1 The current population is approaching 22 Million.
2 The projected annual population increase is 398.000 (ABS Site Figures)
3 The doubling time for this increase in population is 40 years. Should the population continue to increase at the same rate the population would be 44 million by year 2049
4 The current infrastructure is not adequate for the existing population.
Areas of concern which will be adversely affected by increased population.
1 Health- Hospitals- aged care facilities. (Currently not coping with existing
population)
2 Housing. (Current shortage will be exacerbated by increasing populations)
3 Transport Rail – Road. How will people and freight be conveyed when oil
supplies fail, due to the Peak-Oil Crisis?
4 Education- schools- colleges. (Currently in crisis mode)
5 The Food Chain Agriculture will be affected both in farm production and
transfer of produce to the marketplace. Also will be subject to clauses 6 and 7.
Reports show that only 6 % of Australia is considered to be arable.
How will we provide food in sufficient quantities to cater for future
population rises?
6 Drought (existing and future) due to the affects of climate change.
7 Shortage of Water due to diminished rainfall ( See clause 6)
8 Economic situation leading to high unemployment. (Already evident.)
The reasons shown in clauses 1 to 8 clearly show that population Growth needs
to be controlled or sustainability will be impossible.
Capital Cities are at saturation point . Overpopulated and infrastructure not coping.
There are people deserting country areas because of lack of employment and
moving to coastal areas where they will be similarly disadvantaged.
The coastal areas where over 90 % of the population is situated are threatened by Sea Level Rise and Tidal flooding due to the advent of Climate Change.
Extract from discussion paper