Around 9.6 million people now call regional Australia home, but the struggle to house them all is hampering local progress.

As previously reported by Western Plains App on several occasions, the regional housing issue is a big concern, provoking many people to voice their issues on the subject.

It appears a situation of hopes and frustrations as bureaucratic blurred lines and red tape slows action.

On one hand, in June, more than 400 homes were reported as being unoccupied in the Walgett LGA, equivalent to 20 per cent of the housing stock.

On the other hand, Lachlan Shire Mayor, John Medcalf said councils are short-staffed while struggling with the regulatory framework as they try to fast-track existing development applications and building certificates.

“We know we need to move faster, but it is so very hard when wading through red tape," he said.

Regional Australian Institute (RAI) CEO Liz Ritchie said overall, meaningful progress was underway to ‘Rebalance the Nation’ but housing and growing the regional workforce need a more laser focus – urgently. Last week's launch of the first progress report into the Regionalisation Ambition addresses the issues. 

Ms Ritchie said building approvals have declined and finding staff to fill critical roles has become tougher, a stance backed up by Mr Medcalf who stated building surveyors were "getting as rare as hen's teeth."

According to the RAI report, average monthly building approvals in NSW have fallen by 15 per cent.

“It provides the evidence of what regional employers across the country have been telling us – that it’s getting harder and harder to fill roles. Also, having the right homes to accommodate new staff is a critical factor and that is why we must look at these issues in unison,” Ms Ritchie said.

In July, more than 90,200 job roles were advertised in regional Australia, which was 2.7% higher than a year ago. Annual growth in regional Australia stands in stark contrast to metropolitan Australia, where job advertisements declined by 10%.

“There are three ways to fill these roles: to see more people moving out of our capitals, educating talent from within and an uptick in international migration to the regions – all targets within the Ambition,” Ms Ritchie said. 

Ms Ritche said all indicators are that the regional renaissance is here to stay, with more people than ever before voting with their feet. According to the report, millennials (25-39 years) are leading the charge from the cities.

“Regional Australia is a sleeping giant, with the desire to perform. But we need to use the results of this first year progress report to ensure we can unleash its potential,” she said.