RDA Illawarra seeks funding and a key commitment to bolster the future of the city’s port
Opportunities for one of the Illawarra’s most underutilised assets are the major focus of a pre-budget submission to the Federal Government by Regional Development Australia (RDA) Illawarra.
The region’s peak advisory body has used its local knowledge and regional network to develop recommendations for the Albanese government on four key themes: the development of the port of Port Kembla; critical infrastructure; satisfying an ageing and growing population and fulfilling housing demand.
The submission comes as the Illawarra enters a period of unprecedented growth with $33 billion in construction and infrastructure development planned for completion by 2040.
RDA Illawarra CEO Debra Murphy said the number one priority for the Illawarra is full usage of Port Kembla.
“Port Kembla is an underutilised asset that will be at the heart of international trade as other NSW ports reach capacity over the next decade,” she said.
“There are significant major capital investment projects, including renewable energy, which will deliver substantial economic benefits to the region, and beyond. We have a finite resource in the industrial lands supporting the Port and are calling for a Strategic Master Plan of the Port Kembla Industrial Precinct to ensure we achieve the highest and best use of this land.
“In our view, planning is critical to our region’s future. Coordination will be vital to the delivery of the pipeline of major projects and provide certainty of outcomes. This is a great problem to have, a plethora of growth opportunities, which just need to be coordinated.”
The RDA Illawarra submission also requests support for the two key infrastructure projects that are considered fundamental to the future prosperity and productivity of the region – delivery of a dual carriageway along the Picton Road and delivery of a network plan and business case for a direct rail link from Port Kembla to south-west Sydney.
For the key factors of population and housing, RDA Illawarra is requesting funding for more childcare options to support female participation in the workforce, more in-home care packages for older community members, simplification of visa processing for skilled migrants, and delivery of social and affordable housing in line with the region’s share of the population.
Ms Murphy said increasing the number of women in the Illawarra workforce had flow-on effects for the region.
"If participation rates between men and women could be equalised in the region, there would be an additional 9600 workers available without adding to the housing burden,” she said.
"At a time when the region is facing so much growth and development but needs immediate attention to address the acute shortage of suitable housing, this is just one way to secure the Illawarra’s future prosperity.”
For full details and recommendations, read our submission here.