The coalition government’s infrastructure and population minister Alan Tudge announced last week that special visas would be created which require migrants to live outside the major cities for "at least a few years", using a “combination of encouragement and some conditions”.

Councillor John Ryan blasted the plan as another example of the federal government “cost shifting” to local government.

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“In principle, the plan sounds great, but if the federal government don’t provide any money for infrastructure it’s just another example of cost shifting from a higher level of government onto local ratepayers,” he said.

Cr Ryan said the plan appears to be flawed and local government should be consulted before these announcements are made.

“I think in all cases the state and the federal government’s take far too much for granted and they have an unfunded mandate philosophy, especially with this plan,” he said.

“They just appear to want to throw any expense onto local government and think we will be happy to pick up the tab.

“They expect the council to pay for the extra infrastructure that would be required for an influx of people.”

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Councillor Stephen Lawrence, despite being a Labor Party member agrees with the plan and says it should be done “sooner rather than later.”

“I understand where John is coming from, but I strongly support quite radical measures to spread population more evenly,” he said.

“We need to look at a total revamp of policy if we are going to make our cities livable and our regional and rural areas thrive.

“Of course, as populations increase state and federal governments will have to shoulder the responsibility of funding infrastructure, but they won’t spend money in advance of the need arising, that’s the way the system works, so we need to start these policies and then deal with the infrastructure needs strategically as the need arises.”

Mayor Ben Shields said Dubbo is ready to grow, but more thought needs to be put into how to implement a population increase practically.

“We need to make sure there are appropriate road and transport networks available when these people do move to our region,” he said.

“But we also must make sure we don’t make small little ethnic enclaves; we need to spread different people around different areas which encourages diversity and creates social harmony.

“If this is done right this plan would be good for Dubbo.”