Declining population future outlook.

Some communities defy declining population.

Larger, well-managed inland centres are enjoying growth and prosperity. Rural and remote towns need little reminding of their declining population, which is on the slide as big cities, inland centres, and coastal lifestyle hubs expand. However, some are bucking the trend. Some places are matching the population growth of major regional centres.

Granted, the population increases in some towns and villages are small. However, they are proving it is possible to grow sustainably, and regional, rural and remote do not necessarily mean stagnant.

It shows that some communities are doing something different to stop any decline. The people let their enthusiasm change the world; they do not allow the world to break their spirit. They use what they have while continually looking for new ways to engage their people in improving the lifestyle they enjoy.

People might envy other communities with better natural resources, more extensive businesses with employment opportunities, or better communication and transport linkages. They do not let the negatives stop them. They do not sit back and wait for someone, let a declining population cause a decline in their lifestyles, or wait for the government to change things; they hop in and do it themselves.

The answer is not to lean on your understanding of your town’s situation but to look at prosperous communities and see what is working and how they tell their stories. Some communities beat the odds and retain enough services to improve their health and well-being. Other towns and villages make full use of available technology to assist in expanding their business community and attracting new businesses.

The lack of vibrating community centres can turn off new businesses and tourists.

Regional centres are on the rise.

Regional centres, or hubs, tend to enjoy more natural growth and a steady flow of migrants. Coastal areas are also growing despite not having a significant regional centre. Their growth is often due to migration from other rural and remote towns, villages, regions, and overseas migrants. This is why they are usually referred to as ‘sponge cities’.

Larger inland regional centres like Bathurst, where I live, enjoy natural population growth and migration from overseas and domestically.

Smaller towns and villages around the larger centres can provide a more prosperous environment with the right attitude when they work with the larger centres. Many people like to live in surrounding villages as long as they are close to services and adequate transport links.

There are plenty of under-utilised buildings which can be used to attract more businesses.

Any declining population in remote areas is concerning.

In recent years, the declining population in remote areas has continued to fall. As transport improves, they still feel forgotten by governments and the rest of the Australian people unless they want something, like visiting unique natural features, mining, or nuclear waste storage.

Retaining populations in remote areas is one of the most significant challenges facing regional Australia and our governments. We must support their growth and sustainability to avoid a ‘dead heart’.

Quotable Quotes.

“Finite resources can only support a finite population; therefore, population growth must be in tune with the local environment. Declining population must give way to better population distribution”. Peter Sergeant

“The good news is, the world population growth rate decreases systematically and is expected to reach zero by 2050, thanks to urbanisation and women’s education”. Dan Shechtman