Fact sheet : Urban and Regional development
Regional Development Australia
The Government has established Regional Development Australia in order to engage with local communities in regional Australia to listen to communities' priorities for economic and social prosperity.
This new body will transition from the network of Area Consultative Committees and will take on a broader role to develop strategic input into national programs to improve the coordination of regional development initiatives.
Regional Development Australia will also link closely to local government and other state and federal regional organisations in order to give the Government high-level advice.
Tackling urban congestion and planning
The Government will provide $75 million in 2007-08 towards the development of feasibility and planning studies for projects to address urban congestion. This will be in partnership with the States and is part of the Government's plan to unclog the roads of Australia's big cities, making them an easier place to live, a better place to do business and a healthier place to raise a family.
The studies will involve the planning, design and development of business cases (including cost-benefit analysis and in some cases, state-specific improvements to public transport) and will be undertaken by State Governments commencing in 2007-08.
Projects include the eastern section of the M5 and the Western Metro rail link in New South Wales, key sections of the Bruce Highway and Gateway Motorway in Queensland, a transport master plan for the Perth Airport, a Transport Sustainability Study in South Australia, and components of the East-West transport corridor and Western Ring Road in Victoria.
In addition to the Federal Government contribution, the States have agreed to contribute a further $57.5 million, bringing the total investment to $132.5 million.
$20 million Boost for Infrastructure Reform
The Government has allocated $20 million over the next four years to Infrastructure Australia which will work to ensure infrastructure development is nationally coordinated, barriers to investing in nationally significant infrastructure are removed, and the efficiency of existing infrastructure is improved.
Infrastructure Australia will be assisted by the Office of Infrastructure Coordination headed up by the Infrastructure Coordinator.
Infrastructure Australia will advise governments, investors, owners and users of infrastructure on infrastructure matters critical to our economic, environmental, and social prosperity.
Infrastructure Australia's immediate task will be to undertake a National Infrastructure Audit (the Audit) to determine the capacity and condition of nationally significant infrastructure in areas including water, energy, transport and communications. The Audit will also identify gaps, deficiencies and impediments across these important sectors of the national economy.
The Audit is due by the end of 2008.
Better Regions program to Boost Infrastructure in Regional Australia
A range of community infrastructure projects in regional Australia are being supported by the Australian Government's new Better Regions program.
This $176 million program over four years will deliver the Government's election commitments to local communities for community infrastructure initiatives which have been identified as priority investments for their regions.
The projects address the economic and social needs of communities by providing important community infrastructure built through partnerships between the community and all levels of government.
The Government will follow this initiative in the 2009 10 Budget with the new Regional and Local Community Infrastructure program.
Clean Energy Industries
The Government is providing more than $1 billion to develop Australia’s capacity in clean energy technology through the $500 million Renewable Energy Fund, the $150 million Clean Energy Fund and the $500 million National Clean Coal Fund.
Forest Industries
The Government will provide $20 million over four years to prepare Australia’s forest industries for the future. The Preparing Australia’s Forestry Industry for the Future Program implements an election commitment to the Australian regional economy.
Weeds
The Government will invest $15 million over four years to reduce the impact of weeds on farm and forestry productivity and biodiversity, and a further $0.3 million over two years from 2008-09 for a comprehensive fireweed research project.
The National Weeds and Productivity Research program will allow for comprehensive national applied research which will investigate and implement strategies for the most serious invasive plant problems across Australia. National experts, land managers and relevant stakeholders will come together to develop improved understanding about the information required to effectively manage the risks associated with invasive plants.
The Government's priorities for weeds research will be clearly articulated with a focus on building productive capacity for sectors dealing with farming, forestry and biodiversity.
Water Security
The Government will invest $254.8 million to increase the security of water supplies in cities and towns as part of its $12.9 billion ‘Water for the Future Plan’. The Plan is designed to help smaller communities make their existing water infrastructure more efficient or find new sources of water supply.
The Government will provide funding over five years for projects including upgrades to treatment plants and infrastructure, storm water re-use, and providing recycled water for use on sporting fields and community recreation areas.
A total of twenty projects received specific funding. These include a water recycling demonstration project at Coolum Ridges. The project will demonstrate a roof water harvesting scheme that treats roof water and returns it to the town supply system. The City of Casey project seeks to develop a ‘state of the art’ water smart pool in Cranbourne, Victoria, which will be filled mainly by using rainwater. Salisbury Council in South Australia has received funding to undertake four storm water capture projects.
Support for Allied Health in Rural Areas
This is a national initiative that will assist allied health students in meeting reasonable travel and accommodation costs they incur when undertaking a rural clinical placement.
This measure commits $2.5 million over three years to provide funding for a scholarship program for allied health students from metropolitan, rural and remote backgrounds to undertake clinical placements in rural and/or remote communities. Scholarships are for allied health disciplines (such as psychology, occupational therapy, physiotherapy and podiatry) and are proposed to commence in the 2009 academic year.
This measure will impact on the long-term rural workforce by increasing the capacity of the allied health workforce. By increasing the number of qualified allied health professionals working in rural areas it will also contribute to improving the quality of the primary and allied health service provision.
GP Super Clinics
The establishment of GP Super Clinics in 31 localities across Australia will bring together general practitioners (GPs), nurses, allied health professionals, some specialists and other health professionals to deliver a range of health services tailored to meet local needs and priorities.
People living in GP Super Clinic locations (in a diverse range of areas, from what might be considered traditionally 'remote' in Mt Isa, to areas with expanding populations such as Palmerston in the Northern Territory, to other regional centres and rural locations including Geelong, the Riverina and Ipswich) will benefit from improved access to integrated primary health care services, which will complement and enhance existing health services available in these communities. Clinical training facilities within GP Super Clinics will help provide education and training opportunities for GPs and health professionals in a multidisciplinary environment.
Broadband for remote Australia
As part of its Australian Broadband Guarantee, the Government has committed $271 million to broadband for people living in the most remote parts of Australia.
The money will secure rural broadband access for the next four years while the Government awaits the roll-out of its ambitious National Broadband Network (NBN).
In tandem with the NBN tender the Government is conducting a separate consultation process on policy and funding initiatives to provide enhanced broadband in remote areas.
There is now $10.4 million in funding for the NBN process, with an additional $8.6 million allocated in the budget which will be added to $1.8 million reallocated from the previous Government's taskforce.
The funds will be used to development and mange the assessment process as well as paying for specialist advisors in areas such as regulation, legal and economics.
In a further initiative, older and disabled Australians will receive extra funds to help pay for connections to the internet with a new $176.5 million package.
This will increase the telephone allowance from $88 to $132 per year for all income support recipients, carer payment recipients, disability support pensioners and seniors health card holders.
Making Ends Meet - Broadband for Seniors
The Government has committed $15 million to establish free internet kiosks in approximately 2,000 community locations such as senior citizens centres and neighbourhood houses. Through the Broadband for Seniors measure, the Government will provide up to $10,000 per organisation for the provision of desktop computers, a three year broadband internet connection and regular internet workshops.
Broadband for Seniors is part of the wider Government initiative 'Making Ends Meet'. The program will provide assistance to around three million eligible Australians, including pensioners and self-funded retirees. Broadband for Seniors has been created to address the issue of older Australians feeling isolated and 'left behind' from the broader community as technology becomes more advanced and more widely used as a form of communication.
This initiative is complemented by the investment by the Government in 2008-09 of $3.2 billion in road and rail projects across the nation.
For information about ALGA's analysis of the Budget regarding Regional development please contact:
- Rolf Fenner
- Senior Policy Adviser
Australian Local Government Association - Phone: 02 6122 9443
- rolf.fenner@alga.asn.au