Local Planning Policy Framework - Moreland City Council

Age Distribution
Central Coburg 2020 Background Report [ PHASE 1: Research and Analysis ]
The age distribution of Moreland’s population is similar to the distribution of
metropolitan Melbourne. The age structure of the Coburg population has altered only
slightly over the last inter-census period. Slight proportional declines are evident in
the below 34 year age groups, along with slight proportional increases in the 35 years
and above age groups. This trend is consistent with an ageing population.
Table 2: Age Structure -Coburg
1996 2001
Age Group No. % No. %
0-4 1,661 7.0 1,446 6.4
5-17 3,659 15.4 3,381 15.1
18-24 2,576 10.9 2,252 10.0
25-34 4,560 19.2 4,112 18.3
35-49 4,880 20.6 4,911 21.9
50-59 2,071 8.7 2,070 9.2
60-74 2,868 12.1 2,782 12.4
75+ 1,428 6.0 1,492 6.6
Total 23,703 100.0 22,446 100.0
Source: ABS Census of Population and Housing
A large group of older residents, combined with population ageing, means that older
persons will have an increased level of service needs. Also, most aged persons in
Moreland are on very low incomes and are receiving some level of age pension,
meaning that they are likely to require low-cost services. Further to this, the
population of frail aged or disabled residents in Moreland is expected to increase by
22% between 2000 and 2021.
Cultural Diversity
Moreland as a whole has a culturally diverse population, with 32% of its population
born in a non-English speaking country of birth. Moreland’s role as a key destination
for new arrivals—many of them refugees—has additional impacts on the need for
support services due to the often high needs amongst these groups for services
relating to health, housing and employment. Indigenous residents account for 0.41%
of the population in Moreland, a small group with a high level of need due to
disadvantage in health, education, income and employment. The ethnic composition
of Coburg has shifted slightly in the period from 1996 to 2001. This shift is evident in
an increased proportion of Australian born residents, from 61% to 63%, and declining
numbers in the predominant groups of overseas-born residents. However, this
decline has been similar across the top five groups of overseas-born and the order of
size remains unchanged.
Table 3: Birthplace—Coburg
1996 2001 Change
No. % No. % (%)
Australian Born 61.3 13,348 63.1
Overseas Born 38.7 7,817 36.9
100 21,165 100.0
Top 5 Overseas Countries
Italy 2,726 2,243 -18%
Greece 1,186 994 -16%
Lebanon 1,184 904 -24%
United Kingdom & Ireland 555 495 -11%
Turkey 584 402 -31%
Source: ABS Census of Population and Housing
Change in the ethnic composition of the Coburg area is also evident in the statistics
relating to language spoken at home, with a 12% increase in numbers (or 5%
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