THE Deputy Premier and Minister for Regional NSW, Paul Toole, was in town last week to tout the NSW Government’s new $175 million Growing Regional Economies Fund.

He said the fund will invest in infrastructure and facilities that will unlock housing and economic growth in regional communities.

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“From bridges to access roads, airport upgrades and regional research facilities, we will help deliver infrastructure initiatives that will have a positive and lasting impact and support increased investment, land activation and employment opportunities in our regions,” Mr Toole said.

He said the fund will only increase the appeal to live and invest in regional NSW.

“Our regional communities are growing faster than ever before, and this is creating exciting opportunities for infrastructure, business and economic investment across the State,” Mr Toole said.

“Housing must come hand-in-hand with these investments, and the projects supported by this Fund could include roads and other utility connections; the kind of enabling infrastructure needed to set the foundation for further housing growth.”

Member for Coffs Harbour Gurmesh Singh said the fund will offer welcomed support to communities right across regional NSW.

He said the money will be available to councils and the private sector because public infrastructure is needed before housing can be built.

“It’s great to see funding like this available for communities just like Coffs Harbour and will mean more local jobs and more opportunities to grow industry in the regions,” Mr Singh said.

“I am pleased to see opportunities to unlock housing and this enabling infrastructure will help ease the pressure so many communities are feeling.”

Convenor for the Coffs Harbour Greens, Tim Nott, is sceptical, making reference to Cate Faehrmann’s recent ‘Concreting Our Coast’ report, which highlighted a range of potential developments along the length of the NSW coast.

“I was involved in this report and am experienced in the failure of the approval system to include basic planning principles leading to the loss of values the community want preserved,” Mr Nott said.

“The large financial benefits taken from the community and given to large developers for providing affordable housing have not led to affordable housing in Coffs Harbour to date.

“There are 128 local councils that are likely to share in this $175 million, however, construction materials and labour have increased faster than other costs in recent years.”

Mr Nott said that current residential areas are designed by developers to maximise short term gain, often increasing infrastructure burden on the local community.

“This announcement is selling out Coffs Harbour’s unique coastal character because there is no change to the development approval legislation and policy, so there will be no change in the trajectory of Coffs Harbour becoming as inefficient as Western Sydney,” Nott said.

Tony Judge, the Labor candidate for Coffs Harbour said, “Of course, any investment in housing infrastructure is welcome, but the focus on the Coffs Coast must be social, affordable and key worker housing.

“We are now in a position where nurses and teachers are unable to find or afford rental accommodation.”

Mr Judge said the announcement by the government is vague and unclear on whether or not housing affordability is a criterion for these grants.

“It will be a poor outcome for our community if these grants fail to address the area of greatest need.”

The Growing Regional Economies Fund is part of the $3.3 billion Regional Growth Fund.

Expressions of Interest open on 8 February 2023 and close on 23 May 2023.

Further information about the Growing Regional Economies Fund, including program guidelines and eligibility criteria can be found at www.nsw.gov.au/gref.

By Andrew VIVIAN