Warrnambool City Council's director of city growth says the impact of COVID-19 on population growth is already being felt across the region, with people showing greater interest in moving to the south-west.
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Andrew Paton said Warrnambool had a strong track record of population and economic growth and was hopeful for this trend to continue post-pandemic.
"Over the past decade Warrnambool's population has grown by over 3000 persons, there have been jobs created across the vast majority of industry sectors and over $1 billion invested in building approvals," Mr Paton said.
"We will need to wait for Census 2021 for reliable changes in population but anecdotally we are receiving good levels of enquiry from outside Warrnambool of potential movers to our region.
"COVID-19 impacts are already showing some interesting trends which are challenging traditional modes of work and job mobility or working remotely is an area that regions in particular are well positioned to leverage and promote.
It is highly likely that COVID-19 will trigger a new wave of population mobility as people make decisions about where they choose to move to or move from.
- Andrew Paton
A national campaign to drive population growth in regional areas was recently launched with one south-west council joining as an inaugural member.
Southern Grampians Shire Council joined the Regional Australia Institute's (RAI) campaign Regional Activators Alliance (RAA) with the objective being to shift public perception of regional Australia.
Southern Grampians Council chief executive Michael Tudball said the council had an ongoing relationship with the RAI.
"Continuously improving and promoting regional Australia is a shared responsibility and we have a huge role to play in driving the conversation," he said
"Southern Grampians Shire Council, in collaboration and partnership with the Great South Coast, has already undertaken significant work in this space, including a Key Worker Housing project and pilots such as the Economic Migration Project which further support initiatives to attract population and workforce to fill the unmet needs of our economy."
Mr Paton said Warrnambool council would also participate in the RAA as the city's livability attributes were already attracting families.
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Kimberley Price
Multi-platform journalist based in Bendigo, Victoria, reporting on general news for daily newspaper, The Bendigo Advertiser. Contact me via kim.price@austcommunitymedia.com.au
Multi-platform journalist based in Bendigo, Victoria, reporting on general news for daily newspaper, The Bendigo Advertiser. Contact me via kim.price@austcommunitymedia.com.au
