Regional reps' paper to plug outback benefits
The South Australian Regional Organisation of Councils (SAROC) is putting the final touches on its official election materials, aimed at ensuring regional areas are not neglected by candidates in the upcoming state election.
SAROC chairman James Maitland says a push for decentralised government services to bring a boost to the bush is a main pillar to promote growth.
A document will be sent to major parties ahead of the March election, with the SAROC finalising the specifics of its five key issues.
“One of the major ones we're pushing pretty strongly is to try and get the Government to decentralise a bit more,” Mr Maitland said.
“In other words, get some of their employees and staff and departments out into rural areas.
“I mean why wouldn't PIRSA [Primary Industries and Regions SA] be based in the country, for example?” he asked.
Mr Maitland says there are clear benefits to regional society and lifestyles, which inner-city residents may not give credit to.
“In a lot of areas there's probably under-utilised infrastructure that could then be used by having more people there, in the health area and in the education area and in a number of those areas, where the facilities are bigger and braver and better than they really need to be for the current population that's currently there,” he said.