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The needs of regional cities will be better served under a new agreement to be signed this week between The University of Western Australia and the WA Regional Cities Alliance.

Alliance members Albany, Bunbury, Kalgoorlie-Boulder, Geraldton-Greenough, Port Hedland, Broome and Roebourne will team with UWA to research major regional issues including population distribution, infrastructure and services, and employment.

The Director of UWA's Centre for Regional Development, Professor Matthew Tonts, said regional cities had quite different needs to those of smaller rural towns and bigger metropolitan cities.

"The research will be used to improve decision-making in policy areas such as housing and land development, health and education, employment and population forecasts," Professor Tonts said.

The initial agreement covered five years and was worth about $2 million.

UWA Vice-Chancellor Professor Alan Robson said the University was proud of its longstanding commitment to regional Western Australia and pleased the agreement extended this undertaking.

WHAT: Signing of UWA-Regional Cities Alliance partnership

DATE: Wednesday 7 December

TIME: 11am

WHERE: Prescott Room, Vice-Chancellery, UWA (nearest entrance, P1 off intersection Winthrop Avenue, Stirling Hwy and Mounts Bay Road).

Media references

Professor Matthew Tonts (Head, UWA School of Earth and Environment)  (+61 8)  6488 2683
Michael Sinclair-Jones (UWA Public Affairs)  (+61 8)  6488 3229  /  (+61 4) 00 700 783