Perth Predicted to be Bigger Than Brisbane

Join the crowd: Perth population tipped to hit three million. Picture: Lee Griffith/The West Australian

Perth will overtake Brisbane to become Australia's third biggest city in 15 years, population projections reveal.

Three million people are expected to call Perth home by 2028, putting fresh pressure on the city's infrastructure and housing supply to keep pace with the growth.

The capital's swelling population will almost double WA's total population from 2.4 million people to 4.7 million by 2040.

According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, the nation's population is growing faster than previously thought.

Five years ago it had projected Australia's population could get as high as 62.2 million by 2101 but it has revised that to 70 million.

It is based on the highest population growth scenario of women having two babies and annual migration of almost 280,000 a year. Using its mid-range growth assumptions, the ABS forecasts the population will double to 46 million by 2075.

Under the same medium scenario, Perth's current population of 1.9 million is tipped to rise to three million by 2028 and pass Brisbane.

What makes Perth's rapid population increase even more staggering is that it will overtake Brisbane in just 15 years, even though the Queensland metropolis will have the second fastest growth rate of any capital city in the country.

Curtin University professor of sustainability Peter Newman said Perth should be able to absorb an extra 1.1 million people if it got the infrastructure right.

“We will cope with it if we plan for it,” he said. “Melbourne and Sydney are exporting people to Brisbane and Perth, but we’re just getting more of them.”

He advocates future housing development in Perth to focus on 8-10 storey-high buildings in sub-centres based around new and existing train stations.

Professor Newman said Perth was poised to become a global city as it becomes the headquarters for energy and mining giants in the region, which would provide employment.

But it was also critical to attract jobs in the “knowledge economy” such as software developers and university researchers so the city was not just relying on the resources industry.

Urban Development Institute Association WA chief executive Debra Goostrey said industry and government were closely monitoring housing supply to prevent a repeat of last decade’s squeeze that drove up property prices.

While new land was being released, Ms Goostrey said there were emerging signs of some skilled labour shortages that could slow down construction.

She also said governments needed to keep up infrastructure investment to accommodate the swelling population.

“It definitely has it challenges but for people living in Perth this is a fantastic opportunity to build a very vibrant city that people want to come and live in,” Ms Goostrey said.

Destination Melbourne – Popular With Visitors from West Australia

Each year, more than a million West Australians* fly across Australia to visit the eastern states, the largest proportion of whom choose Victoria as their destination of choice. 

This number is growing – 10 per cent more West Australians visited Melbourne in 2012 when compared with the previous year.

Whether it is for work, holiday, shopping, to eat out at some of the country’s best restaurants or to attend one of the many sporting and cultural events, there is no doubt that Melbourne has it all.

And with three airlines now vying for passengers and up to 15 flights direct from Perth to Melbourne daily, flying to Melbourne has never been easier or more affordable. 

From $150 each way, West Australians now have the perfect excuse to fly across Australia and enjoy all Melbourne has to offer – even just for the weekend. 

Metro Apartments on Bank Place offers inner city apartment style accommodation that lives up to the city’s European charm. Tucked away down a cobbled laneway,  the surrounding heritage-listed piazza introduces you to Melbourne’s charming lanes and city precinct with its range of cafes, restaurants and enticing shopping. 

Bustling by day and alive with al fresco dining by night, Bank Place is situated a short stroll away from all of Melbourne’s sought after attractions: Bourke Street Mall, Federation Square, Southgate Centre and Crown Casino. 

Hop on one of Melbourne’s famous trams to spend the day at the MCG or the National Gallery of Victoria, and take in a show at the Victorian Arts Centre – only a short ride away by taxi or tram. 

The property offers 46 apartments, a choice of either studio or one-bedroom suites, as well as a split level, two bedroom penthouse. All suites include a kitchenette and laundry facilities. 

*Tourism Victoria Origin Market Profile,Year ending Dec 2012

To book, contact Metro Apartments Bank Place on +61 3 9604 4321 or call the toll free Central Reservations line on 1800 004 321. Alternately, bookings can be made online at www.metrohotels.com.au

View this Press Release and all Metro Hotels News

Perth's Chinatown Gets $2m Revamp

The West Australian government will spend $2 million to revitalise Perth's Chinatown precinct with lanterns and road stencilling.

As part of the revitalisation, Chinese New Year celebrations will be expanded into Chinatown laneways in 2014 with a $50,000 state government grant to the Chung Wah Association.

Premier Colin Barnett said on Sunday the aim was to create a more vibrant precinct for families, locals and tourists.

"Chinatown is a popular location for people of all ages and an important business precinct in Northbridge that has been rundown for some time," he said.

"This investment will transform the area to its former glory of the 1980s and ensure it remains an exciting and culturally important destination for years to come."

The Chinatown precinct is bound by Nicks Lane and Roe and James Streets in Northbridge, and includes 13 restaurants and businesses.

The wider Perth City Link project will create five new connections between the city and Northbridge, which will encourage more people to pass through the Roe Street area every day, the premier said.

The project is expected to be complete by the end of 2015.

New A380 flights from Perth

New A380 flights from Perth

Emirates the world’s largest international airline, is set to launch A380 super jumbo services to Perth from March 1.

According to Canberra sources the airline has slots approved for the 496-seat A380 to replace one of its tripe daily Boeing 777 services.

The A380 flight is scheduled to arrive at 5.25pm and depart at 10.30pm.

To see a virtual reality view of the A380 click here.

Emirates had planned to operate the A380 from Perth from mid year but delays in the installation and integration of the new aerobridge has put that back to March next year.

However, that A380 was allocated to Brisbane.

While the new service is slated from March 1 it may slip depending on A380 deliveries.

Emirates operates the world’s largest fleet of A380s with 39 in service and the airline had 51 on order.

But this week it ordered another 50 taking the total backlog for the airline to 101.

The Emirates A380 has 14 first class suites, 76 business class beds and a lounge bar on the upper deck and 406 economy class seats on the main deck.

At this week’s order announcement Emirates President Tim Clark said that the A380 “remains highly popular with our passengers.”

“It is still one of the most efficient aircraft to operate today in terms of fuel burn and emissions per passenger, and it gives us the flexibility in some cases to meet passenger demand in slot-constrained markets.”

One of the most popular features of the A380 is the quiet cabin and the plane is more stable than most in turbulence.

The Emirates A380s are mobile phone and email capable and have over 1500 entertainment options.

Emirates has been associated with Europe’s largest passenger aircraft since April 2000 when it was the first airline to announce plans to purchase the super jumbo.

The A380 is a major part of the airline’s ambitious expansion plans outlined by Mr Clark earlier this month.

“By 2020, we will have more than 250 aircraft serving some 70 million passengers across six continents. It will make us the largest airline on the planet by international passenger traffic,” Mr Clark said.

“However, being the biggest airline in the world is not really the end goal. Our aim has always been to connect travellers from around the world to Dubai, and other destinations with just a single stop via our hub.

“The strategic location of Dubai makes it possible for us to serve almost 90 per cent of the world’s population with non-stop flights.”

Over a third of the world’s population lives within a 4-hour flight from Dubai, and two-thirds are within an 8-hour flight.

Today, Emirates operates nearly 3,200 flights globally per week to 135 destinations in 76 countries.

The airline has 50,000 staff made up of 160 nationalities