With that, farming community population estimated to fall-scenario, "here" it's simply a case of land being owned by less few.
Farms got bigger, so, what used to be 10 families within the 10k radius is now 3 families.
With the increased technology, satellite gear/auto steer/bigger ..."more efficient" machinery, instead of employing 3 workers on the farm, (and with that can be families with that person), now it's one.
Plus, also, the offspring notso keen to carry on the farming tradition, (as days gone by), so farm sold up, bought by southern multi millionaire operators, and a workteam may be allocated up from ..say, Ballarat to help out at cropping and harvest, so only one person employed up here, as opposed again, to days of past, 3 families within that farm.
It is easily dropping population here.
The people either head to metro, or whatever nearest regional city that they choose.
Eg Bendigo, Geelong, Ballarat, Horsham, Mildura, Echuca (lessor), Swan Hill, Shepparton, Warrnambools etc...they usually end up in the regional cities becausethere is a preference for best of both worlds, as opposed to "pure" metro living....they prefer what regional cities offer in lifestyle.
But, yes, we have rural population decline, as in farming communities. It is a shift sideways however. The farm houses are being vacated, yet there is an ongoing shortage of housing within regional cities.
The dynamics are interesting TC...I wonder where your major bleeds are then??? population wise expected? Or is it sneaky little weeper bleeds maybe?
Farms got bigger, so, what used to be 10 families within the 10k radius is now 3 families.
With the increased technology, satellite gear/auto steer/bigger ..."more efficient" machinery, instead of employing 3 workers on the farm, (and with that can be families with that person), now it's one.
Plus, also, the offspring notso keen to carry on the farming tradition, (as days gone by), so farm sold up, bought by southern multi millionaire operators, and a workteam may be allocated up from ..say, Ballarat to help out at cropping and harvest, so only one person employed up here, as opposed again, to days of past, 3 families within that farm.
It is easily dropping population here.
The people either head to metro, or whatever nearest regional city that they choose.
Eg Bendigo, Geelong, Ballarat, Horsham, Mildura, Echuca (lessor), Swan Hill, Shepparton, Warrnambools etc...they usually end up in the regional cities becausethere is a preference for best of both worlds, as opposed to "pure" metro living....they prefer what regional cities offer in lifestyle.
But, yes, we have rural population decline, as in farming communities. It is a shift sideways however. The farm houses are being vacated, yet there is an ongoing shortage of housing within regional cities.
The dynamics are interesting TC...I wonder where your major bleeds are then??? population wise expected? Or is it sneaky little weeper bleeds maybe?