The government needs to carve a path for regional growth to ensure cities like Wagga get a fair share of the pie, a Senate hearing has heard.
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In a significant escalation of the city’s case for more attention, Wagga mayor Rod Kendall said regional cities needed to be seen as the key to the puzzle –a “haven” for the population pressures of Sydney and Melbourne.
It is understood a regional inquiry of this nature, prompted by lobby group Regional Capitals Australia (RCA), has not occurred in more than 20 years.
Its end goal will be to secure increased government funding for regional cities and comes as pressure mounts on government to decentralise many departments.
Councillor Kendall – who attended the inquiry as the RCA’s immediate past president – said Friday’s hearing was the first in a series.
“The general theme of these hearings will be to find a solution ... if not, a good part of the solution to the population pressures in major cities. This will benefit the future development of our city,” he said.
The federal government needs a plan to solve that continuing urban sprawl ...
- Rod Kendall
“What government needs to do is put in the proper strategies and plans to aid that development. The federal government needs a plan to solve that continuing urban sprawl.”
Cr Kendall said the population of Australia's four biggest cities was projected to grow by 45 per cent over the next two decades.
He said regional capitals jointly generated more than $225 billion to the national economy each year.
RCA believes figures such as those present a compelling case for increased government funding.
But Committee 4 Wagga chief executive Chris Fitzpatrick said underscoring the inquiry was an urgent need for commitment.
“This type of thing has been talked about for 20 years … you can just talk and talk and not achieve any outcomes,” he said. “The plan needs to start with getting all the stakeholders in the same room, regardless of their political party, and appropriately committing to regional areas.”
Riverina MP Michael McCormack agreed the government did need a plan, but said it was important it kept “pushing the case” for regional areas, adding that there had been some success with Evocities regional relocation. Mr McCormack said regional growth also needed to include smaller Riverina communities.
