News

31 January 2020

NGAA 2020-21 Federal Budget recommendations

The National Growth Areas Alliance (NGAA) is an alliance of Councils from the fastest growing outer urban areas around Australia’s major cities. We have a shared vision of growing communities that are resilient, liveable and thriving places. However, this vision remains unachievable while investment in vital infrastructure and services does not keep pace with our population boom.

We make 13 recommendations for the 2020-21 Federal Budget for future policy and investment decisions to support growth areas and the nation. These align with our four guiding principles rebalance Australia’s capital cities, invest in recreational, health and community services, unlock economic growth and prioritise transport solutions.

The NGAA’s 2020-21 Pre-Budget Submission recommendations are outlined here and detailed in the full Submission (link).

Rebalance Australia’s capital cities

Rebalance the spatial structure of our capital cities by distributing infrastructure, jobs and housing more evenly across metropolitan areas, including bringing new jobs closer to where the growing population lives.

1.            Population: ensure the Centre of Population is sufficiently resourced and include outer urban growth area representatives on the National Population and Planning Framework and Treasurer’s Forum on Population.

2.            Cities Policy: fully fund commitments made in the Western Sydney City Deal, increase resources for parties in City Deal negotiations; review planning of greenfield developments in outer urban growth areas; and recognise the role and function of outer urban growth areas as distinct from capital cities and regional areas.

Invest in places for people

As we change our cities to accommodate growth, innovative place-based and neighbourhood planning and design will bring together the elements required to support productive, liveable and resilient places for people to live and work and for businesses to invest.

3.            Recreational infrastructure: A national approach to Federal Government co-investment in sport and recreational facilities in outer urban growth areas.

4.            Health facilities and service delivery: Prioritise the needs of current and future growth area communities and ensure funding is available for the facilities and range of services needed.

5.            Dedicated funding for community facilities: A co-investment model, like that proposed to address the sports and recreation facilities deficit, available to local government at a quantum and scale to address the needs of outer urban growth areas.

An urgent long-term extension of the Federal Government’s contribution to kindergarten funding, due to end in December 2020.

6.            Environmental and natural disaster remediation in growing urban areas: Act to mitigate the risk of environmental changes and natural disasters in outer urban growth areas.

Unlock Economic Growth

Unlock the economic value in outer urban growth areas and support new economies by matching skilled labour to emerging industry opportunities, fostering the growth of innovation precincts for knowledge intensive and small business jobs and expanding the opportunities associated with freight and logistics.

7.            Improving freight task: Enhance Melbourne’s future freight and logistics by establishing intermodal freight terminals that will leverage the Melbourne to Brisbane Inland Rail, existing ports and airport, and planned Outer Metropolitan Ring Road

8.            Precinct development: Provide direct funding via a co-investment model with local and state governments to accelerate precinct development and industry attraction in outer urban growth areas.

9.            Industry and jobs growth initiatives: As part of the Federal Government’s Growth Centre Strategy, fund a planning review which aligns targeted investments to connect growing labour markets in the outer suburbs to the Industry Growth Centre initiative, across cyber security, advanced manufacturing, food and agribusiness, medical and pharmaceuticals and Mining Equipment, Technology and Services (METS).

Implement the Parliamentary Inquiry into the Australian Government’s Role in the Development of Cities recommendations to provide grants to projects with potential to generate significant employment growth in outer urban growth areas.

10.         Skills and education: Improve access through decentralising vocational and university campuses and the spatial distribution of Commonwealth supported places.

Prioritise transport solutions

Improve overall transport performance to service Australia’s outer urban growth areas through integrated networks which connect people and jobs and support active, shared and public transport connectivity to lessen dependence on private vehicles.

11.         Urban Congestion Fund: NGAA recommends twelve key projects across the country that will reduce congestion and get people to work, home or study on time.

12.         Leveraging current transport investment: NGAA recommends Federal Government funding for three major projects in NSW and WA that align with current infrastructure delivery and would enhance long-term outcomes.

13.         Transformational transport infrastructure: NGAA recommends Federal Government focus on transformational road, rail and air transport projects, including those that may form part of current or future City Deal negotiations. 

See the full submission here.

More information: Bronwen Clark, Executive Officer M - 0448 401 257 E- bronwen.clark@ngaa.org.au