Hills Hoists to high-rises as city populations set to double

Residents say suburbs in our major cities are crammed to breaking point as more and more developments go up to cater for the hundreds of thousands of new arrivals expected each year.

The suburb of Rhodes in Sydney has seen a 600 percent population increase in recent years, and further residential developments are anticipated.

Residents told A Current Affair the suburb did not have the infrastructure to cope with such a huge increase in population.

"The streets are full, the roads are full, everything is full," one said.

Another said floor space ratios and car parking in the suburb were "woefully inadequate".

Surrey Hills in Melbourne is also a victim of heavy development, while some Brisbane residents have taken to protesting the ongoing growth.

In Surrey Hills, many apartments are given just one parking spot but residents can have up to three cars, so streets are becoming parking stations.

Residents claim garbage trucks are sometimes unable to navigate the streets.

However, others approve of the growth and rising population.

Liverpool Mayor Wendy Waller the southwest Sydney district had grown from a village into a "thriving city".

Town planner Bill Kusnacheck said populations were likely to double in Australia's major cities.

"While that is regarded by some as a major problem, I regard it as a challenge," he said.

He said changes to long-held planning laws were allowing for taller and taller buildings.

Watch the full A Current Affair program at 9now.