Regional NSW makes up 40 percent of the state's economy and generates one third of its total gross production.
As a mainstay of our economy, regional NSW will play a key role in a recovery from COVID-19. Vibrant regions will also be integral to NSW agriculture's pursuit of $30 billion in output by 2030.
Last week, the National Farmers' Federation (NFF) released their Regionalisation Agenda.
The plan envisions a brighter future for the bush, leveraging the growth in popularity of regional areas over the pandemic influenced by travel restrictions, remote working opportunities and the desire for refuge from the cities.
According to the Regional Australia Institute, a record number of Australians moved to regional areas mid last year, while one-in-five city residents are now looking to move to the bush.
In order to capitalise on this trend, we need significant investment in regional areas to make them a long-term option for those making the move. Regional NSW needs parity with its city cousins in education and job opportunities, infrastructure, telecommunications and health facilities.
We need to overcome planning paralysis and access impediments to internationally competitive finance.
Despite the record growth of regional NSW over the last year, Infrastructure Australia's updated Infrastructure Priority List for 2021 sidelines the regions for the cities.
The Western Sydney Airport will be an infrastructure priority regional NSW will benefit from, but supporting projects such as the upgrade and duplication of the Great Western Highway have not been listed.
A report by AgriFutures Australia contains a disappointing projection that an additional $87 billion is needed over the next decade to reach the NFF-driven national target of $100 billion in output by 2030.
As long as there is a capital drought, agriculture and regional areas will continue to operate below their potential.
We are at a critical stage for regional NSW. It's time to invest in its future.
- James Jackson, NSW Farmers president
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