News

Outer suburbs face avalanche of mortgage and financial stress

Outer urban growth areas are facing an avalanche of mortgage defaults and financial stress amidst a recession, shrinking levels of income support and the end of mortgage repayment moratoriums. 

Working from home: good news in the COVID era

The NGAA’s new research into working from home in the outer suburbs has revealed a positive outcome from Australia’s national lockdown – evidence of the many benefits and opportunities of working from home for the 5 million people living in outer urban growth areas.

Why the outer suburbs are the best at working from home

Some unexpected and positive findings in our new research on the lived experience of working from home in the outer suburbs. Join us Wednesday, August 5  for the launch. 

Being young in the outer suburbs

Nearly two million people under the age of 25 live in Australia’s outer suburbs. What education and career opportunities will they get, miss out on, or never even realise existed? A personal view from NGAA Executive Officer, Bronwen Clark.

HomeKeeper before HomeBuilder

If you’re already struggling to pay the mortgage, home renovations are an unattainable luxury. Helping people already under mortgage stress to keep their homes is the priority in Australia’s outer urban growth areas. 

Growth areas win funding boost

NGAA Member Councils have received more than $26.5 million in new federal government funding for local road and community infrastructure projects.

Funding growth areas to survive then thrive after COVID-19

Australia’s outer urban growth areas need immediate and long-term economic stimulus to prevent more job losses and mortgage defaults.

COVID-19 impact on growth areas

The economic shock brought on by COVID-19 will have a disproportionate effect on growth areas ….

Vale David Turnbull

Australia’s outer urban growth areas have lost a great champion with the passing of David Turnbull, former CEO of Mitchell Shire Council and the City of Whittlesea. 

NGAA 2020-21 Federal Budget recommendations

Thirteen recommendations for the 2020-21 Federal Budget to support growth areas and the nation. 

Growth Areas Top 5 for 2019

The top 5 things that happened in 2019 for growth areas...

New NGAA Chair announced

Councillor Matthew Deeth, Mayor of Wollondilly Shire, is the new Chair of the National Growth Areas Alliance.

2019 NGAA Award Winners

The 2019 NGAA Awards celebrated excellence and innovation by the Councils shaping Australia’s fastest growing areas.

2019 NGAA National Congress

The 2019 NGAA National Congress gave insights into leading practice on creating new communities and making paddocks into postcodes.

New Strategic Advisory Committee

The new NGAA Strategic Advisory Committee has been announced. The members are…

Population Centre launched

NGAA supports the goal of the Centre for Population – getting the numbers right.  

Plan for future - but catch up first

Planning for Australia’s future population, the Government’s strategy to ‘manage current challenges and develop long term plans' is a first step in the marathon of significant policy shifts required to address the needs of growth areas - but we need to catch up first.

Growth areas bear brunt of increased commute times

New data showing that commute times have risen by 23 per cent is no surprise for frustrated residents of fast-growing suburbs and cities. 

Growth Area Projects on Infrastructure Priority List 2020

NGAA has been invited to submit a collated list of growth area projects to be considered for inclusion in the Infrastructure Priority List 2020. 

Research Partners Update

Collaborations with the NGAA’s research partner such as AHURI, the Life Course Centre and Future Cities CRC help ensure that the outer suburbs are included in long term studies.

First Symposium highlights outer suburbs innovation

The NGAA Symposium, Research and Practice from Australia’s fast growing outer suburbs, on July 4, was a packed day with papers from growth areas.

NGAA Chair Mayor Glenn Docherty - speech 17 June 2019

Mayor Glenn Docherty's speech at the NGAA Member's Meeting held on 17 June, 2019 at the Australian Local Government Assembly (National General Assembly) in Canberra.

ALGA National General Assembly – advocating NGAA’s policy platform

As many of our Member Councils head to Canberra for the Australian Local Government Association National General Assembly in mid-June, we look at the resolutions from Members that directly relate to NGAA’s policy platform. 

Keeping the momentum for outer suburbs

The NGAA will continue to pursue funding and policy commitments made to fast growing outer suburbs during the Federal Election campaign.

NGAA welcomes Cities focus from Coalition and ALP

The NGAA welcomes today's focus on Cities by both the Coalition and the ALP in the lead up to the May 18 Federal Election.

Election 2019 State of Play: Roads and Transport

In the lead-up to the Federal Election in May, what are the major parties doing about the first priority of the NGAA's Catch Up with the Outer Suburbs campaign - Get 5 million people to work, study or home on time?

Five million with Nightmare Commutes get a win in Federal Budget

The challenges of responding to rapid population growth in the outer suburbs of Australia’s capital cities play a starring role in the 2019-20 Federal Budget.

Mayor Glenn Docherty (Playford, SA), Chair of the National Growth Areas Alliance which represents 21 Councils in fast growing outer suburbs, welcomed the long overdue focus on urban infrastructure.

2019-20 Federal Budget outcomes

The 2019-20 Federal Budget has an undeniable focus on infrastructure and the cross portfolio response to population growth (outlined in Planning for Australia’s future population) has put the challenges and opportunities of NGAA members front and centre. The significant expansion of investment in the Urban Congestion Fund is a strong indication that our transport issues are well and truly on the Government’s agenda.

What we want in 2019-20 Federal Budget

The 2019-20 Federal Budget will be handed down tonight amidst a flurry of funding announcements, many of them from the current Budget's  $1 billion Urban Congestion Fund (UCF). We are looking for a continuation of the UCF to help catch up with infrastructure demand in growth areas, along with other items from our Federal Budget Submission.

It's time to Catch Up with the outer suburbs

Councils from across Australia joined a national call for better access to roads, transport, local jobs and community facilities in fast growing outer suburbs with the launch of the Catch Up with the Outer Suburbs campaign in Canberra this week.

2019-20 Federal Budget Submission

NGAA has made a 2019-20 Budget Submission to the Federal Government, focussing on five building blocks for good growth.

The full submission is available on the Advocacy page of the NGAA website.

Planning Liveable Cities: A place-based approach to sequencing infrastructure and growth

The National Growth Areas Alliance welcomes Infrastructure Australia’s new report, Planning Liveable Cities: A place-based approach to sequencing infrastructure and growth. We call upon the Federal and State Governments to work with local government to implement the findings of this report.

NGAA Awards Strong Vision in Our Fast Growing Outer Suburbs

The 2018 NGAA Awards showcased the vision and expertise that is building Australia’s diverse outer suburban growth areas. Winning projects included innovative uses of technology, a community program to prevent family violence, a suburb-wide urban planning approach and a $109 million community recreation facility.

Three Priorities for Great Australian Cities

Three priorities are the pathway to great Australian cities according to Professor Greg Clark, global cities expert, who addressed Mayors, Councillors and executives from Australia’s fastest growing outer suburban Councils at the National Growth Areas Alliance (NGAA) Congress in the booming south west of Sydney this week.

Time to catch up with the outer suburbs

Infrastructure Australia has highlighted the need for public transport to catch up with the five million Australians who live in fast growing outer suburbs. We are pleased that the research and recommendations support our calls for urgent investment in transport infrastructure in the outer suburbs, 

Response to Grattan Institute's 'Remarkably adaptive' report

The Grattan Institute has released a report stating that population growth has had little impact on the average metropolitan Australians’ commute to work.The NGAA’s understanding of commutes from the outer suburbs is very different.

Response to 'Building Up and Moving Out' Report

Momentum is building for action by the Federal Government to respond to the impact of rapid and sustained population growth, with the Building Up and Moving Out report from the Standing Committee on infrastructure, Transport and Cities.

New PM has chance to strengthen focus on cities

The National Growth Areas Alliance looks forward to a continued Federal Government focus on cities policy under new Prime Minister Scott Morrison.

2018 Federal Budget - Government finally recognising growth areas

The Federal Government has finally started listening to the nearly 5 million people in Australia’s fast growing outer suburbs who face daily challenges of nightmare commutes to work or study, and lack of public transport options.

Bronwen Clark appointed new NGAA Executive Officer

Chair of the National Growth Areas Alliance, Mayor Glenn Docherty, is pleased to announce Bronwen Clark has been appointed to the role of Executive Officer, following a national recruitment process.

Melbourne's Outer Suburbs Ready for Transformation

Growth areas have welcomed 35 per cent of Australia’s overall population growth in the last five years, but only received 13 per cent of total infrastructure investment. Councils in growth areas are responding to this deficit with innovative and transformational projects to provide services and facilities their communities need.

Adelaide's Fast Growing Outer Suburbs Ready for Transformation

Two new research reports commissioned by NGAA tell the story of changing populations and economies which provide many opportunities for development.

NGAA talking population growth on Life Matters

Catch up on our Acting Executive Officer's chat about population growth with demographer Prof. Peter McDonald and host Michael Mackenzie on Radio National's Life Matters program here.

Government and Opposition to meet with leaders from Australia's fastest-growing outer suburbs

Local Government leaders from fast-growing outer suburbs across Australia will gather in Melbourne’s south east next week to share stories of the incredible impact of rapid population growth on their communities.

National Nightmare Commute Day takes place on 14 September

A national event giving residents of fast-growing outer suburbs the chance to share their #nightmarecommute stories on social media.

Inequity and missed opportunity, not just growing pains, the issue for outer suburbs

The National Growth Areas Alliance (NGAA) has today released the State of Australia's FastGrowing Outer Suburbs..

More focus needed to deliver fairness and opportunity to five million Australians

The focus on infrastructure in the 2017-18 Federal Budget is a step in the right direction..

Outer Suburbs need a budget boost

Five million people living in Australia’s fast-growing outer suburbs are hoping tomorrow's federal budget..

Seven peak organisations unite to support "good debt" approach

The federal government should not shy away from borrowing for public infrastructure investment..

Outer Suburbs growing too fast to overlook

Fast-growing outer suburbs, home to five million people and growing at double the national rate, are the often..

Outer Suburbs key to Australian Cities Policy

National Growth Areas Alliance Executive Officer, Ruth Spielman, has been appointed to the Cities Reference Group, convened..

Call for 2017-18 Federal Budget to invest in Australia's Growing Outer Suburbs

Chair of the National Growth Areas Alliance (NGAA), Mayor Glenn Docherty.