The growing pains caused by increased migration are becoming more apparent, and I don’t think too many people – particularly in the Hunter region – are comfortable with the pace of growth. Rents are outpacing wage increases and first home buyers are under the same financial pressures, which further marginalises people already facing social disadvantage and contributes to homelessness.
Unless we at least invest in developing road and rail infrastructure and focus on congregating high-density housing and apartments, I’m not sure we want to continue evolving into an outlying suburb of Sydney. It’s time to ask: if you want us to absorb the financial and social costs of immigration to fuel economic growth – where is the funding?
I’m not sure we’re moving quickly enough on key issues like identifying appropriate areas to house people, or ensuring coordination between state governments and local councils to reduce planning delays and construction costs. We need to address unnecessary legislation, support prefabricated housing solutions, and implement policies that fast-track visas for skilled tradespeople.
One bold way to secure the support we need would be to relocate the State Parliament to Newcastle. The financial advantages would be significant, especially when you consider the current infrastructure spending in Sydney and Canberra. Although, perhaps the social impact of having more politicians around would be a tougher pill to swallow?