Death of Country Towns in Australia

Death of Country Towns in Australia

Casualties

Grafton Port Pirie

Broken HillPicton

Coonabarabran

Mount

MulliganSilverton

Yerranderrie

Newnes

KiandraCook

Farina

Boydtown

Scone Wee Waa

Batlow

Wilcannia

Harden

Werris Creek

Nyngan

WHY BROKEN HILL?

WHY GRAFTON?

CAUSE EFFECT

Annual cost of $28 million to the local community.

Government not willing to support local businesses

120 jobs lost. “Knock on” effect for all businesses connected to servicing the jail.

Timber mill and abattoir closed, relocation of Telstra Call Centre.

Jail closed, July 12 2012- Government unwilling to support jail running costs of $5 million a year.

What’s happening to GRAFTON?

http://mpegmedia.abc.net.au/news/audio/twt/201207/20120709-twt3-gotojail.mp3

Cause of Death

Unemployment

Globalisation

Climate Change

Profitability of Businesses

The Rapid Population Growth in some Coastal Locations

Teenagers leave their homes to attend university, due to insufficient services available in their home town.

SYMPTOMS OF A DYING TOWN

Lack of services=No Jobs=Mental Health issues.Highest suicide rate-Males.

Visiting specialist every third month due to lack of doctors and hospital

facilities

The elderly have no choice but to use road transport if ill and seeking

medical attention.

Hospitals deal with high rates of teenage

pregnancies.

Lack of services available for the community resulting in limited employment opportunities.

Teacher.

Residents need to travel hundreds of kilometres out of

town to reach essential services.

IS THIS SOCIAL JUSTICE?

Catholic Social Teaching regards the problem of rural communities in the context of social justice based on the human dignity rather than in the framework of

mere economic activity. It focuses repeatedly on rural urban equity, the personal worth of farmers

and rural people and the requirements of stewardship of God's creation. The Australian Catholic

Social Justice Council (ACSJC) 2001.

In Populorum Progressio (1967) Pope Paul Vl addressed issues of development and the equitable distribution of those goods which stem from increased economic activity. He

concentrated on the socioeconomic context of agricultural development, recognising the massive upheavals caused by the increasing mechanisation of society. He pointed out the

need to address the mass departure of young people from rural areas and argued that such indicators could no longer be overlooked. Rural communities had to be given the means to

participate fully in their society.

Have things changed?

What can we do to

help?

The French Perspective: This is a national scheme designed to

revitalise rural areas by offering grants and incentives for the

construction of business premises or the renovation of existing

premises for business use; although grants aren’t made directly to

businesses such a resulting premises can be sold or rented at

low cost.

POSSIBLE CURES

Business Retention and Expansion Program

Decentralise bureaucracies and industries for job

creation.

Town life development program:

Determine who the poor are in the community and

develop ways to include them in local and

government initiatives

Developing Regional Resources ProgramRural and regional

Australians need committed local government support

Country Growth Strategy:Diversify wealth and keep wealth in the community

through the establishment of local banks and credit

unions.

Country Lifestyles Program:Conduct detailed social

analysis to determine the needs of communities and why people leave and what would assist them to stay.

Small towns lure stressed city slickers

Families can get ahead on cheap rents

Countryside offers value for money

lifestyle

Come to the

country. We need

you.

The French Perspective: This is a national scheme

designed to revitalise rural areas by offering grants and

incentives for the construction of business premises or the

renovation of existing premises for business use; although

grants aren’t made directly to businesses such a resulting

premises can be sold or rented at low cost.

POSSIBLE CURES

Business Retention and Expansion Program

Decentralise bureaucracies and industries for job

creation. Financial incentives for doctors, nurses and teachers.

Town life development program

Determine who the poor are in the community and develop ways to

include them in local and government

initiativesDeveloping Regional Resources ProgramRural and regional

Australians need to receive committed local

government support

Country Growth Strategy

Diversify wealth and keep wealth in the

community through the establishment of local

banks and credit unions.

Country Lifestyles Program

Conduct detailed social analysis to determine

the needs of communities and why people leave and what would assist them to

stay.

Bibliography(ACSJC, 2001). A Just and Peaceful Land. Social JusticeSunday Statement. Mark, D. (2012). Sustainable communities are doing it for themselves. ( ABC news article)

http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/outside-forces-killing-our-country-towns/

http://www.couriermail.com.au/spike/columnists/death-of-country-towns/story-e6frerex-1111117942244

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-07-04/mark-sustainable-communities/4107664

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-07-10/pirie-smelter-pm/4122114 http://mpegmedia.abc.net.au/news/audio/twt/201207/20120709-twt3-gotojail.mp3 http://www.abc.net.au/local/stories/2012/07/10/3542548.htm

http://www.regional.org.au/au/countrytowns/global/collits.htm

http://www.news.com.au/money/property/rural-towns-cheap-answer-to-mortgage-stress-dollar-a-week-rent/story-e6frfmd0-1225947501042#ixzz20ZclGAh9

http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2003/01/04/1041566268531.html (the little country town that refuses to die)

http://www.regional.org.au/au/countrytowns/global/collits.htm

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2009560/Go-bush-People-living-Sydney-cash-incentive-to-countryside.html

http://www.abc.net.au/worldtoday/stories/s644713.htm (incentives for doctors)

Jenny MakerryTeresa Larcher

Assessment 1: Death of Country Towns in Australia