The National Growth Areas Alliance (NGAA) has launched its national campaign ‘Fund Our Future’ in Penrith today.
Fund our Future calls for a federal infrastructure fund to support the fast growing outer suburbs with roads, public transport and health facilities.
According to the NGAA, growth suburbs on the fringes of Australian cities have poorer access to jobs and services, and poorer than metropolitan averages for: resident skills; local employment opportunities; education, health and community services; and housing.
The Alliance states that congested roads and inadequate public transport unfairly burden communities in the fast-growing suburbs on the outskirts of Australia’s capital cities. They argue that a policy shift is needed to address the infrastructure backlog and future proof these areas as they continue to grow.
National President of the NGAA, Mayor of Playford Glenn Docherty said, “A dedicated infrastructure fund for fast-growing outer suburbs would support ‘shovel ready’ projects based on merit and good planning – not on election cycles.
“Currently, funding for infrastructure projects is piecemeal and too often dependent on electoral cycles, denying communities good planning and their fair share of the funding pie.
“If a significant investment is not made, there is a risk that Australian cities will be divided along social and economic lines: those in the inner city who have access to transport, jobs and health services – and those in the fast-growing outer suburbs who do not.”
NGAA acknowledges that the cost of building the infrastructure outer rim communities need is high and is projected to increase; but that the cost of under servicing is even higher – for families, communities and the nation.
