Listening to the growing hysteria surrounding predicted population increase in Australia, you would think our country is heading for disaster. Yes, urbanisation is happening rapidly across the world and in Australia.

The United Nations predicts that more than 68 per cent of the world’s population will live within an urban area by 2050 with 43 megacities of more than 10 million inhabitants.

Population growth is not the enemy. The real issue of concern is the need for long-term planning. Credit:Josh Robenstone

However, the current debate about Australia’s population growth needs to be refocused. Population growth is not the enemy. The real issue of concern is the need for long-term planning to make sure that all residents are provided with services and infrastructure needed to promote healthy and liveable communities.

Recent research by our Healthy Liveable Cities team at RMIT supports the thinking of demographer Liz Allen, who has suggested that quality of life should be the centre of the population growth argument and is trying hard to increase understanding about its benefits, particularly with an ageing population and a shrinking income taxpayer base.