REGIONAL CITIES UNITE FOR ADVOCACY

L-R: Clr Kylie King Mayor Albury City Council, Clr Steve Krieg Mayor Lismore City Council, Clr Dallas Tout Mayor Wagga Wagga City Council, Clr Mathew Dickerson Mayor Dubbo Regional Council, Hon. Jenny Aitchison MP - Minister for Regional Transport and Roads and Member for Maitland, Clr Jason Hamling Mayor Orange City Council, Clr Peter Walker Mayor Goulburn Mulwaree Council.

Regional Cities New South Wales (RCNSW) has today been making the case for regional cities at parliament in a series of high-level meetings with politicians across both sides of the political divide. 

Chair of RCNSW and Mayor of Dubbo Regional Council, Clr Mathew Dickerson said it was heartening to have the opportunity to work closely with Ministers, government departments and elected members of parliament to deliver better outcomes for regional New South Wales.

“RCNSW has been advocating for increased investment for thriving regional cities, including new funding for housing, skills, connectivity and to address the methodology for forecasting population growth,” Clr Dickerson said.

"Regional cities embraced the COVID-led population boom, but we need to make sure our infrastructure, housing and services can keep up with demand,” Clr Dickerson explained.

According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics over the period 2011-22 regional NSW’s population grew by 224,500 [1]. This growth is the equivalent to creating a new regional city the size of Bathurst every two years.
 
"We want to support diversified and resilient regional economies that can grow sustainably into the future,” Clr Dickerson said.

As part of their advocacy program, RCNSW members this week met with:

  • Hon. Jenny Aitchison MP - Minister for Regional Transport and Roads and Member for Maitland;

  • Hon. Ron Hoenig MP - Leader of the House in the Legislative Assembly, Vice President of the Executive Council and Minister for Local Government;

  • Office of the Hon Steve Whan MP - Minister for Skills, TAFE and Tertiary Education and Member for Monaro; 

  • New South Wales Ports Corporation;

  • New South Wales Department of Planning and Environment;

  • Landcom;

  • Dr Jo McGirr MP Member for Wagga Wagga; and

  • Ms Helen Dalton MP Member for Murray.

"Our member cities have a big role to play in the state’s future prosperity and we look forward to working closely with the State Government and Opposition to provide affordable and liveable alternatives to Sydney,” Clr Dickerson concluded.


[1] https://www.abs.gov.au/statistics/people/population/regional-population/latest-release#regions

Edwina Blackburn