TRANSCRIPT: ABC Central West at Parkes 16 July 2018
Subjects: Building Better Regions Fund
E&OE
QUESTION:
So what are you announcing here today?
MICHAEL MCCORMACK:
Well $4.234 million as part of the Building Better Regions Fund for a multipurpose centre in Cook Park and an upgrade of Clarinda Street in Parkes.
Parkes is a great little town, it’s growing, it’s prosperous and it’s a really go-ahead town with a really progressive council, a town of doers and it deserves this money. And the Building Better Regions Fund is all about building community capacity, it’s about making sure that these towns have the sorts of facilities that is going to increase tourism, is going to increase their liveability.
That’s what the Nationals in government achieve, that’s what the Building Better Regions Fund is all about. And whether it’s the infrastructure stream or the community investment stream – this is part of the infrastructure stream – it’s just money well spent.
QUESTION:
Is there any reason specifically that Parkes was chosen to receive this funding?
MICHAEL MCCORMACK:
Well, in my electorate, the town of Cowra also received $829,000 to upgrade Kendal Street between Lachlan and Brisbane Street. That’s going to improve footpaths and the like in that particular precinct of the CBD of Cowra.
Temora, for the Frank Whiddon Masonic Aged Care Centre, they’ve received $3.6 million to build a new wing of the Narraburra Lodge, so building on to the Greenstone Lodge, they’ve got some really good aged care facilities there. But 60 per cent of Temora’s population is actually in the aged sector. They describe themselves as the friendliest town in New South Wales, that will probably get disputed here in Parkes, but the fact is it is a great little go-ahead town but they also need to have housing and accommodation for their older citizens who shouldn’t have to move to Wagga Wagga or Narrandera 100 kilometres either way, when they get to that stage of their life where they need that special attention and special care.
These sorts of projects – three in total, more than $8 million in total for the Riverina – are really pleasing. I’m glad that – as the Deputy Prime Minister but moreover as the local member – that these have been made possible.
QUESTION:
Do you expect it will bring more businesses to the town?
MICHAEL MCCORMACK:
Absolutely. It will certainly create more jobs in the process of building. And look they do build more jobs, there’s no doubt that these create jobs both in the building phase but then later on. It does attract businesses to town because if businesses see a thriving CBD, then they say, ‘well, look, we’ll set up shop there.’
And young people who think, ‘oh well, I might just move away and set up a business in a metropolitan area,’ they think, ‘you know what, I think I’ll stay, I think I’ll stay in Cowra, I think I’ll stay in Parkes, mum and dad have now got a facility in Temora that they can go into for a nursing home, you know what I’m going to stay around, I won’t have to move to Wagga or Narrandera or elsewhere to be close to them.’
That’s what the Building Better Regions Fund is all about and that’s what it’s achieving.
QUESTION:
You mentioned services before; do you think these regions have the capacity to support population growth?
MICHAEL MCCORMACK:
Look, I absolutely do. And look, as the leader of the National Party, I know that so many people should be coming out of the bright city lights of Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane, and moving over the range, moving to these sorts of places. There are jobs out here, there is the opportunity to make money and good money and the housing is far cheaper. And you’re only ever seven minutes away from anywhere when you live in a place the size of Cowra or Parkes or Temora or any one of the great little towns that are in regional Australia. And the communities are so much more friendly and people care and you can also get a good cup of coffee.
QUESTION:
You’re here tomorrow as well; can we expect further announcements for the Central West?
MICHAEL MCCORMACK:
Well, not tomorrow but look, I’m looking forward to the Logistics and Inland Rail Conference, that’s going to be good. I’ll be getting out and about talking to local residents. I’ve got a constituents meeting in my new Clarinda Street office in a minute. So I’m looking forward to doing that. We opened an office here at Parkes. Things are happening, it’s a great time to be in Parkes.
QUESTION:
Fantastic. Thanks very much.
MICHAEL MCCORMACK:
No worries.