External and internal challenges facing regional population growth strategies: learning from the case of the Limestone Coast

Many non-metropolitan regions are accustomed to the social, economic and demographic forces encouraging a population drift to metropolitan capitals. The external forces are probably well understood even if problematic to address. Challenges and complications internal to regions might be less well understood and more difficult to accommodate. Internal uncertainties can arise from within-region differences in interests, perceptions and attitudes towards population growth and composition. In this context, this project will investigate the perceptions and experiences of regional decision-makers and key stakeholders in the Limestone Coast region. The regions recent prospectus of priorities acknowledges that a combination of low population growth, aging population and outmigration creates challenges for supporting a sustainable working population and it outlines a strategy for addressing these (and other) challenges. This project will complement and inform this strategy while also identifying more generalisable lessons for non-metropolitan regions.