Goulburn has flown under the radar of state government notice as a growth prospect for too long, says Mayor Bob Kirk.
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While Wagga Wagga, Albury and Tamworth have scored the lion's share of attention, this area has been something of "a sleeper," at least in some minds.
Now Cr Kirk has written to Premier Gladys Berejiklian pressing the need to plan ahead for the wave hitting this region.
A 2016 Housing Strategy forecast the need for 3000 new homes in Goulburn and 500 in Marulan by 2030.
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"That equates to about 10,000 to 12,000 people, half of whom will be children who need to go to school and secure jobs," he said.
"The council has to look at its infrastructure needs, for water, sewer and roads, and we'll do all that but some other things are out of our control."
Cr Kirk says with secondary schools reporting strong enrolments or nearing capacity, the state government needs to start investigating additional institutions.
His comments come as the council bids to join Regional Cities NSW, which counts the likes of Armidale, Bathurst, Orange, Dubbo, Wagga Wagga and Albury among its 17 members. At a cost of $10,000 annually, it offers a chance to discuss issues with like-minded councils and a direct line to government, Goulburn Mulwaree general manager Warwick Bennett says.
The council will press its case at RCNSW' meeting in Sydney on March 25.
The push also coincides with a $5 million federal government initiative, Move to More, with think tank, the Regional Australia Institute encouraging city dwellers to shift to the regions. The campaign includes a website detailing populations, median house prices, employment and education opportunities, services and infrastructure in 1700 areas, including Goulburn.
But the Mayor argues this must be matched with visionary planning and good policy.
"We've asked before about incentives to encourage relocation of businesses to the region to keep all these extra people gainfully employed. We'll continue to do that (because) we're trying to get the big picture happening," he said.
Goulburn Mulwaree's population stood at 31,132 in 2019, according to census data. Cr Kirk said the council area was on track to exceed predictions that 175 new dwellings would be required annually to house growth. In 2019 and 2020 it processed 220 and 340 residential applications respectively.
Much of this growth is occurring in Marys Mount and the Joseph's Gate subdivision but also Marulan.
The Mayor says the council is also fielding regular enquiry from business wanting to relocate here and is doing its best to "get them across the line."
Its bid to Regional Cities NSW spruiks Tribe Brewery, Black Widow Glass, Quest Apartments, Chicago Freight's rail hub, Anvil Enterprises and Sky Metals, employing almost 160 people in total. It also lists large government departments, the Police Academy and the Coles Distribution Centre.
In recent time, the area's tourism and livability has also attracted solid media publicity.
Cr Kirk said unlike Wagga, Albury and Tamworth, Goulburn had never been identified as a growth area by the State.
"Despite the (past) downgrade of services such as the RMS, the Teachers College, the railways, hospitals and mental health - all huge employers - Goulburn has grown slightly but constantly," he said.
"In the past 10 years we have averaged 1.5 per cent growth each year...so there's something about the place that's attractive to people. We need to harness all that and plan for it because that wave is coming over the hill any minute. We know it's happening now."
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Louise Thrower
If you have a story to tell, drop me a line at louise.thrower@austcommunitymedia.com.au or call 0418 229 678.
If you have a story to tell, drop me a line at louise.thrower@austcommunitymedia.com.au or call 0418 229 678.
