Murray Bridge’s population may reach 35,000 by 2040s: forecast

Locals support locals – that’s why this recent post is now free to read. Your support can help Murray Bridge News tell important local stories. Subscribe today.

Murray Bridge’s population is likely to reach 32,000 or more during the next 20 years, according to the latest forecasts.

A projection by the state Department for Trade and Investment, published on Friday, predicted that the Murray Bridge district’s population would grow at least 23 per cent by 2041.

On the high end, it could be more like 55% – from 23,000 to more than 35,000.

Murray Bridge had “ample land for expansion”, the report found.

Locals support locals. Your support helps Murray Bridge News tell important local stories.

Job opportunities and demand for housing were likely to increase as production began at Thomas Foods International’s new facility.

Growth was expected across all age groups, including – in good news for local businesses – “significant” growth in the working-age population.

Planning Minister Nick Champion said the projections would help the state government plan future land use across the state.

“As more people are attracted to our jobs pipeline and world-class lifestyle, we will ensure South Australia is prepared to meet future housing and infrastructure needs,” he said.

“We continue to plan for the highest growth possible to ensure we accommodate this growth, while maintaining the mantle as one of the most liveable places in the world.”

The department’s projections were based on the latest trends in fertility, life expectancy, and overseas and interstate migration.

The report did not make a specific prediction for the Coorong district, but lumped together the Mallee and Riverland and suggested those regions’ population would grow by only a few thousand over the next 18 years.

However, it did mention that Tailem Bend’s solar farm might support population growth.

Even our growth rate is growing

The state government forecast significantly out-paced a recent projection by the Murray Bridge council, which had anticipated a population of 26,000 by 2041.

Even that much growth would require more than 3000 new houses to be built, and new facilities such as an additional R-12 school.

That’s one reason council staff have been working to unlock 113 hectares of new residential land in Murray Bridge’s west, enough for 1000 homes, with subsequent stages to follow.

The last state government plan for population growth in Greater Adelaide, published in 2017, did not include specific forecasts for the Murray Bridge district.

In fact, the only mention of Murray Bridge was in a section about preserving land for agriculture – after all, at that time, the state government had only recently placed heavy restrictions on residential development in primary production areas.

• More information: plan.sa.gov.au.