Planning NSW should adjust its country growth figures upwards

State planning figures were out of synch with the reality of population growth in the local region, Member for Northern Tablelands Richard Torbay will tell guests at the opening of the Country and Regional Living Expo in Sydney tomorrow.
The MP said Planning NSW projected population numbers for Northern Inland NSW in 2009 were 22,422 short of the actual statistics (168,400 projected, 184,822 actual).
“The implications for us and other growing regions is that the Planning NSW figures are used to calculate levels of government service delivery,” he said.
“At at time when more people from the city want to move out to the regions it is quite wrong for the government not to provide adequately for that growth.
“Almost all centres in the Northern Tablelands are experiencing a population rise and the government must revise its estimates to ensure the formula for providing services and infrastructure are adjusted to reflect this increase.”
Mr Torbay said the Northern Tablelands communities continued to support the Expo, formerly Country Week, in greater numbers than any other electorate.
The Armidale Dumaresq, Guyra, Glen Innes and Inverell booths included representatives from councils, schools, real estate agents and local business.
“With its emphasis on jobs, housing, business opportunities, education, services and cultural activities the Expo is an excellent forum to promote the superior quality of life we enjoy in the regions,” the MP said.
“I get lots of enquiries from Sydney people wanting to get out of the rate race and the information and contacts they can access at the Expo help them find the opportunities they are seeking.”