A Macedon Ranges councillor has suggested a suspension of Gisborne’s rapid expansion as figures reveal its population is racing ahead of expectations.
Speaking at last week’s council meeting in support of a motion by Cr John Letchford to ask Planning Minister Richard Wynne to meet with the full council, Cr Russell Mowatt said Gisborne was turning into ‘‘another Sunbury’’, with a lack of adequate infrastructure and services.
‘‘The tsunami has well and truly hit Gisborne,’’ Cr Mowatt said.
A settlement strategy adopted by the council in July 2011 estimated a population of 14,700 by 2036.
But last week’s meeting heard that the town’s population had already passed 13,000.
And under the Loddon Mallee South Regional Growth Plan, Gisborne is forecast to grow to about 17,000.
Councillors Mowatt and Letchford questioned whether the state government was doing enough to help the council cope with the growth.
‘‘We as a council cannot do it, and the recent introduction of rate-capping further restricts [our] capacity to assist in this process,’’ Cr Mowatt said.
‘‘If the state government cannot invest in our town or region, let’s introduce a moratorium until they can because the current growth rate is not sustainable.’’
Cr Letchford said: ‘‘We don’t want the growth of our towns to get away from us.
‘‘The overflow of Melbourne is moving out, and increasingly the first port of call is Gisborne. We have to have more infrastructure to keep pace.’’
A government spokesman did not respond by deadline.
Last week’s state budget included $325 million for statewide jobs initiatives for infrastructure and services, with upgrades to irrigation, water security, mobile blackspots, streetscaping and planning work signalled.
Also funded were upgrades to public transport and $101 million for regional tourism infrastructure.
A total of $427 million will be spent on road safety upgrades, most of which will be invested in regional Victoria.
