RAMJO represents 12 councils across the southern border region, collectively serving more than 160,000 residents from Wentworth to Albury.
In her evidence, Cr Cornwell McKean highlighted the significant and persistent inequities experienced by communities across the region.
During the hearing, she outlined the widening divide between metropolitan and regional NSW, particularly in access to essential health, education, transport and digital services.
Examples from Berrigan Shire illustrated challenges shared across the broader RAMJO region, including lengthy ambulance wait times, limited access to dialysis and cardiac diagnostic services, and the inability for stroke patients to receive treatment within the critical ‘golden hour’.
Cr Cornwell McKean also highlighted broader service gaps affecting the region’s rapidly growing population, including unreliable digital connectivity, ageing school infrastructure, limited youth services and electricity supply constraints that are restricting local growth and development opportunities.
Cross-border service delivery was a key focus of the mayor’s evidence.
Many communities across the RAMJO region rely on services located in Victoria, yet NSW policy and service frameworks do not consistently recognise or accommodate this reality.
While the Office of the Cross-Border Commissioner was established to improve co-ordination and address these challenges, Cr Cornwell McKean noted that tangible outcomes for border communities remained limited.
Cr Cornwell McKean called on the committee to strengthen and make greater use of the Office of the Cross-Border Commissioner to drive meaningful improvements for residents in the RAMJO catchment.
She said RAMJO and its member councils would continue to advocate for fair, reliable and equitable access to essential services, ensuring regional and border communities received the support and opportunities they deserved.
