Regional NSW and Minister for Western NSW, Tara Moriarty to discuss the Regional
Development Trust Fund with Western Division mayors, deputy mayors and GMs on Monday. State Member for Barwon Roy Butler also attended the meeting.
NSW Minister for Agriculture, Minister for Regional New South Wales, and Minister for Western New South Wales Tara Moriarty was in Cobar on Monday for a meeting of Western Division councils.
State Member for Barwon Roy Butler also joined the meeting to discuss Regional Development Trust funding.
Minister Moriarty said the government is committed to listening and providing tailored support for regional areas.
The Minister announced they were finalising the funding for the Regional Development Trust which aims to deliver sustainable and strategic investment with a focus on priorities that make a real difference to regional communities.
She said the Trust had already delivered funding for airstrip upgrades and airline subsidies and wanted to speak to councils to ensure plans for additional targeted funding through the Regional Development Trust were directed where they were needed most.
Minister Moriarty said the Trust is seen as a new model for regional investment.
Issues raised at Monday’s meeting by council delegates included Health, Aged Care and Service Integration and their concerns about aged care facilities being restricted by outdated regulations.
The Minister acknowledged there was a need for better coordination between federal, state, and local governments.
Specific issues were raised about staffing shortages, funding gaps, and duplication of services (eg aged care next to hospitals).
Land use and National Parks expansion was another topic of discussion with some strong opposition voiced about the purchase of productive land for National Parks.
A lack of community consultation was also raised as a major issue.
Councils expressed concerns over the economic impact these land sales were having on small communities, how they would be affected by a loss of population and services, and the environmental mismanagement post-acquisition. There were calls for mixed land use (eg continued grazing on parkland) and a suggestion for compensation or rate support for affected councils.
Also discussed was energy transition and power station closures and Crown Land reviews.
The Minister reiterated a commitment to ongoing dialogue, respect for local knowledge, and collaborative problem-solving.
One-on-one meetings between Council delegates and the Minister followed.
