Victorian Communities in transition – demographic trends and outcomes in Victoria

1. Victorian Communities in transition – demographic trends and outcomes in Victoria Christine Kilmartin Department of Sustainability and Environment April 2003

2. key trends: population growth will continue on the fringes ageing of society is in its “middle years” retiring / working among older people is changing stepping down of living standards may accompany shifts lifelong education is taking different forms the young still want to be in urban areas

18. all areas have some ageing issues mobility of the elderly may be more limited as time goes on – issues for location, accessibility of library services not just associated with density of population

26. those in the fastest-ageing groups are likely to be • better educated • working longer, but differently • financially better off • able to access information via the internet • more intermittently mobile • relocating to lifestyle

27. those in the younger age groups are likely to be • taking longer to get into careers • having fewer children, smaller families • juggling work and family • financing lifestyles now, rather than later • more job-mobile • less attracted to permanency of lifestyle

30. population growth will continue on the fringes ageing of society is in its “middle years” retiring / working among older people is changing stepping down of living standards may accompany shifts lifelong education is taking different forms the young still want to be in urban areas

31. Many transitions are not easily measurable from standard data collections because they are associated with changes in values and behaviours which are not captured in standard approaches

32. Environment Economy Society Triple bottom-line and then some approach • Environmental Integrity: • reduced impacts on water, land and air systems • decreased greenhouse gas emissions • reduce degradation of ecosystems • improved quality of urban environment Knowledge • Thriving ideas-based society: • accessible shared knowledge • good governance of systems and infrastructure • creativity and innovation encouraged • balanced social and natural interactions • Economic Vitality: • needs of existing and new businesses met • employment opportunities increased and distributed fairly • creativity and innovation encouraged • using natural and made resources wisely • Social Well-being: • improved safety, security and public health • improved equity of access to opportunities and services • diversity of needs met

33. Reserve Capacity Current Trends Need to augment storage capacity Need to harvest more water from catchments Critical time Limit of mostrecent data Introduction of water conservation programs & ‘user pays’ pricing slowed water usage Expanding environmental footprint Water demand for Metropolitan Melbourne Volume (ML/Year) 800 000 - 700 000 - 600 000 - 500 000 - 400 000 - 300 000 - 200 000 - 100 000 - 2040 1920 1940 1960 1980 2000 2020

34. Emerging Challenge: supporting sustainability Opportunity for libraries - • actions will support the development of social capital • sustainability is a grass roots movement – individuals want to help • more than Landcare, it is now also about urban form • it is coming from household and neighbourhood level • actions will support Government policy • to “link and grow the suburbs” • to create Transit Cities, improve locations • to create a Sustainable State • to reduce water usage …but in many ways, individuals are already ahead of policy

35. Emerging Challenge: supporting sustainability Opportunity for libraries - • policies for library services • in Transit Cities • on public transport routes • increasing online services • local knowledge base • local information • local best practice • local practitioners / groups

36. Emerging Challenge: supporting sustainability Can you, should you, be able to supply knowledge on - • local soil conditions • local water catchments • built form which will suit local conditions

37. Emerging Challenge: supporting sustainability The business of taking responsibility for the wellbeing of others sometimes seems too demanding. But when the world is going mad, nothing sustains us, or restrains us from descending into moral chaos, like the experience of reaching out to each other. Hugh Mackay, 2003