Mr Carr was, at the time, talking about immigration levels, but his comments have many times since been used in a broader context to discuss just how jam-packed our major cities are.

We hear about eye-watering house prices, commutes that run into hours each day and a myriad of other issues that we regional residents shake our heads about.

We all know the solution is obvious. People need to be looking to build their lives west of the Great Dividing Range.

We've heard it so many times over the years. I couldn't tell you how many times I've heard someone spouting the benefits of "decentralisation".

Those of us who live in Wagga know that, although our city isn't perfect, we have reasonable housing prices, good schools, a fairly diverse jobs market and plenty of sport and recreation.

Take a wander around the CBD at night and you'll see an ever-maturing restaurant scene that just adds a little more icing to the regional-living cake.

Organisations like Wagga City Council, the Wagga Business Chamber and Committee 4 Wagga have been busting a gut for years to bring in new opportunities.

But these organisations need help from some serious muscle. We need governments to come on board and do more than just talk. We need facilities.

The new Wagga Base Hospital is a good start, as is the continued growth of medical school facilities in the city.

The long-mooted development of the Riverina Intermodal Freight and Logistics Hub at Bomen could bring huge benefits not just to Wagga, but the whole of southern NSW. The project is under way, but is awaiting the last tranche of funding from the state government.

The announcement by Deputy Premier John Barilaro in January that Bomen has been designated as a "special activation precinct" and therefore going to be spared a lot of industry-killing red tape is welcome.

Mr Barilaro's plan for developing a network of regional airports for "paddock to plane" exports is also a worthy idea.

The problem is that all of these things take time, and because they take time, we cannot afford to sit back and ponder the future without also getting on with the job.

Look at the Barton Highway. For decades, there have been plans and promises to duplicate this glorified country road into a decent dual-carriageway route into the national capital.

If ever there was an example of the Sydney-centric view that persists in our state, it is the difference in standards between the northern and southern entrances to our national capital.

Travel between Sydney and Canberra and you get the dual-carriageway Federal Highway, but the Barton Highway is still a twisting mess with the rapidly growing village of Murrumbateman plonked in the middle of it.

There are so many opportunities for regional growth, tourism and business being stymied by the lack of a decent southern entrance to Canberra.

I know major infrastructure projects are expensive, but surely the benefits from boosting regional centres will eventually repay this initial capital cost?

One example here in Wagga is Gobbagombalin Bridge. Right now, it is argued, the bulk of the traffic is in the morning and evening rush hours, so there is no need for a duplication.

But start to think ahead a little, and you'll see how we actually need to be planning that duplication now.

The 'Gobba' is the main link between the Sturt Highway and the southern Olympic Highway with Bomen.

It is also the main route to the rapidly growing northern suburbs and to Charles Sturt University, not to mention a major link to communities like Coolamon and Junee.

Traffic on the bridge is not going to be getting lighter and unless we start thinking ahead, it's going to be an ever-growing problem.

And that's just one example of how one capital works project could have major impacts on a whole region. "Decentralisation" needs to be more than a buzz word.