Mount Gambier MP Troy Bell unveils $85 million wish list for the state’s regional capital’s future

With job attraction, infrastructure and housing affordability plans, this $85m Future Mount Gambier wishlist would see the town become a thriving regional capital. 

South Australia’s forgotten second largest city is untapped and undervalued, according to Mount Gambier MP Troy Bell.

The Independent has launched a self-described “ambitious” plan to secure $85 million in state government investment for Mount Gambier over the next four years.

Affordable housing, forestry and infrastructure investment top the almost 20 Future Mount Gambier initiatives which Mr Bell says will tap into the region’s overlooked potential and ensure it contributes to the state’s future growth.

Mount Gambier MP Troy Bell has revealed an ambitious $85 million plan to secure the city’s future. Picture: Supplied Troy Bell

He hoped both sides of politics would consider the 24-page document and act by investing.

“I think it’s going to be a very tight state election,” Mr Bell said.

“If you want my community to support your government, here’s a road map for that to occur.

“This plan is my way of proactively letting the state government know that Mount Gambier deserves much more, and its own stand-alone direction and budget.

“For a city our size, if you compare per head of population, it’s comparable to what those living in the city would be receiving out of every budget.”

Slamming the recent State Budget as ‘city-centric’, Mr Bell said the region had only received “a couple of million dollars here, a couple million dollars there” over the past four years with the exception of a one-off $10m contribution for the Wulanda Recreation & Convention Centre.

He is calling for the state government to do better.

What’s on the wishlist?

Forestry Future Initiatives – $20 million over 4 years

Business Attraction/Retention Fund – $5m

Housing for All Initiative – $10m over four years

Infrastructure Investment Fund – $10m

Sporting Infrastructure Fund – $10m

Tourism – $6m over four years

Freight Action Plan Priorities – $5.5m

Mobile Connect Project – $3m over four years

Mental Health Services – $2.6m over four years

On-Demand Public Transport – $2m

Skilled Workforce Attraction Package – $2m over four years

Waste and Recycling Initiatives – $2m over four years

Family Violence Services Funding – $1.4m over four years

Cross Border Commissioner – $1m over four years

Drug and Alcohol Services – $3.1m

Regional TAFE Board – $800k over four years

Creative Activation Fund – $500k over years

“I’m sick and tired of Mount Gambier, as the state’s second largest city just being taken for granted,” he said.

“The last budget that was handed down had only two projects of $1.6m in total, both of those were co-funded by local councils.

“It’s like having a great crop that you don’t water, it’s not going to reach its full potential.

“If we don’t stand up as a city and say that what’s been going on, isn’t good enough, we’ll keep being treated the same way.”

Mr Bell said the top priorities were a $20m contribution to the forestry industry which directly employed more than and $10m infrastructure investment fund to make the city a viable option for industry.

He said the state was at risk of being left behind and losing out opportunities to interstate regional cities like Bendigo and Warrnambool.

“We want to attract more industries to our region which means more jobs and things like power, water sewerage and road infrastructure are vital aspects of that,” he said.

“There are a number of industries that I know that want to relocate to the Limestone Coast, but they’re not, the critical infrastructure is just not there for them.”

The plan also demands $10m to find affordable housing solutions including addressing the backlog of maintenance on Housing SA properties.

While $3.1m would allow resident access drug and alcohol service closer to home, highlighting a need for two dedicated detoxification beds at the Mount Gambier Hospital, plus addition counsellors, $2.4m mental health funding would assist in the formation of a central mental health hub and $1.4m would assist struggling domestic violence services.

Mr Bell will put the plan and its initiatives on the radar during his budget reply speech next week and invited public feedback on the evolving document.