Councils in established suburbs have pushed most of this rapid population growth to the city's outer fringes, where it is easier to build new homes. While Melbourne's population soared from 2002 to 2014, the populations of Boroondara, Bayside and Glen Eira grew at about 1 per cent a year, less than half the city average.

Over the same period the population in the City of Wyndham in Melbourne's outer south-west surged by more than 100,000 people – almost 7 per cent growth a year. The populations of other outer growth areas such as Melton, Cardinia, Whittlesea and Casey also grew rapidly.

Rapid population growth stretches outer suburban roads, schools, hospitals and public transport services to the limit. In 2013 Alamanda College in Point Cook in Melbourne's west had 422 students; by 2014 it had 806. Local roads are so congested it can take up to 40 minutes just to get out of the suburb and into bumper-to-bumper traffic on the Princes Freeway. These strains come directly from established suburbs not taking their fair share of population growth.

Around the world, economic growth is most concentrated around city centres – but this dividend is only available if workers can get there. New homes in established suburbs provide many more workers for these opportunities than outer suburban housing. Poor access to jobs in outer suburbs also contributes to lower rates of female workforce participation – a further drag on the economy, and the choices available to families.

Building new homes provides people with shelter, gives them the chance to own their home, and creates jobs. The planning system needs to prioritise new housing as a goal for all suburbs. It should not pander to residents of established suburbs who don't want other Melburnians to get the same opportunities to live near jobs and transport that they enjoy.