RCNSW PUTS FORWARD REGIONAL BLUEPRINT TO GET AHEAD OF THE CURVE

L-R Cr Sam Coupland Mayor Armidale Regional Council, Cr Kylie King Mayor Albury City Council, Cr Jason Hamling Mayor Orange City Council, Treasurer of New South Wales The Hon Daniel Mookhey MLC, Cr Mathew Dickerson Mayor Dubbo Regional Council, Cr Russell Webb Mayor Tamworth Regional Council, Cr Steve Kreig Mayor Lismore City Council, Cr Peter Walker Mayor Goulburn-Mulwaree Council.

Regional Cities New South Wales (RCNSW) has put forward a blueprint to help the State Government get ahead of the growth curve in regional New South Wales (NSW), including recommendations to improve housing, skills, connectivity and liveability in the lead-up to the September budget.

Recently, members of the RCNSW board met with the Treasurer of NSW the Hon Daniel Mookhey MLC to present the RCNSW Pre Budget Submission 2023-24 as a comprehensive investment plan to deliver a more equitable NSW.

“The regional migration trend has highlighted the need for more accurate planning and funding for growing regional cities across the state,” Cr Mathew Dickerson Chair of RCNSW and Mayor of Dubbo Regional Council said.

“Regional cities have embraced population growth with open arms, but we need to solve some of the issues causing headaches in our communities – housing, skills shortages, connectivity and lack of community infrastructure,” Cr Dickerson explained.
 
According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics over the period 2011-22 regional NSW’s population grew by 224,500. This growth is the equivalent to creating a new regional city the size of Bathurst every two years.
 

RCNSW has long championed regional cities as a liveable and affordable alternative to the congestion of Sydney, however the recent migration trend has highlighted the importance of accurate and consistent population forecasting to support better planning for infrastructure and services.

In particular, the current lack of housing is a tangible example of the need for better forward planning and investment, with rental vacancy rates averaging 0.9 per cent for regional NSW for the 12 months to December 2022.

RCNSW is advocating that the New South Wales (NSW) Government address the following issues to ensure regional cities can grow sustainably:

  • Address the methodology for forecasting the growth of NSW regional cities;

  • Increase the availability of a diverse range of housing to support growing cities;

  • Increase the availability of skills to support regional employers;

  • Invest in the road and port freight connectivity across regional NSW to support our industries to grow;

  • Provide funding for regional programs that will reinforce the liveability, civic and community strength of regional cities;

  • Provide funding for regional programs that will continue to improve the digital connectivity and capability of regional NSW.


RCNSW  welcomes National Cabinet's focus on housing and skills however the alliance is asking the NSW Government to ensure that regional cities are front and centre of any state-based funding package.

RCNSW also supports the continuation of important regional road programs that have historically bridged the divide for rate pegged councils' ability to fund the regional road network. Previous programs have included:

  • Fixing Country Roads;

  • Fixing Country Bridges;

  • Local Government Road Safety Program; and the

  • Regional and Local Roads Repair Program.


“Investment in infrastructure and services in regional cities pays dividends well beyond the immediate population, as regional cities play an important ‘hub’ role for many outlying communities accessing transport, health, business, employment, education and other services,” Cr Dickerson explained.

“Regional cities are keen to attract growth but we need to get ahead of the game and address the current issues with housing, skills and connectivity,” Cr Dickerson concluded.

Edwina Blackburn