Australia:The NSW Farmers’ Association President Charles Armstrong has warned the future of NSW is dependent on a greater working relationship between the city and the country.
Speaking at the official opening of the Association’s 2010 Annual Conference, Charles Armstrong says future food demand, a growing population and climate change all demand a better relationship across the Great Dividing Range.
“Inadequate infrastructure continues to be a core barrier to growth in agriculture, regional development and decentralisation.I am highlighting how the community and the State and Federal Governments can turn this around,” Mr Armstrong said.
“Without positive improvements in these three key areas there is no way NSW can meet the demands, or enjoy the potential benefits that will be created by a global food shortage, domestic population increases and carbon trading,” he said.
“If there are no jobs in rural NSW, population will continue to migrate to the cities and coast, placing ever greater burden on urban infrastructure and services.
“NSW cannot afford for this urban sprawl to continue. NSW must decentralise and not just along the coastal strip but also into our rural and regional areas.
“Country NSW is a vibrant, exciting and diverse place to live, and so the Association is strongly concentrating on combating the negative perceptions that are often held in the larger cities.
“It is important that the State Government assists us in doing this, particularly with active programs to change the perception that agriculture is not an exciting industry for career choices and decisions about tertiary education.
“The Association is also focusing on the Federal Government’s role in improving Australia’s prospects through investment in regional and rural areas, today launching our Federal Election policy document.”
The document, available at www.nswfarmers.org.au lists the Association’s Federal Election campaign details, with a focus on property rights and compensation, Murray Darling Basin Planning, landholders and mining and native vegetation.
“Agriculture is the economic and social back bone of most regional towns. Government must commit major resources and policy support to increasing the appeal, viability and prospects of agriculture.
“The NSW Farmers’ Association is proud to be working towards making this happen for our farmers across NSW, represented here at Annual Conference,” Mr Armstrong concluded.
Source: http://www.nswfarmers.org.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0020/65720/140.10nr.pdf
