News

Regional Capitals Australia (RCA) has welcomed the release of the 2022-2023 Federal Budget, which includes new funding to improve telecommunications and infrastructure in regional Australia.

RCA Chair, Cr Daniel Moloney said the budget included much-needed funding to back the national trend toward regional living, particularly in the wake of record-breaking regional growth that was revealed today.

“This budget will help connect regional cities through better telecommunications, roads and community infrastructure,” Cr Moloney said.

Key initiatives announced that impact Regional Capital Cities include:

Regional Infrastructure Programs

$7.1 billion (over 11 years) Energy Security and Regional Development Plan:  the creation of four regional hubs:

• Northern Territory: manufacturing and renewable energy
• North and Central Queensland:  water infrastructure for agriculture
• Pilbara region in Western Australia: mining, mineral processing, manufacturing, hydrogen and renewable energy
• Hunter region in New South Wales: increasing supply chain efficiencies
• $2 billion (over 5 years) Regional Accelerator Program: for local priorities in infrastructure, manufacturing and industry development, skills and training, research and development, and education.
• $83.2 million (over 5 years) for the Albury Wodonga Regional Deal;

Telecommunication
New $1.3 billion telecommunications package including:

• $800 million (over 5 years): Mobile Black Spot Program and the Regional Connectivity Program
• $480.0 million for NBN Co: upgrade its fixed wireless and satellite network
• $4.8 million: Mobile Network Hardening Program to fund resilience upgrades in regional Australia.

 National: Regional Roads

• $500 million (until 2024) Local Roads and Community Infrastructure Program: an extension of the program (total investment in the program is $3.0 billion); and
• $40 million (over 4 years) bridges Renewal Program: an extra $10 million per year for this fund.

State Investment – Rail and Roads
New South Wales 
Statewide road and rail projects including:

• $1.0 billion for the Sydney to Newcastle – Tuggerah to Wyong Faster Rail Upgrade
• $336 million Pacific Highway – Wyong Town Center
• $264 million Newell Highway Upgrade – Heavy Duty Pavement Upgrades – North Moree
• $336 million Pacific Highway – Wyong Town Centre
• $264 million Newell Highway Upgrade – Heavy Duty Pavement Upgrades – North Moree
• $100 million Southern Connector Road, Jindabyne
• $51.2 million Central Coast Highway Upgrade – Tumbi Road Intersection Upgrade
• $352 million Milton Ulladulla Bypass
• $30 million Tenterfield to Newcastle – Future Priorities

Victoria
Statewide road and rail projects including:

• $3.3 billion Melbourne Intermodal Terminal Package (including)
  • $1.2 billion for Beveridge Interstate Freight Terminal in Beveridge
  • $740 million for Western Interstate Freight Terminal in Truganina
• $45 million Ballarat to Ouyen – Future Priorities

Queensland 
Statewide road and rail projects including:

• 1.6 billion for the Brisbane to the Sunshine Coast – Beerwah-Maroochydore Rail Extension
• $190.0 million for the Mount Isa to Rockhampton Corridor Upgrade
• $114.4 million for the Tennant Creek to Townsville Corridor Upgrade
• $68.5 million Cooktown to Weipa Corridor Upgrade
• $36.2 million Gore Highway (Millmerran – Goondiwindi) Wyaga Creek Flood Improvement

Western Australia 
Statewide road and rail projects including:

• $320 million for Stages 2 and 3 of the Bunbury Outer Ring Road
• $178 million for Stages 1 and 2 of the Pinjarra Heavy Haulage Deviation
• $145 million Thomas Road – Dual Carriageway – South Western Highway to Tonkin Highway and interchange at Tonkin Highway
• $140 million Regional Road Safety Upgrades
• $200 million for the Tonkin Highway Stage 3 Extension

Northern Territory
Statewide road and rail projects including:

• $132 million Central Australian Tourism Roads
• $50 million Alice Springs to Halls Creek Corridor Upgrade (Northern Territory) – Future Priorities

Water

• $433 million Dungowan Dam and pipeline (impacting Tamworth)
• $5.4 billion Hells Gate Dam (impacting Townsville)
• $483 million Urannah Dam and pipeline (impacting Central Qld)

Housing

• Regional Home Guarantee – providing up to 10,000 places each year for next 3 years to support first homebuyers to in regional areas.

Regionalisation

• $15.2 million (over 7 years) to deliver regional public service hubs

Regional Health and Aged Care

• $150.3 million to support medical training in rural and regional Australia
• $66 million to improve access to MRI services

“We congratulate the Federal Government on the release of this important Budget at a time when our member cities are recovering from the impacts of both COVID-19 and natural disasters,” said Cr Moloney said.

“With the once-in-a-generation population shift that is occurring across regional Australia, we must also ensure we can make the most of this historic change,” Cr Moloney explained.

New figures released today by the Australian Bureau of Statistics show that the population of regional Australia grew by 70,900 people during 202/21,the first time in 40 years that Australia’s regional population grew more than the capital cities.

“We are calling on the Federal Opposition to use their budget reply speech to put regional Australia on the map and ensure the growth and prosperity of our member cities for generations to come,” Cr Moloney concluded.

Regional Capitals Australia has today thrown its weight behind the National Farmers Federation’s proposal to establish Regional Development Precincts.

Speaking as part of the launch today in Shepparton, Cr Daniel Moloney, Chair of Regional Capitals Australia (RCA) said as the country moved toward COVID recovery, the government had a once in a generation opportunity to pursue a strategic regionalisation agenda.

“The Regional Development Precinct proposal is great news for the identified Regional Capitals Australia members nominated, with the goal to unlock new economic and employment opportunities if government gets the delivery right” Cr Moloney said.

“We know that vibrant regional capitals provide the elements Australian agriculture needs to thrive, and vice versa” Cr Moloney explained.

“However, regional Australia is a diverse place and we believe the model should be expanded further to include important cities such as Ballarat, Albury, Alice Springs, Broken Hill, Broome, Bunbury, Coffs Harbour, Fraser Coast, Geelong, Karratha and Port Hedland” Cr Moloney said.

The National Farmers Federation (NFF) has proposed new funding and framework to drive collaboration and investment across all three tiers of government for a select number of regional centres, with a particular focus on accelerating primary production. 

RCA acknowledged the role of primary production in regional Australia but also emphasized the importance of also developing all regional cities – with diverse economies – to secure new and emerging industries.

“Regional Capitals are booming and it have been the engine room of Australia’s economy throughout the COVID-19 pandemic – a precinct mode of investment would help ensure our members get the right infrastructure funding to keep pace with that growth” Cr Moloney said.

According to Infrastructure Australia, there has been a 200% increase in growth to regional areas during the COVID-19 pandemic, creating demand for housing, services, and infrastructure.

Chair of the National Farmers Federation Ms Fiona Simson said at least $1.4 billion in new funding was needed to ensure the plan was empowered to come to life and didn’t become yet another glossy document gathering dust in a high-rise inner-city office.

“Rural local governments are acutely aware of both the challenges their communities face and their potential, but are financially constrained by a more-often-than-not small rate base. The tangible support of state and Federal governments, to address these would be a game-changer for the identified 20 towns and, undoubtedly, many more rural regions” Ms Simson said.

RCA collaborated with the NFF to ensure the voice of regional capitals was heard through the policy development process, particularly advocating for a reinvigoration of Regional Deals and associated regional development programs.

“The secret’s out” Cr Moloney declared.

“Regional capital living offers a more affordable lifestyle, strong sense of community and better work-life balance – but we also need deliberate funding and policy settings to preserve those unique advantages and keep pace with growth” Cr Moloney concluded.

The NFF has proposed twenty locations for the new Regional Development Precincts based on a range of social, environmental and economic criteria. They are:

• Roma (QLD),
• Tennant Creek (NT),
• Toowoomba (QLD),
• Latrobe/Gippsland (VIC),
• Emerald (QLD),
• Mildura (VIC),
• Gladstone (QLD),
• Shepparton (VIC),
• Mount Gambier (SA),
• Warrnambool (VIC),
• Port Lincoln (SA)
• West/North West Region (TAS)
• Central West/Oranga (NSW)
• Greater Geraldton (WA)
• Riverina (NSW)
• Kalgoorlie-Boulder (WA)
• Northern Rivers (NSW); and
• Merredin (WA).

ENDS

Regional Capitals Australia has welcomed Australian Bureau of Statistics figures released this week confirming that the current move to regional Australia is the highest on record.

Chair of Regional Capitals Australia Cr Kevin Mack said “These figures put an official number to regional capitals’ long term mandate – that regional cities are the liveable alternative to the nation’s capitals.”

In the March 2021 quarter there was a net loss of 11,800 people from Australia’s greater capital cities, the largest net loss on record. A total of 66,300 people made the move to regional Australia, embracing the opportunities and lifestyle offered by regional living.

Notably, our nation’s largest capitals suffered the biggest net loss during the March quarter with Sydney losing 8,200 people and Melbourne 8,300 people.

Cr Mack said “Never before has it been so critical that we get the right infrastructure in place. Regional capitals are facing unprecedented demand for services, in the face of this once-in-a-generation population shift.”

Regional Capitals Australia is advocating for targeted investment to support the growth of our cities, particularly:

• Prioritising the investment for a new round of business fibre zones and mobile blackspots in regional capitals;
• Additional funding to support the development of regional city rail projects; and
• New funding for the Regional Airports Fund and Regional Growth Fund.

Cr Mack said “COVID-19 has changed how we live and work.  In regional Australia, our digital technology and housing services in particular, are not keeping up.”

“For too long there has been a capital city-centric approach.  It is crucial that we acknowledge the growth in regional Australia, and get the policy settings right, accordingly.”

Regional Capitals Australia is urging governments of all persuasions to follow the demographic trend, and ensure that funding matches the move to regional living.