Census data shows Darwin fastest growing capital city in Australia
Darwin is the fastest growing capital city in Australia, according to the Census.
During the past five years Darwin’s population grew 13.5 per cent to 136,828, Litchfield 26.4 per cent to 23,528, and family-friendly Palmerston 22 per cent to 33,695.
Australian Bureau of Statistics indigenous statistics and social information director Tony Grubb said the high growth rate of Darwin city could largely be put down to the boom of Inpex workers residing in the CBD.
While Darwin remains the fastest growing in the nation, the data reveals the city’s population growth is easing.
During the past five years growth has slowed 0.3 per cent.
The trend is visible in Territory wide statistics where there has been a slowing in population growth of two per cent.
Charles Darwin University Northern Institute Population researcher Dr Andrew Taylor said the northern suburbs grew by 4.3 per cent while the Barkley region declined by three per cent.
“The biggest decline was in East Arnhem, that was a result of the wind down of the Rio Tinto refinery,” he said.
Mr Taylor said the Territory was losing record amounts of people interstate but more people were moving here from overseas.
“We’re losing record amounts of people interstate as well as not attracting new residents — especially families and women to the NT.”
One in five Territorians was born overseas, an increase from 16.6 per cent in 2011.
The most common nationality of people born in another country was the Philippines, while the largest increase in nationality was from India.
“Essentially they had a skilled shortage in the health sector in Alice Springs,” Mr Taylor said.
“The good news is, it looks like they’ve stayed and maybe some of them have brought their families with them.”
He said that could be put down to the Inpex boom and relocating the jail to Howard Springs.
When Michael and Tanya Lloyd arrived in Darwin they intended on staying a year.
They now have a son, Alex, 5, have bought their Leanyer house, and said the lifestyle would keep them here.
*Source:www.ntnews.com.au
