From the Chair - June 2022

Chair, Cr Mathew Dickerson

This year saw us welcome a host of new faces to the Regional Cities New South Wales (RCNSW) board table including my own as incoming Chair, stepping in to fill some very big shoes following the retirement of Cr Tim Overall.

As the current Mayor of Dubbo Regional Council and the former Chair of Evocities, I am passionate about the role of regional cities and the strength of this alliance to deliver tangible value to the communities we serve in terms of better infrastructure, services and long term economic benefits.

I would also like to pay tribute to our new executive team who have already hit the ground running including the Deputy Chair and Treasurer Cr Russell Webb, current Mayor of Tamworth Regional Council.

Our Board has been working hard in the background to finalise RCNSW’s strategic priorities and a collective plan to tackle them. These strategic priorities include addressing:

1.       Regional housing supply and affordability;

2.       Supporting sustainable population growth and attracting skilled workers; and

3.       Improving regional air, road and rail connectivity.

With a new Federal Government installed, a state budget this month and a state election just round the corner our team has a renewed sense of commitment and enthusiasm to redouble its efforts for regional cities.

We have submitted the RCNSW Pre Budget Submission to the government and we will continue to advocate for greater investment for our growing regions in the lead up to the state election.

We have also been pressing the case to fill the broad skills deficit in regional cities and we continue to work with the State Government to make living and working in a regional city an attractive proposition.