MOST NSW regional cities and rural towns along the length of the Murray River are predicted to grow in the next two decades, a new regional plan shows.
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The newly-released Regional Development Australia – Murray Regional Plan 2016-2019 found the population in the 10 Local Government Areas (LGA) in the Murray region would climb from 114,581 in 2013 to 143,168 by 2036.
It forecast the strongest growth in Albury and Murray LGAs, 1.21 per cent and 1.43 per cent each year, respectively.
Only Balranald and Urana were trending downwards of 0.6 per cent a year.
Regional Development Australia – Murray chief executive Gary Saliba said Albury-Wodonga had a sound construction and manufacturing base and strong employment in health, education and the public service.
“The emergence of industrial parks for engineering and wholesale businesses adds to the investment potential of the region as does the strong small business base in retail, hospitality, real estate and tourism,” Dr Saliba said.
Dr Saliba said there were key challenges for the region to remain economically, environmentally and socially sustainable in the long term.
He said in RDA – Murray the people aged over 65 was forecast to rise to 31.1 per cent of the population.
“The first challenge is to plan for inevitable growth in aged care services,” Dr Saliba said.
“The second challenge is to step the drain of young people from rural towns through enhanced educational and employment opportunities.”
Dr Saliba said adapting to climate change and water availability were key considerations.
“Continuing research into high value, sustainable and profitable markets that align with the challenges of climate change is essential.
“Increasing production to raise profitability is not viable in the long term.
“It is important to achieve vertical integration of the supply chain from agricultural production to processing and manufacturing in order to add value, command high margins and remain profitable and competitive.”
Regional Development Australia – Murray region extends from Wentworth in south-west NSW along the Murray River for 1400 kilometres to Khancoban.
The region encompasses 10 Local Government Areas including Albury City, Balranald, Berrigan, Edward River (formerly Conargo/Deniliquin), Greater Hume, Murrumbidgee (formerly Jerilderie/Murrumbidgee), Murray River (formerly Wakool/Murray), Snowy Valley (formerly Tumbarumba/Tumut), Federation (formerly Urana/Corowa) and Wentworth.
Regional Development Australia Murray Regional Plan 2016-2019 is available to download at rdamurray.org.au.