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Bendigo’s population grew steadily in 2016, with close to 2000 people being added to the locality.
The City of Greater Bendigo local government area population rose to 110,562 – up 1.7 per cent from 2015, when 108,676 people lived in the area.
And the Australian Bureau of Statistics data illustrates steady growth percentages from the previous three financial years – 2012/13 (1.5) 2013/14 (1.7) 2014/15 (1.5).
Current population predictions estimate Bendigo will reach 200,000 people by 2050.
City of Greater Bendigo Director Strategy and Growth, Bernie O’Sullivan, said prevailing growth rates would see Bendigo reach the well-publicised figure by mid 2051.
“There are different drivers and contexts that can come into place to speed up and decrease that growth,” he said.
Mr O’Sullivan suggested Melbourne’s continued outward growth could benefit the region in the long-term.
Campaspe Shire had modest population growth of 0.1 per cent, with 25 people either being born or coming to the local government area, while Loddon Shire’s population shrunk, -0.5 per cent, with 40 people less than last year.
White Hills-Epsom and Strathfieldsaye were the prime population-moving suburbs within the urban area, both recording 4.8 per cent growth.
South Bendigo followed closely behind with 4.5 per cent growth, or 310 extra people.
Elsewhere across Victoria, Alfredton, in Ballarat, (5.9 per cent) and Grovedale, a suburb of Geelong (seven per cent), were the fastest-growing regional suburbs.
Greater Melbourne had the ten fastest-growing suburbs in Victoria. Cranbourne East was the fastest growing (26 per cent), followed by Beaconsfield-Officer (15), Truganina (14) in the outer west and Docklands (13).
Melbourne had the largest growth of all capital cities across Australia (107,800) and the fastest growth (2.4 per cent).
Australia's estimated resident population reached 24.1 million by June 30, 2016, increasing by 1.4 per cent.