However, the questions remain; How do we future proof Melbourne? How do we ensure the viability of life through exponential growth? How do we apply global inspiration while accounting for the local?

Australia is forecasted to see an increase of 11.8 million people between 2017 and 2046, approximately four times the population of Melbourne currently.  The projected populations growth will be distributed predominantly across the four major cities: Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Perth.

Today, the city of Melbourne is already experiencing its biggest population surge, with an increase of 125,000 over the last year, for the second year running. According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, Melbourne metropolitan recorded an increase in population of approximately 4,500 between 2016 and 2017. This indicates a 12% population increase just in the metropolitan areas alone.

With the push for more knowledge-intensive service sectors by the government, Melbourne metropolitan will only continue to attract more people due to its access to skilled labour and employment opportunities. A population increase will indirectly facilitate greater exchange of skills and ideas, ultimately sustaining the growing momentum of knowledge-intensive service sectors. But it also brings about its own sets of challenges.