AN UPCOMING seminar is set to give Wagga residents the chance to address the critical growth factors to meet the 2038 target of 100,000 people.
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The Committee 4 Wagga-led seminar on September 27 this year is in response to the state government's 20-year economic vision for regional NSW published in July last year that identified Wagga as an area of "significant growth".
Among the key issues to be presented at the seminar are business, health, education and government investments in industrial and community infrastructure, including the special activation precinct in Bomen and transport networks.
C4W CEO Alan Johnston said the seminar was needed to provide a "whole-of-community collaboration" and that all facets of city planning will be explored.
"It won't just be a talkfest but a discussion about building a path forward and to create momentum," Mr Johnston said.
"The precinct [in Bomen] is only one enabler on the economic side, but the seminar will also investigate other issues, including arts, culture, tourism and recreations.
"Importantly, the people in the community can easily be forgotten in planning, so we're making sure it's an inclusive process.
"We are a very multicultural and diverse community and we need to ensure we embrace all people to be part of a better Wagga."
Importantly, the people in the community can easily be forgotten in planning, so we're making sure it's an inclusive process.
- Alan Johnston, CEO of Committee 4 Wagga
Mr Johnston said growth sustainability and city liveability will also be discussed.
"You can have all the jobs in the world, but if you don't have a liveable city then it wont work," he said.
The keynote presentation will be delivered by demographic commentator Bernard Salt.
Other panellists will include local and state government representatives, leading cardiologist Professor Gerard Carroll and former Riverina MP Kay Hull.
Mrs Hull said the seminar is a chance to identify gaps in Wagga so that the target population is met in an "orderly, collaborative way".
She said one issue that underpins the growth of the city is the need for more trades people.
"If you're going to designate us as a growth centre, you've got to have enough tradesmen to support the physical buildings of services," Mrs Hull said.
"We need to encourage more people into apprenticeships and traineeships to skill our community to deliver the foundations for services and other industries."
Mrs Hull also cited the Bomen industrial hub, renewable energy, retail, migration and immigration as issues she would like to see discussed at the seminar.
She also said the number of panellists are "a really good cross-section of experts in various areas".
The council and state government will outline their roles in collaborating with the community and businesses to meet the growth target.
- More information and tickets at Committee 4 Wagga website.