Regional Capitals Australia (RCA) has entered a submission into the federal government’s review of regional centres, saying a greater investment in infrastructure was necessary to “ease the squeeze” in overflowing metropolitan areas.

RCA chair and Queensland-based mayor Deirdre Comerford said growing congestion would cost the country $53 billion by 2031 if governments continued to spend money in areas around capital cities.

She said investment in regional capitals would be far more efficient, but it needed to be more consistent to increase their productivity.

“Even though people are moving to the regions, productivity levels are less than the national average,” she said.

Cr Comerford said high school education was critical, as well as investment in technology.

“If we retain skills in the regions and studying in the regions, they’re more inclined to stay - if they go to a city, they very rarely come back,” she said.

She also said existing grants were made based on competing applications. According to RCA’s submission, Orange City Council attracted $1,055,000 in federal funding last year, compared to Bathurst, which attracted $17.2 million.

“We would like to have a fund which only regional capitals can apply for,” she said.

Orange City Council is a member of regional capitals and mayor John Davis said organisations like RCA helped smaller councils be heard.

“Anything you can join or be involved in that gives you a stronger policy force has to be commended,” he said.

Cr Davis believed investment in road and transport links to Sydney would help Orange’s efficiency. 

“To expand out of Sydney into regional areas, there’s got to be an alternative road into the Sydney metro area,” he said.

danielle.cetinski@fairfaxmedia.com.au