4 October 2019
Today’s launch of the Australian Government's Centre for Population by the Hon Alan Tudge MP, Minister for Population, Cities and Urban Infrastructure, is a welcome step in a marathon of policy shifts that are required to address the pressing needs of growth areas.
We look forward to resource allocation for growth areas that is commensurate with their actual population growth, so that we do not repeat the scenario of growth areas accommodating 35% of Australia’s population growth but only receiving 13% of Federal infrastructure investment (2011-16).
The new Centre’s focus on tracking actual data, integrating and sharing population data from across the Commonwealth and, should the states agree at COAG later this year, from within their jurisdictions as well, is a sensible and welcome development.
Members of our Alliance – fast growing cities, towns and suburbs on the outskirts of our capital cities - tell us of the poor outcomes from having different sets of numbers used by different tiers of government to plan housing needs, transport capacity, and project demand for health and education services.
The result is evident to anyone living in one of Australia’s growth areas: gridlocked traffic on suburban roads that were never designed to cope with the increased demand, public transport that arrives in a new suburb a decade after its residents, communities with lower access to educational, social and recreational facilities that many Australians take for granted.
Member Councils of the National Growth Areas Alliance need infrastructure investment to reflect their actual population growth to not only plan for future growth, but also to catch up with the needs of the five million people already living in growth areas.
JOINT MEDIA RELEASE with the Australian Local Government Association and Community Housing Industry Association (CHIA).
Read moreMore of Australia’s new housing areas will have mobile coverage, thanks to the Federal Government’s updated ‘Telecommunications in New Developments (TIND) Policy.’ The National Growth Areas Alliance (NGAA) was a key influencer on the policy, advocating for the consideration of mobile infrastructure within new developments in the early planning stages, and its installation by the time new developments are occupied.
Read moreIn a recent Strategic Planning Policy Advisory Committee meeting, Greg Pattinson from the City of Playford shared a great example of how they have been part of an innovative partnership for the funding and delivery of sporting facilities. This project also earned City of Playford the NGAA award in 2022 for “Partnerships – Building Connections”
Read moreWe are delighted to extend our congratulations to Mayor Terresa Lynes of the City of Gosnells, who has been elected as the Deputy Chair of the National Growth Areas Alliance (NGAA). Mayor Lynes' election is a testament to her commitment to addressing the unique challenges faced by over 5.3 million Australians living in fast-growing outer cities and suburbs.
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