The South East and Tablelands region applies to 14 local government areas extending from the Southern Highlands and Tablelands to the Victorian border, surrounding the Australian Capital Territory (ACT), and incorporating the Snowy Mountains and South Coast.

Planning Minister Rob Stokes said the draft South East and Tablelands Regional Plan outlined a vision to support productive, sustainable communities in the region.

“This draft plan will help ensure the many communities in this region flourish into the future,” Mr Stokes said.

“We want this region to have a strong economy with more jobs, thriving local industries, more housing that better meets the community’s needs and a healthy natural environment.” Parliamentary Secretary for Southern NSW and Member for Cootamundra Katrina Hodgkinson said the draft plan will help the region harness future growth.

“This draft plan sets out a vision for the region to build on and enhance the economic strength, the community vibrancy and the lifestyle we enjoy in this part of NSW,” Ms Hodgkinson said.

Member for Monaro John Barilaro, Member for Bega Andrew Constance and Member for Goulburn Pru Goward welcomed the draft plan.

“This draft plan will help our region gain the benefits of future growth like more housing, more jobs and better public facilities,” Mr Barilaro said.

“We want our local community to thrive, while ensuring it maintains its unique character and identity. 

This is what this draft plan will deliver,” Mr Constance said.

The plan recognises Canberra and ACT as a significant influence on the region, as had been pointed out often by former Palerang Mayor Pete Harrison.

Among the goals of the plan are to sustainably manage growth opportunities arising from the ACT, provide well-located and serviced land for housing in the Greater Capital area to meet demand, improve cross-border transport connectivity, protect and enhance the region’s natural environment and strengthen the economic opportunities of the region.

As a capital city, Canberra is the driver of growth for the surrounding local government areas within the region. 

As the only metropolitan city nearby, it provides access to specialist employment opportunities and higher-order services, including tertiary health and education.

The Greater Capital area and beyond provides a number of economic, housing and leisure opportunities for residents and workers based in the ACT.

The report points out examples such that more than half (56 per cent) of the workforce travelled to the ACT for work in 2011, and almost 40 per cent of residents in the Greater Capital use the ACT’s public hospitals.

To view the plan go to planning. nsw.gov.au/southeast-tablelands.

Submissions close on Tuesday, August 23.