Wendy Mason from Western Research Institute says Wagga needs to take the reins of opportunity in government's decentralisation push

Western Research Institute chief Wendy Mason said there were enormous opportunities to bring big business to the city, but there needed to be a concerted effort to grab them. 

“To make this happen you need to continue to advocate for Wagga,” Ms Mason said.

“The focus needs to be on the ingredients for success, whether there are skills development plans, the infrastructure to move people around… the know-how and the critical mass of demand.

“The impact of bigger employers on regional centres is really significant.”

Riverina Nationals Senator Fiona Nash was helping lead the charge on regional development, saying it was vital to national prosperity.

“Every Australian owes their lifestyle to regional Australia,” Senator Nash said. “

“It provides the water city people drink, the milk on their breakfast, the meat and vegetables for dinner, the gas to cook dinner and the electricity to power their households… (but) it’s about much more than just grants programs.”

Ms Mason said there needed to be a vision to support that growth.

“Attracting business as well as government is very important… but It needs to be considered and planned well to make economic sense,” she said.

“As we move into the new economy businesses no longer need to be in Sydney, but they need the critical telecommunication infrastructure to be there.”