The latest census results, released last week, show the rate of population growth in Mosgiel - the Taieri Times has included Wyllies Crossing, East Taieri, and Wingatui - has slowed.
Between 2001 and 2006, the population of Mosgiel grew 6.5% to 11,970 people, compared with only 1% growth in the previous five years.
But between 2006 and 2013, the growth rate dropped to 5.5%.
The population of the town now stands at 12,618 and most of the growth is in Wingatui and East Taieri.
The other fastest-growing areas in southern Dunedin are Saddle Hill, Outram and the wider Taieri.
Dunedin City Council city development manager Dr Anna Johnson said Mosgiel's slow-down in growth probably simply reflected the city-wide slow-down.
The growth spurt during the late 2000s may have reflected a latent demand for sites, realised with the rezoning of land in the mid-2000s that led to rapid subdivision and residential development in Mosgiel.
While slow population growth meant the city was leaning towards an oversupply of land in absolute terms, it was unlikely fields around Mosgiel would sit developed and empty, as growth was expected to continue until the existing capacity was used up, she said.
The council intended to analyse the results of the census in each suburb and settlement before finalising any future zone boundaries or providing final recommendation on any new future urban development areas and when they should be released, she said.
Real Estate Institute of New Zealand Dunedin spokeswoman Liz Nidd said the main attraction of Mosgiel was plenty of flat building sites.
Such sites were not easy to come by elsewhere in Dunedin, which meant Mosgiel represented the ''path of least resistance'' for those people wanting to build a new home, she said.
It was also less expensive building in Mosgiel than buying a piece land in a good Dunedin suburb.
''In the better residential areas you can easily pay $280,000 into the $300,000s to get a section, before you start building, if you are having to bowl something over.''
While an ODT investigation last year revealed most of those making the move to Mosgiel were from central Dunedin, Mrs Nidd said some - though not a ''huge number'' - were Christchurch residents moving south after the quakes.
John Clent (pictured page 1) and his wife Leonie were among those who had shifted south to escape the aftershocks and earthquake devastation.
Mr Clent said they initially thought about moving to Central Otago, but settled on Mosgiel because it was close to a large city and an airport, which made travelling easier.
He and his wife did not regret making the move in December 2011.
''The people of Mosgiel have been fantastic in making us feel welcome in their community,'' he said.
They still had friends in Dunedin from when they lived in the city in the 1980s and had ''by chance'' met three other couples who had moved from Christchurch following the earthquakes.
Even after living in the community for a relatively short time, he felt Dunedin City Council took Mosgiel for granted and there was a need for more investment in roads and a new aquatic centre.
''The roading around the suburb is not up to [the standard] you would expect to have in Dunedin.''
He also felt Mosgiel could be improved if businesses invested in the town and he felt there was room for a cinema in the community.
The expansion in the past decade at Mosgiel for example, had brought extra infrastructure and water and sewerage expenses for the council, although the cost is eventually fully recovered through development contributions paid by subdivision developers.
