POLICY
Regional Cities New South Wales (RCNSW) works to grow regional cities in New South Wales (NSW) through increased investment that will build productive, liveable and connected regions
We cement our policy priorities by assessing their benefit to the region and look to advocate on projects that will help advance the liveability, connectivity and productivity of regional NSW.
Population
Australia’s population is growing at an unprecedented rate; in 2018 the nation hit 25 million two decades earlier than expected. Regional Cities NSW is calling for a strategic approach to population growth where the benefits of growth are shared more equally across the state. Regional cities are key to this solution.
Connectivity - Airports
Airports in regional cities play a crucial role in connecting individuals, facilitating trade, providing employment and supporting tourism. Regional airports are also hubs for emergency and medical services and play a large role in same-day business travel to capital cities. The cost of urgent upgrades in regional city airports and the increasing burden of ongoing security upgrades are onerous.
Connectivity - Rail
The state’s capital Sydney, is suffering from high levels of congestion which impedes the movement of goods and people through both the public transport and freight network.
High-speed rail which can connect a regional city’s people and product to other regions as well as the metropolitan capital, while supporting a mobile workforce and aiding in public and corporate decentralisation is now required.
Connectivity - Roads
Major highways and regional roads are enabling connectors, providing gateways to national and international markets while creating opportunities for employment, tourism and access to key services in neighbouring regional towns. Ongoing investment to build safer roads will maintain strong connectivity between Australia’s metropolitan cities, regional capital cities, and rural and remote towns.
Connectivity - Digital
The rapid acceleration of e-commerce and e-service delivery provides a fundamental platform to connect cities and their residents to the world and provide a basis for creating a more equitable level of service delivery. As RCNSW members seek to increase their city’s role as service hubs, grow their population, economic diversity and facilitate entrepreneurship, the right digital infrastructure must be provided. The cost of not having this infrastructure in place will create economic and social leaks, where businesses and communities seek more connected places to live and work.
Hubs and Spokes
Regional Cities across NSW are creating strong hubs that connect our regions to services and infrastructure that improves the productivity and liveability of NSW.