The Federal Government has announced  the Sustainable Australia - Sustainable Communities strategy which aims to outline ‘key directions’ to population changes that ‘support the economic, environmental and social wellbeing’ of Australia.

 

It is backed by over $230 million in the 2011-12 Budget including:

  • $100 million for a Suburban Jobs initiative to drive more job opportunities within easy reach of where people live in the outer suburbs of Australia's major capital cities. This initiative will support local and state governments to deliver employment precincts, manufacturing hubs and multifunction developments close to residential areas in growing outer suburbs;
  • $81.4 million in new investments in the National Urban Policy to help cities become more productive, sustainable and liveable, including $61.4 million for a smart managed motorways trial to cut motorway congestion and bring mums and dads home from work faster, and $20 million for a Liveable Cities program to invest in the development of urban renewal projects that improve access to jobs and housing, enhancing the liveability of our cities;
  • $29.2 million for a new Sustainable Regional Developent.

The Sustainable Australia - Sustainable Communities strategy has outlined the following targets

  • health, to relieve pressure on our system as Australia's population grows and ages;
  • water, to ensure sustainable use for communities, industries, and the environment;
  • building the National Broadband Network to connect regional Australia to the economic capitals of this nation and the world;
  • drive lasting improvements to the way our nation plans, finance and builds the infrastructure it needs to compete in the 21st Century;
  • skills, education and training to deal with structural economic shifts; and
  • reforming skilled migration to restore integrity and get skilled labour to employers who need it.

The announcement of the strategy comes as the Federal Government announced a further 16,000 places for skilled migrants through the Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme.

 

Sustainable Australia - Sustainable Communities has been informed by advice from three advisory panels, a sustainable population issues paper and a public consultation process in which over 370 public submissions were received.

 

For more information about Sustainable Australia - Sustainable Communities or to obtain a copy visit http://www.environment.gov.au/sustainability/population/index.html.