Regional WA population to boom
A regional town in WA has completed a piece of vital infrastructure to maintain its burgeoning population through to 2030.
Water minister Terry Redman announced the completion of a $40 million upgrade to the Busselton Wastewater Treatment Plant this week, to cater for the area’s growing population.
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“The upgrade of this essential piece of infrastructure will facilitate growth in the City of Busselton and ensure the wastewater treatment plant can meet peak summer demand,” he said.
The City of Busselton's average annual growth rate over the past 20 years has been one of the highest sustained growth rates for a regional area in Australia, in excess of four per cent.
According to the 2011 Census, the current population is 30,330. However, the Shire of Busselton Demography & Planning report claims the population will boom by more than 30 per cent within 10 years.
“Further urban development pressure is anticipated in the longer term, with the Shire’s population forecast to be more than 40,000 by 2021,” the report read.
According to RP Data, Busselton’s average annual growth for houses is 10.3 per cent, with a median house price of $425,000.
SQM Research shows that available rentals are few and far between, with a residential vacancy rate of just 0.8 per cent.
Mr Redman said the upgrade would double the plant’s capacity from 4.5 million to 9 million litres per day and improve the quality of treated wastewater produced.
The Water Corporation provides wastewater services to 8,927 residential and 1,241 commercial properties in Busselton.
An infill sewerage project in the Abbey and Broadwater areas to connect 379 residential lots to a central wastewater system will begin in late 2013.