Population growth hot spots

Property investors might want to keep an eye on the latest population growth data in areas near Melbourne, Sydney and Perth.

The Australian Bureau of Statistics released statistics yesterday (July 31) showing a significant increase in the number of people living in the outer suburbs of Melbourne during the last decade.

Melbourne recorded the biggest total increase in population out of all the capital cities in Australia, while Brisbane had the second fastest-growing population with an increase of 25 per cent.

The biggest growth spurt in Melbourne took place in the suburb of South Morang where the population jumped by 32,200 people.

However the areas of Point Cook, Caroline Springs and Tarneit west of Melbourne increased their populations by 20,000 people each.

Melbourne isn't the only capital city to record major outer suburban growth between 2001 and 2011.

Three-quarters of the growth in New South Wales occurred around Sydney.

Sydney's north-west growth corridor suburbs of Parklea - Kellyville Ridge also had a burst in numbers and increased by 18,700 people, while the population of Kellyville rose by 11,900.

In Perth, there has been an increase of 17,700 people in the suburb of Ellenbrook near the central business district.

The area of Springfield Lakes, in the south of Brisbane has seen a surge in population, going from zero in 2001 to 10,600 in 2011.

Outside of Perth, the Pilbara showed a 26 per cent increase, pushing its populace up by 23,300 people in the past decade.