Recommendations
The NGAA Recommend that the Australian Government consider:
A National Urban Policy
The role and significance of growth areas as the main development hubs of the metropolitan regions requires acknowledgement at a national policy level, with consequential allocation of funding to support delivery of strategic transport, economic and community development infrastructure.
The Australian Government needs to take a more active role in the planning of new communities. This should be facilitated by the preparation of federally driven policies and plans that are cognisant of the House of Representatives Standing Committee on Environment and Heritage Sustainable Cities Report (2005) that recommended the provision of urban plans that accommodate lifestyle, employment and business opportunities within a framework that achieves greater efficiency of energy, water and biodiversity conservation.
A New Deal on Partnerships, Coordination and Delivery
Growth area Councils want a new deal on sharing of responsibilities between the three levels of government. This includes a new deal on coordination and delivery. An important part of this is to increase certainty in project funding and delivery.
A more certain partnership arrangement is required between Federal, State and local government with regard to funding and timely provision of infrastructure. The NGAA is in a strong position to provide a range of data and analysis to inform the development of future Federal policy and seeks to work with the Australian Government on an appropriate structure for such a partnership.
Improved Funding Allocations
Growth area councils want funding to match needs in a national context. This requires an overhaul of regional development and infrastructure funding to better focus on strategic metropolitan growth areas.
The overwhelming funding need relates to infrastructure provision for growth area development – both physical infrastructure and community facilities.
The NGAA request that the Commonwealth establish a fund in perpetuity to contribute to growth area infrastructure. Priorities will vary and should be locally assessed.
