Where does North Coast NSW start?

Governments are judged by the outcomes they deliver for communities.

We have worked hard to build a strong budget and restore NSW to its rightful place as the number one economy in the country. We are rolling out a record-breaking infrastructure program that is already having a positive impact across all parts of the state. Most importantly, we are a government that wants Regional NSW to thrive and feel supported.

Our Regions is a package of materials designed to showcase the work being undertaken in communities across Regional NSW. It is a source for information about the projects we have committed to, that we are building, and that have already been delivered. The material will highlight some of the projects occurring in health, education, transport, roads, sport, the arts, and the community sector.

It paints a clear picture of the progress that is happening around you. More importantly, it shows a government working for you; a government dedicated to people and families in regional communities.

Please take the time to inspect your local Our Regions section on the website, or pick up a copy of your local Our Regions brochure. It is a great way to ensure you are aware and engaged with the work that is occurring in your region.

The information available online will be continually updated, as the investments we make in Regional NSW continue to roll out.

Our government is determined to make sure that every regional community continues to grow, attract more investment, and create an even better quality of life for its citizens not just for tomorrow, but also for decades to come.

Regional service delivery priorities for the North Coast

The NSW Government is committed to ensuring the people of regional NSW have the best access to essential services and infrastructure in regional Australia. We recognise the importance of ensuring all regional communities can access the essential services of a modern economy. We believe our geography brings enormous opportunity, and should not deter people from choosing where they live, work and play.

To help deliver on this commitment, the NSW Government has developed Regional Service Delivery Priorities to improve local services according to each region’s specific needs.

The priorities are based on existing state-wide programs that address local challenges and benefit communities. The NSW Government will provide updates on the priorities’ progress over the next year.

Supporting young people into training and employment on the North Coast

State-wide target: To assist an estimated 750 young people each year into education, training or employment through Regional VET Pathways.

Regional NSW often faces higher rates of youth unemployment when compared to Sydney. The Regional VET Pathways initiative supports young people aged 15-19 to find their way into education, training and work with career advice and mentoring to help them pursue their careers. The NSW Government wants to ensure that young people get the help they need to find a job so they can build a future and contribute to their community.

Boost mental health workers on the North Coast

State-wide target: To increase the mental health peer workforce in regional NSW by 50 per cent by June 2019.

The NSW Government is committed to improving mental health services in regional NSW to tackle loss of life and prevent self harm. Mental health services need a stronger workforce to deal with it. The Government’s ‘Living Well’ strategic plan sets out to support those with mental illness. By creating a well supported mental health workforce that employs people with a lived experience of mental illness, we can help reduce the length of admissions, readmissions and use of restrictive interventions.

Deliver quality infrastructure in the North Coast

State-wide target: Local infrastructure projects to have commenced implementation in target regions by 2019.

The Stronger Country Communities Fund is investing $200 million in NSW over the next two years. To make the North Coast region a more vibrant place to live and work, infrastructure projects will improve the lives of residents. The fund will help boost productivity and make the region a more attractive place for individuals and businesses looking to re-locate.

Works underway

Explore the map below to find out more about the projects happening in your area.

Rebuilding after the Lismore floods

In many regional NSW towns, the local TAFE campus is more than a place to learn. It’s a hub that creates valuable training and employment opportunities for the whole community.

Rebuilding after the Lismore floods

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Developing strategies around sharks at Ballina

For many years, tourists have flocked to the coast of Ballina Shire in northern NSW for its pristine waters, temperate climate and great surfing beaches. But in the summer of 2015, several shark attacks in the area, one of them fatal, left many rethinking their visits to the area and locals concerned with how to address the issue.

Developing strategies around sharks at Ballina

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Region overview

The North Coast is the most biologically diverse region in NSW. Distinctive environmental, heritage and natural resources define the character and lifestyle of the region, underpinning the economy and creating a unique and enviable lifestyle for its residents.

Drivers – economic, social and environmental

Around 12 million people visit the North Coast annually, making tourism, along with health care and social assistance, a leading driver and source of employment.

The Pacific Highway is the main freight route between Sydney and Brisbane and plays a major role in the local economy.

The region is home to an ageing population, with 31 per cent of people predicted to be aged above 65 by 2036. New services will be required to meet demand from this group, presenting opportunities for employment growth to support this emerging market.

As demand for quality health, transport, community services and infrastructure increases, the NSW Government has a significant infrastructure investment program to support the growth of the region’s service-based industries. This includes activating underutilised Government land to stimulate economic development and supporting local government to plan for affordable housing development in key growth areas.

Fast-tracking the resolution of land claims will support economic development opportunities for the Aboriginal community.

The NSW Government is working hard to address high unemployment rates within the region. Nine campuses spread between five universities and a significant Vocational Education and Training footprint, allows Government to partner with schools, institutions and industry to educate and train local people for local jobs in a number of sectors.

The North Coast has a strong community culture. Families and communities can be better supported through locally designed, targeted programs to improve social outcomes.

Primary industry is an important economic contributor to the region and diversified agricultural production includes dairy, beef and blueberries. The NSW Government is establishing partnerships with industry to provide quality and coordinated services to the agri-food sector and enabling new collaborative arrangements with key agencies in these sectors.

The ongoing protection of the natural environment and wise use and management of natural resources is critical for sustainability of the region. Renewable energy has strong regional support and private investment into alternative energy supplies is encouraged.

Regional Growth Fund

The NSW Government has a new approach to supporting growth and business potential which means all residents of regional NSW will see the benefits of strong economic management. To support this new approach, the $1.7 billion Regional Growth Fund has been created to deliver the infrastructure to help regional economies expand, and to improve the amenity for people living in regional NSW. The Regional Growth Fund is designed to activate local economies and create jobs by building and upgrading infrastructure, improving facilities and investing in sports, arts and culture in eligible regional communities.

The Regional Growth Fund includes:

• Growing Local Economies – Unlocking economic potential by building or upgrading power, transport and telecommunications links and water and sewerage services 
• Resources for Regions – Supporting the infrastructure needs of mining-affected regional economies
• Connecting Country Communities – Investing in better mobile phone and internet connectivity to support businesses and families living and working in regional areas and drive regional productivity 
• Regional Sports Infrastructure – Supporting participation and high achievement in sport for regional NSW communities by improving facilities
• Regional Cultural Fund – Delivering investment to support bold and exciting regional arts and culture
• Stronger Country Communities Fund – Supporting councils and community groups to deliver crucial local infrastructure to improve quality of life.

These programs are in addition to the $300 million Regional Growth – Environment and Tourism Fund which supports environmental assets, tourism infrastructure and attractions to drive greater visitation and spend across regional NSW.

Our actions in the region

We are actively contributing to strong and healthy regional communities through these initiatives.

Creating jobs and growing the regional economy

Economic development through land activation

• Activate underutilised government sites in Coffs Harbour and Ballina. Developing potential sites for land activation projects will support employment and tourism, commercial activities and housing growth.

Connecting job seekers to opportunities in growth industries

• Work with careers advisors, employment agencies, training organisations and industry to better align career pathway opportunities to improve youth unemployment across the North Coast.

Growing the agri-food economy

Work to grow agri-food industries by:

• supporting the North Coast Agrifood Alliance
• enabling new collaborative arrangements in the horticulture, dairy and beef sectors in areas including Kyogle, Casino, Lismore, Dorrigo and Kempsey
• supporting the Byron Region Food Advantage Program to prepare food manufacturing businesses for new market opportunities.

Making energy more affordable for small business and low-income households

• Deliver low-income household rebates of $285 and a Family Energy Rebate of $180 via the energy affordability package to support approximately 900,000 customers across NSW struggling to pay energy bills.
• Deliver more than 17,000 energy efficient fridges and televisions to low-income households through the Appliance Replacement Offer.
• Deliver more than $8 million worth of energy efficiency upgrades to 2,800 social housing properties across the state.
• Save small businesses up to $1,900 on their yearly bill through discounts on equipment upgrades.

Using new technology to improve transport efficiency and innovation in regional NSW

• Local innovators and industry leaders will be invited to collaborate with the NSW Government’s Smart Innovation Centre to trial automated vehicles in regional NSW.
• The NSW Government is also trialling On Demand public transport for regional NSW. Industry and regional transport operators will be invited to partner with the NSW Government in the trials.

Delivering infrastructure 

Delivering essential infrastructure

Deliver key transport, health and community infrastructure to address the current and future needs of the North Coast, including:

• a $4.35 billion investment in the Pacific Highway upgrade between Woolgoolga and Ballina by 2020
• a further $12.9 million to upgrade the region’s airports
• establishing a 1,700-bed correctional facility at Grafton.

Improving education results and growing healthy kids

Tackling childhood obesity to support children and families to be healthy and active

• Reduce childhood obesity by implementing the Make Healthy Normal social marketing campaign, Go4Fun, Munch & Move, Live Life Well @ School, Healthy Lunchbox competition, Healthy School Canteens and the Get Healthy in Pregnancy Service.
• Provide training about healthy food options to staff at youth organisations.
• Deliver the Y-Hunger program to children and young people.

Helping kids get active

• Invest $207 million over four years through the Active Kids Rebate allowing parents to claim up to $100 per school child, per calendar year (as a voucher from 31 January 2018) to reduce the cost of sport registration or membership fees for afterschool, weekend and structured fitness or physical activity.

Continuing to improve education results

Improve NAPLAN results by focussing on literacy and numeracy, including:

• delivering $332 million across the state for early childhood education and preschools from 2018 to 2022 under Start Strong
• providing $80 million for government schools on the North Coast via the 2018 Resource Allocation Model, giving principals flexibility to direct funding to local school and individual student needs to improve learning outcomes for all their students.

Protecting the vulnerable

Preventing suicide

Address high suicide rates, particularly in the Northern Rivers by:

• continuing to implement early intervention mental health services to schools across the region through the GOT-IT program
• introducing Our Healthy Clarence, an ‘all of community’ strategy for the Clarence Valley to target suicide prevention through better care coordination and improved access to evidence based treatment for people at risk of suicide in the area.

Addressing domestic and family violence

Address domestic and family violence through a diverse range of support services and programs, with additional funding to expand support programs, including:

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