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City of Greater Shepparton will need more infrastructure — including schools, health and aged-care facilities, and transport — to keep pace with the demands of a growing population.

Everything from doctors to waste collection and water to kindergarten places are included in a Regional Cities Victoria pitch for as much as $4.4billion in additional funding for regional population growth.

Regional Cities Victoria includes the municipalities of Ballarat, Bendigo, Geelong, Horsham, Latrobe, Mildura, Shepparton, Wangaratta, Warrnambool and Wodonga.

New research commissioned by the organisation found the rate of population growth in Victoria’s 10 largest regional cities had doubled during the past five years.

Annual growth rates for the major regional cities rose from 0.8 per cent between 1991 and 2006 to 1.6 per cent between 2006 and 2011.

This compared to Melbourne’s annual growth rate of 1.9 per cent and 1.4 per cent for all of regional Victoria from 2006 to 2011.

An update to the 2009 report Implications of Population Growth on Infrastructure and Resources in Regional Cities prepared by Essential Economics found based on present trends the regional cities could be home to as many as 1030500 residents by 2031 compared to the 2011 population of 742000.

Regional Cities chairman Mark Byatt said the data confirmed the cities would continue to take pressure off Melbourne’s already stretched infrastructure.

‘‘Well-planned and sustainable higher population levels in regional cities have and will continue to make a positive economic and social contribution to the whole state of Victoria through enhanced investment opportunities, more jobs, better health and education services as well as greater industry diversification,’’ Cr Byatt said.

‘‘By supporting growth in the regions, we can help reduce the estimated $95billion in cumulative congestion costs associated with expanding Melbourne’s outer-metropolitan areas over the next 20 years.’’

The pitch for government to support regional growth puts the cost of extra services at $4.4billion under a high-growth scenario and $3.4billion based on the lowest growth estimate.

Aged and health-care and education are the most significant financial burdens accompanying population growth.

But the report said regional cities would also need better transport, community infrastructure and, above all, housing.

‘‘Stronger and vibrant regions mean a stronger and more sustainable Victoria,’’ Cr Byatt said.

‘‘Our cities are highly livable with well-established economies and are also an appealing investment option for businesses.’’

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