The ACT’s population is projected to be at a high of 577,600 in 2041, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics.
At present it is 299,000.
For a long time the ACT had the highest annual growth in population among the states. Now Queensland has overtaken and heads the table. On ABS projections Queensland will have to cope with a doubling of its population between now and 2041.
The ACT will continue to have the youngest median age at 39 of all states except the Northern Territory.
The large increases from interstate of the early 1970s have flattened to about 1500 in recent years. ACT fertility is six per cent below the national average.
Planning Minister Bill Wood says the Gungahlin and the Government’s 50-50 greenfields to in-fill policy will cope with the growth till the next century. He does not expect anything to happen in Jerrabomberra until next century and says possibilities at the Harman naval station are long-term and will have to await Federal Government decisions.
The National Capital Planning Authority has launched a design concepts competition for Jerrabomberra. There regular meetings between the NCPA, ACT Government, Queanbeyan shire and surrounding councils on development issues.