The ACT has joined the Canberra Region Joint Organisation (CRJO) to call on the NSW and Federal Governments to support a three-point plan to shape the future of the Canberra Region.
Chair of the CRJO and Yass Valley Council Mayor, Rowena Abbey said that from the Snowy, through the Tablelands and down to the coast, the Canberra Region was a vision for a borderless South East NSW with Canberra at its heart.
“We have identified a clear set of priorities for the incoming Federal and NSW Governments to help realise that vision, taking a regional focus to deliver national impacts,” Mayor Abbey said.
“With the right support the Canberra Region can relieve population pressures on large cities like Sydney and Melbourne and thrive as a region of choice for people to live, work and play.”
She said the CRJO had identified investment in east-west freight, tourism and commuter connections between the inland and coastal towns as a key priority, to better connect Inland Rail at Wagga Wagga to global connections at Canberra Airport and the coastal corridor from Nowra to Eden.
ACT Chief Minister, Andrew Barr said the Canberra Region plan was a summary of priorities that the ACT had been pursuing for some time, from faster rail to more health infrastructure.
He said the plan included enhanced transport and connectivity for passengers and freight; borderless services for ACT and South East NSW communities, and enhancement of healthcare, higher education, waste management and recycling.
Expanding on the priorities, Mr Barr there was a need for a faster rail connection between Canberra and Sydney; duplication of the Barton Highway; increased funding for blackspot digital reception areas and an overarching Intergovernmental Agreement for the management of the National Capital.
A 20-page ‘prospectus’ setting out the Canberra Region plan can be accessed at this PS News link.
