MELBOURNE, July 15 (Xinhua) -- The Australian state of Victoria is set to almost double in its population by 2051, with immigration to be a key driver, according to a new state government report released on Friday.
According to the 2011 census, the current population in Victoria is 5.35 million people, but high immigration could boost that number to 10 million in 35 years.
In the state government report, Victoria in Future 2016', released on Friday, the statistics revealed an extra two million residences will be required by 2050 to support the estimated rise in the state's population.
The 2011 census results showed that the population of greater Melbourne was almost 4 million people, but according to this report, that number is expected to rise to six million people by 2031, and eight million by 2051.
Melbourne's CBD has grown by six per cent a year, and is tipped to have 230,000 residents by 2031, an increase from 100,200 in 2011.
This new data, attributed to a surge in high immigration, has forced Victoria's planning authorities to revise its population and residence estimates.
Victoria's Acting Planning Minister Jill Hennessy said Victoria would have 4.1 million households by 2051.
"We are planning for a bigger, better, and even more liveable Victoria by investing in infrastructure, creating jobs, and encouraging more housing close to services, transport, education and employment," Hennessy told News Corp on Friday.
The report also revealed other of Victoria's municipalities which were expected to have high-growth in the next 15 years.
The outer south-east city of Casey, which is approximately 45 kilometres from the CBD and has 35 per cent of its residents born overseas, is set to expand by 170,000 people from 2011, to reach 437,500 by 2031.
In regional Victoria, the city of Geelong and surrounding areas is estimated to hit almost 500,000 people by 2051.
In western Victoria, Wyndham will grow by almost 200,000 to 361,400 and Melton by 154,000 to 266,000, according to the report.
Melbourne's Lord mayor Robert Doyle told News Corp: "Smart growth is not about buildings or transport or infrastructure projects, it's about how all of them relate to making people's lives better."
The life expectancy for those born in Australia in 2051 is expected to increase from about 80 to 88 years for males and 84 to 90 years for females.
