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Vol 2 No 24 THURSDAY, JUNE 30, 2022 ISSN 2653-1550
CENSUS BOOM Decades of population drift have been halted
THE Loddon has its biggest population in almost two decades.
Census figures released on Tuesday by the Australian Bureau of Statistics had 7759 people living in local communities - up from 7516 in 2016. Mayor Dan Straub said the first population jump in decades added strength to the shire council’s push for government investment to support population and economic growth. “The Census backs our strategy and vision for growth,” Cr Straub said.
“Our communities are growing, the decline has been turned around and we need government to step up and make sure we have all the building blocks in place to achieve even more growth over the next five years.” Two decades ago, the Loddon’s population was 8177. The big mover in town populations was Boort where 940 peo-
Chook sheds are crunched BUILDINGS at the troubled former Bridgewater Poultry Farm are being demolished. The Fantasy Road site has been idle since 2019 when a salmonella scare saw eggs recalled, major supermarket chain contracts lost and a video showed contractors alleged to have been filmed kicking, throwing and abusing chickens. Demolition crews are working behind mesh-covered fences knocking down sheds that once contributed to the company providing a tenth of Australia’s egg supply. Owners of Bridgewater Poultry on Monday revealed their plans for the site.
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ple are now living compared with 873 at the 2016 census. Serpentine has jumped by 30 residents to 222 while Pyramid Hill saw its town increase from 558 to 598 people. Population increases have also come for Wedderburn up 10 to 951, Inglewood rising 31 to 886 and Tarnagulla attracting 20 new residents over the last five
years to now have 153. Bridgewater continues to be popular as a residential destination with 341 people now calling the river town home. A decrease of one was recorded for Mitiamo (now 116) while Dingee dropped back 10 to 196 people and Newbridge, a town without connected water and sewerage, fell 21 to 192. The majority of Loddon residents are male - 50.6 per cent and the average age 52. The median household weekly income is $1039. The median mortage repayment is $867 while
rent is $170 and dwellings have an average of 2.4 vehicles. Cr Straub said: “There are strong indications that the Loddon’s population has continued to grow since last August when the Census was conducted. “These figures are exciting and will give our communities added confidence in forging ahead and making the most of our opportunities,” he said. “Our future is looking much stronger.” Next week’s Loddon Herald will have special analysis and reaction to the Loddon’s population spurt.