The Fund our Future campaign, which calls for a dedicated national fund for fast growing outer suburbs, including Campbelltown, has just marked a key milestone.
No fewer than 10,000 emails have already been sent to politicians in Canberra, just seven weeks after the campaign was launched.
Mayor of Campbelltown, Cr Paul Hawker, welcomed the call for maximising Western Sydney’s productivity and improving connections.
“Our area is growing at a rapid rate, and supporting this growth with suitable infrastructure that facilitates efficient movement of people and goods between the North West and South West Growth Centres will help to ensure that the liveability and business potential of these growth areas is maximised,” Cr Hawker said.
“Thanks to all our supporters so far. We are grateful for your commitment,” says Mayor Glenn Docherty, the Chair of the National Growth Areas Alliance, which is behind the campaign. He’s also the Mayor of Playford, in Adelaide’s north.
[social_quote duplicate=”no” align=”default”]“We plan to use that momentum to spur us on to get even more community support and make the voices of those in outer growth areas heard,” Mr Docherty said.[/social_quote]
The national campaign calls for a dedicated fund to fix road, rail and health infrastructure problems in fast-growing outer suburbs from Cockburn in Perth to Campbelltown and Penrith in Sydney.
Five million Australians currently live in the fast-growing suburbs on the outskirts of Australia’s capital cities and an independent analysis has found they already lack access to adequate infrastructure.
By 2031, the number calling these areas home will have swelled by half again to 7.5 million people.
The work, by SGS Economics and Planning, found $5 billion is needed each year over the next 15 years to catch up and keep up with the infrastructure needs in these areas.
The key NSW project in this national campaign is an outer orbital rail network for Western Sydney – to provide the crucial missing link between the North West and South West growth centres. It is the type of project which could be funded through a national dedicated fund for outer growth areas.
Three Sydney councils – Campbelltown City Council, Penrith City Council and Blacktown City Council – have called on the Prime Minister to back their jointly proposed rail link.
The Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull recently said a rail link for Western Sydney Airport was crucial, not simply to service the airport, but because residents would also benefit.
Residents and those working in fast-growing outer suburbs are encouraged to take part in the Fund our Future campaign by signing and sharing the petition here.
