We have scoured both government and council documents and nowhere is there to be found any mention of what might constitute appropriate population density. Instead we have ‘population targets’ that councils are meant to achieve by 2051. The latest gazetted government amendment contains the following table. We have included the size of each of these municipalities.
Glen Eira is expected to accommodate another 63,500 new residents. Council is happy with 55,000. Please check out one of our previous posts on this issue and council’s lame response to these targets. (https://gleneira.blog/2024/08/20/councils-stand-on-housing-targets/)
No one is denying that our population is increasing and that housing is required. What we do question is why should Glen Eira be expected to accommodate 63,500 new residents in an area that is one of the smallest in the middle ring suburbs. Other councils that are told to increase their populations by 60,000+ are often double the size of Glen Eira!
On the projected population figures forecast for our cohort of councils Bayside currently has a density factor of 2882 persons per square km; Boroondara 2968; Darebin 3041; Kingston 1841; Manninghanm 1173; Marybyrong 3041; Merribek 3712; Monash 2601 and Whitehorse 2884. None of this has been taken into account. (Source: profile.id.com.au)
If we take an even closer look at what is happening in Glen Eira (circa 2025) we find the following breakdown of our suburbs.
The City of Glen Eira Estimated Resident Population for 2025 is 163,025, with a population density of 4,216 persons per square km. (source: https://profile.id.com.au/glen-eira)
| Suburb | Population | Area – Square Km | Density/pop per square km |
| Bentleigh | 19,108 | 4.81 | 4141 |
| Bentleigh East | 32,304 | 8.98 | 3598 |
| Carnegie | 20,550 | 3.69 | 5575 |
| Caulfield North & East | 20,056 | 5.45 | 3677 |
| Caulfield South | 13,073 | 3.27 | 3996 |
| Caulfield | 6,153 | 1.47 | 4178 |
| Caulfield North | 20,056 | 5.45 | 3677 |
| Elsternwick & Gardenvale | 12,827 | 2.86 | 4485 |
| Glen Huntly | 5,643 | 0.89 | 6318 |
| McKinnon | 7,448 | 1.59 | 4689 |
| Murrumbeena | 10,842 | 2.63 | 4125 |
| Ormond | 9,632 | 2.07 | 4650 |
| St.Kilda East | 4,579 | 0.96 | 4789 |
Add another 63,500 residents and our population per square km approaches 5961 persons. And even if we build enough homes to house this population, what does it mean for liveability, infrastructure, open space, overshadowing, schools, hospitals, traffic, etc. etc. etc. None of this has been taken into account, yet it is the crucial question that needs to be addressed. Do we really want, or even need, to become the Calcutta of the south east and forego all that we value as basic residential standards and environment?
Glen Eira Debates 
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