A Centroc visit to Canberra last week was great timing, according to Bathurst mayor Gary Rush, due to a looming federal government announcement of a $1 billion National Stronger Regions Fund.
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The Abbott government fund for 2015/16 will focus on investment in small-scale infrastructure in regional areas.
Cr Rush said Bathurst has many infrastructure opportunities, including roads, rail transport and rail freight.
The 15 Central West council members of Centroc spent two days in Canberra last week to meet with federal ministers and talk about plans for the region.
Centroc members met with deputy prime minister Warren Truss, minister for industry Ian Macfarlane, minister for agriculture Barnaby Joyce, assistant minister for health Fiona Nash and parliamentary secretary to the minister for communications Paul Fletcher.
During the two-day conference, they also met with the three federal members representing the Centroc region: John Cobb (Calare), Mark Coulton (Parkes) and Angus Taylor (Hume).
“That’s why it’s important that Bathurst Regional Council and Centroc can present themselves in this forum – because there are 700 local government areas [LGA] in Australia,” Cr Rush said.
With so much competition, he said last week’s visit was important for the region’s future.
“It allows us to let them know the issues in our region ... we’ve been able to place our case,” he said.
“It would be very difficult for Bathurst Regional Council to get to Canberra and arrange this exposure to such an array of ministers.
“Having 15 councils is a stronger voice and a request for a meeting is heard louder.”
For Bathurst, along with Orange and Lithgow, a major issue raised at the meeting was job losses in the manufacturing sector.
Cr Rush said he was hopeful an announcement in the final quarter of 2014 for the next NBN rollout stage would include the Bathurst region.
This was a first Canberra meeting for the Centroc members, and Cr Rush said it will now become an annual event.
Centroc is comprised of 15 local government areas across the Central West, representing 220,000 people and covering 64,000 kilometres.
Like many other Centroc councils, he said Bathurst is always looking for ways to make itself more financially stable and viable.
“There’s always more projects we want to undertake for our communities than there are funds available,” he said.
“You’ve got to keep reinforcing the needs of your community.”
