Cobram 2025 Cobram Strategy Plan - Moira Shire Council

Cobram Strategy Plan
Final Report
Many rural and regional towns experience a significant decline in the number of
persons within the 18 to 24 years cohort. Since 1986 the proportion of the people
living in Cobram within this cohort and the 5 to 17 years cohort has continued to
decline. Whilst this is consistent with the changes to the overall age structure for
Victoria, and indeed being experienced throughout Australia as the “babyboomers”
age, efforts should be made to reverse this decline through new
employment opportunities and further economic development. The lack of tertiary
education facilities and opportunities is a genuine concern amongst the Cobram
population.
4.4.2 Forecasts 2006 to 2031
Whilst age structure projections are not available specifically for Cobram, the
projections for Moira Shire based on 2001 data (as per the table below) indicate
that it is expected that this trend towards an ageing population will continue. Like
Moira, when compared to 2001, by 2031 Cobram’s population is expected to have
a higher proportion of those aged over 55 years, with much of the population
growth coming from increases in this age cohort, through ageing and migration.
Table 5: Forecast for Age Structure, 2001 to 2031
Moira
Reg Vic
Age
Cohort
2001
%
2006
%
2011
%
2016
%
2021
%
2031
%
0-4 6.7 6.1 5.4 5.0 4.9 5.0 4.5
2031
%
5-14 15.1 14.4 13.7 12.5 11.5 11.0 10.4
15-24 10.7 10.3 10.5 10.3 9.9 8.3 9.4
25-34 11.3 10.2 9.0 8.8 8.9 8.7 9.6
35-49 20.5 20.1 19.2 18.0 16.7 15.8 17.9
50-59 12.2 13.5 13.6 13.7 13.3 12.1 12.3
60-69 10.7 11.4 13.2 14.7 15.0 14.9 13.9
70-84 10.8 11.5 12.3 13.3 15.5 18.8 17.4
85+ 1.9 2.4 3.1 3.8 4.3 5.5 4.6
Total 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0
Source: DSE, Victoria in Future 2004
A major issue for planning for the housing of this group is the desire for many
people to stay at home for as long as possible, with the benefit of Home and
Community Care programs. This is particularly applicable to those people from
remote areas and retired farmers, who wish to remain in familiar areas.
There will be a range of people in this age group, from early retirees that are fully
independent and may combine part time work with leisure activities, to elderly
people who are fully supported. Subsequently the housing and community facility
demands of these sub groups will differ and may include:
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