PEOPLE are making Pakenham home at a quicker rate than almost anywhere else in Victoria.

A Housing Industry Association report has found Cardinia Shire was the state’s fourth fastest growing municipality.

The population boom is centred around Pakenham, Beaconsfield and Officer but is also spreading to Kooweerup, Emerald, Bunyip and Garfield.

According to new HIA figures, the local population jumped 10.3 per cent in 2006, bringing the total number of residents in the shire to more than 59,000.

In the same year, more than $143 million of residential building work was approved.

Only Wyndham and Melton in the west and Whittlesea in the north had a higher growth rate than Cardinia.

The neighbouring City of Casey was also among the top 10 big movers.

Pakenham’s population explosion is bringing a host of extra opportunities – and pressures – into the town.

Transport, education, social and recreational services are already feeling the pinch of the population boom.

Cardinia Shire Council chief executive officer Garry McQuillan said residents would soon see an even greater transformation.

Mr McQuillan said managing that growth was by far the biggest issue facing civic leaders.

“There will be a fairly massive change in population over the next five to 15 years,” Mr McQuillan said.

“The completion of the Pakenham bypass will create a further upsurge in growth. Residential development is already occurring and that will continue.

“The State Government has also set aside 2500 hectares of land for industrial development. There is a lot happening all round.”

Stockdale and Leggo sales manager Michael Asche said sales in the area were strong even though the market had died down a little in recent times.

“It (housing demand) has probably levelled off a bit, it’s not as buoyant as it was 18 months ago,” he said.

“This is a flow-on effect from the fact there are not many investors on the market.”

Gerard Collins managing director Derrick Brown agreed sales had dropped recently.

“We have come off a very strong sales rate and have now come back to more of a normal market,” he said.

But Mr Brown said outer areas such as Garfield and Bunyip had experienced growth in recent times due to an overflow from Pakenham.

“Pakenham is changing from a country town into a metropolitan area,” he said.

“Some people are finding Pakenham too big and are moving out to these quieter areas.”

One couple happy in their new home are Rick and Amanda Read, just one of the many young couples who have moved to the area in recent times.

The Reads, who married earlier this year, have built a house in the popular Lakeside estate.

“We love it here,” Mr Read said.