Four new offices of the newly created Department of Regional NSW are set to be established in regional areas around the State.
Deputy Premier and Minister for Regional NSW, John Barilaro said hundreds of jobs were to be created in regional communities with offices in Queanbeyan, Armidale, Dubbo and Coffs Harbour.
“People in regional NSW face unique challenges and lifestyles and no town is the same,” Mr Barilaro said, “which is why the Department of Regional NSW was formed, to put rural issues front and centre.”
“More than three quarters of the Department’s staff are already based in the regions with the Department of Primary Industries (DPI), Local Land Services, Forestry, Mining Exploration and Geosciences staff in various offices and frontline positions, located right across regional NSW,” he said.
“We want more jobs and opportunities in the regions, and what better way than to have a regionally focused NSW Government Department located in the very regions we serve.”
Mr Barilaro said that initially Department staff would be based out of Queanbeyan and Armidale, eventually expanding to almost 100 people based out of each of the four offices.
He said DPI headquarters would continue to operate from Orange with a new DPI head office building due to be completed later this year.
“It is important to have a significant presence right across regional NSW because we know different communities have different needs,” Mr Barilaro said.
