Gazette

Cardinia boom

By Melissa Grant

14th October 2009 02:00:37 AM

Over the last year an average four families have been shifting to the municipality on a daily basis, but that figure jumped to six throughout July and August.

Cr Pearson said while the increase showed that Cardinia was defying the effects of the global economic downturn, he feared infrastructure would lag behind the growth.

He said the population explosion in the Pakenham, Officer, Beaconsfield growth corridor would put pressure on the shire’s road and transport network as well as education providers.

“That’s great for construction jobs but it’s becoming impossible to keep up with the infrastructure,” Cr Pearson said.

“It will put enormous pressure on roads… we are crying out for a Cardinia Road railway station and so many other things.

“We’re not getting our schools – we haven’t had a new secondary college and we don’t have any TAFE colleges.

“We’re certainly not getting funding from other levels of government to help us keep up with the growth.”

Cardinia Shire spokesman Paul Dunlop said the council had delivered a record 176 new bin services, a good indicator of growth, in August, up from 115 the previous August.

Mr Dunlop said 82 planning permits had been received and 70 subdivision lots applied for in August, while there had been 105 birth notifications.

“All the indicators for the last 12 months or so have been records,” he said.

Mr Dunlop said a number of new developments coming on stream, including Arena, had contributed to the growth.

Cr Pearson said many people considered the Pakenham area as a good place to raise a family.

“I think one of the real attractions for Pakenham, compared to a lot of other areas, is that it’s low-cost and seen as a better destination,” he said.

“The advice we get is we’re seen as relatively affordable and it’s still attractive.”