Key issues
A high number of NGAA communities take in former semi-rural
areas that are now the nation's newest suburbs and home to
thousands of new residents, many of which are young families.
High Living Costs
Those families are faced with high living costs, such as
mortgages and petrol - due largely to the lack of public transport
services - as well as fewer opportunities to access local jobs and
community amenities.
Undersupply of Infrastructure and Services
Many NGAA areas are still living with the undersupply of
infrastructure and services from past growth. New growth,
added to this backlog, makes the need for investment even more
urgent, as indicators of disadvantage become manifest.
The demands that rapid growth places on these communities is
immense, from the additional traffic on the roads to the need for
greater levels of community services such as recreational
facilities, libraries and youth services.
The intensive population growth is placing pressure on existing
infrastructure and is creating demand for new, more sustainable
infrastructure. These growth areas also contain centres which
serve wider catchments and contain major regional transport links
and areas of environmental and heritage significance. All
these assets are under pressure from urban expansion.
Integral Role of Growth Areas
The growth areas play an integral role in accommodating growth
in metropolitan regions across the nation but are not equitably
equipped with public transport and social infrastructure and
services or employment opportunities.
Significant Disadvantage
Growth areas on the fringes of Australian cities are
significantly disadvantaged in regard to access to jobs and
services. Poor performance compared to metropolitan averages
is demonstrated for indicators such as:
- Resident skills
- Local employment opportunities
- Education, health and community services
- Housing diversity
- Housing stress.
NGAA believes that without additional funding to service growth,
current and future residents won't have access to the basics, such
as safe roads, public transport, local employment, recreation
facilities and community services, enjoyed by residents in
established suburbs and the gap will widen.
Impact of Status Quo Approach
By not having those facilities and services locally, our
residents will have to go elsewhere. This will have negative
economic, social and environmental impacts.