The Orana and Far West region is leading its country counterparts in economic growth but remains well behind a booming metropolitan Sydney, new research shows.
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The area that includes the city of Dubbo enjoyed a 1.8 per cent expansion of gross domestic product (GDP) in 2015, Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) figures show.
That gave it the top spot in a list of 17 regions - the Mid North Coast was next with 1.5 per cent growth, while Newcastle and Lake Macquarie dwelt at the bottom with its -0.1 per cent contraction.
The Orana and Far West built up steam, starting at -0.6 per cent in 2013 and hitting 1.8 per cent in 2015.
But despite the region’s growth, it was less than a third of that enjoyed by Ryde - 5.8 per cent - and Baulkham Hills and Hawkesbury - 5.5 per cent.
Terry Rawnsley, the author of the SGS Economics and Planning research paper, said the figures revealed a worrying pattern where a disproportionate share of economic activity and population was shifting towards the biggest cities.
Regional Development Australia (RDA) Orana chairman John Walkom said the economy in his patch was achieving. He sees the figures for growth as reflecting “business is happening, jobs are being created” but he wants to close the gap with Sydney.
“We can’t rest on 1.8 per cent, we need to lift,” he said.
Mr Walkom advocates the region working on its “liveability and connectivity”, and sees gains made, most recently with the announcement of a regular air service between Dubbo and Canberra.
“Dubbo is now connected by air to 11 million people - that’s almost half of the population of Australia,” he said.
The arrival of fast broadband was also a win, while cutting the time taken to travel by road and rail to metropolitan areas remained a goal, he said.
“We need to put pressure on government, it is a long-term vision. If we can do that, regional areas will increase in growth and we’ll match those figures,” he said.
“It’s not beyond the realms of possibility.”
Mr Walkom said the 0.2 per cent growth of the neighbouring Central West region stemmed from some decline in the mining and manufacturing sector.
“That will turn around, but it hasn’t helped,” he said.
“It reinforces Dubbo’s position as the capital of regional NSW.”