
Meanwhile, Victoria will waste countless billions of dollars on projects that would not have been necessary without the above mentioned people-stuffing.
I’m sure the federal government would be less enthusiastic about immigration if the financial costs were to be shared with the states.
