"Outer suburban residents are calling for action in the face of soaring cost of living and a commuting nightmare. Families are moving to the suburban fringe in record numbers, but many are finding their basic needs are being ignored,” was the headline of a 7NEWS story aired last night.
In the interview, Wyndham Mayor, Cr Peter Maynard spoke about the impact of the growth areas population boom, with 120 babies born every week just in Wyndham LGA. He called for a greater federal government focus on the one in five Australians who live in a growth area. The NGAA’s call for a national Minister for Growth Areas was highlighted.
Economist Saul Eslake, following his keynote address at the NGAA Congress, said that he expects to see more mortgage stress amongst new growth area residents than in other areas of Australia.
The story also covered infrastructure and service deficits in other Melbourne growth areas such as Whittlesea Council and Melton Council. A Mernda resident spoke about his nightmare 80km round-trip commute to work which costs him up to $200 a week. The story touched on the lack of public transport options and local employment opportunities in outer urban growth areas, with three in four residents having to commute to work by car.
The NGAA welcomes the recognition of fast growing outer urban areas in today’s Federal Government announcement of $750 million to local councils for priority local road and community infrastructure projects.
Read moreABC News: Wollondilly Council and NGAA have slammed changes to a plan to fast track housing development before basic infrastructure is in place.
Read moreAustralia's outer suburbs are growing more than twice as fast as the rest of the nation and doing the heavy lifting for our housing supply, but struggle to get infrastructure that other areas take for granted, the NGAA told MPs in Canberra.
Read moreABC TV: An hour and a half to drive 3km — why is traffic so bad in Melbourne's outer suburbs? NGAA CEO Bronwen Clark is interviewed.
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