tag:theconversation.com,2011:/us/topics/regional-towns-92980/articlesRegional towns – The Conversation2022-08-26T04:36:25Ztag:theconversation.com,2011:article/1880092022-08-26T04:36:25Z2022-08-26T04:36:25Z‘Let’s just do it’: how do e-changers feel about having left the city now lockdowns are over?<figure><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/480536/original/file-20220823-24-ug4rqq.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&rect=0%2C283%2C4031%2C2685&q=45&auto=format&w=496&fit=clip" /><figcaption><span class="caption">
</span> <span class="attribution"><span class="source">Author provided</span>, <span class="license">Author provided</span></span></figcaption></figure><p>In 2020, propelled by the pandemic and the push to work from home, thousands of Australian households made the decision to move from the city to the country. A significant swathe of these internal migrants were “e-changers”, workers holding on to their city jobs and working remotely. </p>
<p>During the thick of the lockdown period, as growing numbers of city slickers swapped their urban lifestyles to work in remote and rural settings, we <a href="https://accan.org.au/files/Grants/2022%20E-Change%20RMIT/ACCAN_Report_Final3web.pdf">undertook online interviews</a> with householders in <a href="https://www.nbnco.com.au/blog/career/australias-super-connected-lifestyle-locations">e-change coastal hotspots</a> and “lifestyle towns” in Victoria, New South Wales and Queensland. We were interested in their experiences of lifestyle migration, including the challenges facing these pioneers of remote working and living. We then spoke to our e-changers one year later to see how they fared.</p>
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Read more:
<a href="https://theconversation.com/fancy-an-e-change-how-people-are-escaping-city-congestion-and-living-costs-by-working-remotely-123165">Fancy an e-change? How people are escaping city congestion and living costs by working remotely</a>
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<p>One of the early pandemic e-changers was Charles and his partner. They relocated to a coastal location two hours’ drive from Melbourne in March 2020. </p>
<p>Before the pandemic Charles was a busy librarian in a large inner-urban university. Working in the buzzing heart of the city, his day job involved regular face-to-face engagement with academic staff and students in the library and across the campus. </p>
<p>Fast forward to today and Charles’s daily routine when working remotely looks very different. His workday – now largely spent online – is still extremely busy, but it might start with a surf and end with a walk on the beach. </p>
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<img alt="" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/477807/original/file-20220805-5528-m6dhww.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/477807/original/file-20220805-5528-m6dhww.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=798&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/477807/original/file-20220805-5528-m6dhww.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=798&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/477807/original/file-20220805-5528-m6dhww.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=798&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/477807/original/file-20220805-5528-m6dhww.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=1003&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/477807/original/file-20220805-5528-m6dhww.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=1003&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/477807/original/file-20220805-5528-m6dhww.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=1003&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px">
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<span class="caption">These days a workday for Charles might start with a surf and end with a walk along the beach.</span>
<span class="attribution"><span class="license">Author provided</span></span>
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<p>To many, this scenario probably sounds like a dream lifestyle, especially for those of us who spent large chunks of the past two years under lockdown. But is the <a href="https://www.unimelb.edu.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0003/4159380/GMR_3.pdf">shift to remote regional work</a> as idyllic as it seems? What kinds of people decided to become e-changers? And what have their experiences been? </p>
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Read more:
<a href="https://theconversation.com/flexibility-makes-us-happier-with-3-clear-trends-emerging-in-post-pandemic-hybrid-work-180310">Flexibility makes us happier, with 3 clear trends emerging in post-pandemic hybrid work</a>
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<h2>3 kinds of e-changers</h2>
<p>The e-changers in our <a href="https://accan.org.au/files/Grants/2022%20E-Change%20RMIT/ACCAN_Report_Final3web.pdf">study</a> were a diverse group of people with various motivations for moving to the country. We found three broad groups of e-changers, marked by different stages of life. </p>
<p>The first group – represented by older couples like Charles and Di – had often been planning a lifestyle change for some time, in early anticipation of retirement. </p>
<p>The second group were younger couples and singles. They were often motivated by a desire to live closer to natural amenities such as beaches, forests or mountains. Research manager Irene and her partner, for instance, moved from inner Melbourne to Mt Macedon in Victoria in May 2020. Irene recalled:</p>
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<p>We’d been talking about this for a while because we’re both from regional areas.
But after the first Melbourne lockdown, we thought ‘let’s just do it’, so we found a rental here. For us it was about having greater access to the outdoors – we both enjoy biking, hiking, running and climbing.</p>
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<p>The third and largest group were households with dependent children. They were generally seeking more affordable and larger homes with space for their children to spend time outdoors. Kevin, an engineer whose family relocated from Sydney to Wollongong, is a good example of these aspirations:</p>
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<p>When we had our second child […] we wanted to buy a family house but were priced out of Sydney, so we cast our net around remote and regional areas – the Blue Mountains, the Central Coast, but Wollongong came top of the list based upon distance to my office, a more relaxed lifestyle, closer to beach and bush, good schools, good health care, wasn’t too small, wasn’t too large.</p>
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<img alt="" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/480513/original/file-20220823-24-kli3rl.JPG?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/480513/original/file-20220823-24-kli3rl.JPG?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=450&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/480513/original/file-20220823-24-kli3rl.JPG?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=450&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/480513/original/file-20220823-24-kli3rl.JPG?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=450&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/480513/original/file-20220823-24-kli3rl.JPG?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=566&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/480513/original/file-20220823-24-kli3rl.JPG?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=566&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/480513/original/file-20220823-24-kli3rl.JPG?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=566&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px">
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<span class="caption">When Mick, a senior manager, and his wife moved to the country from Melbourne, he converted part of a farm shed into an office space.</span>
<span class="attribution"><span class="license">Author provided</span></span>
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Read more:
<a href="https://theconversation.com/the-city-is-becoming-increasingly-digital-forcing-us-to-rethink-its-role-in-life-and-work-189118">The 'city' is becoming increasingly digital, forcing us to rethink its role in life and work</a>
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<h2>Different groups, different outcomes</h2>
<p>We spoke with our e-changers one year later. How were they finding the experience of living a significant distance from the cultural life and amenities of a major city? </p>
<p>While they miss the cosmopolitanism and vitality of the city, Charles and Di are still enjoying the calmness, daily encounters with wildlife and close connection to neighbours in their small coastal locale. But they now rent an Airbnb in Melbourne for a couple of nights a week. These regular commutes enable them to reconnect with colleagues and get a dose of urban vibrancy. </p>
<p>By contrast, Irene and her partner have returned to Melbourne from Mount Macedon. While the e-change experience was a “fun break from the city and an experience of regional life”, Irene’s commitment to her career meant she wanted to be near her office. Lengthy commutes on the train – made worse by service cancellations and delays – made her city workdays long and tiring.</p>
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Read more:
<a href="https://theconversation.com/it-seemed-like-a-good-idea-in-lockdown-but-is-moving-to-the-country-right-for-you-148807">It seemed like a good idea in lockdown, but is moving to the country right for you?</a>
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<p>Long-term e-changers Kevin and his family have no regrets about the move. They cannot imagine returning to the city. For Kevin, the flexibility of working from home has enabled him to share more of the role of home care, such as cooking dinner and doing school drop-offs, with his partner, a busy healthcare worker. </p>
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<p>It’s [working from home] the way forward. I don’t think anyone’s gonna go back.</p>
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<p>However, for professionals like Kevin, living and working remotely still has some limitations in terms of access to transport and airports. </p>
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<p>We have to have access or a link to a major centre, whether through rail, public transport, so we never lose that ability to be able to go into a meeting in the city if they need to. And I think Australia is going to get better at that.</p>
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<img alt="" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/480516/original/file-20220823-13-8jt4mz.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/480516/original/file-20220823-13-8jt4mz.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=798&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/480516/original/file-20220823-13-8jt4mz.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=798&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/480516/original/file-20220823-13-8jt4mz.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=798&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/480516/original/file-20220823-13-8jt4mz.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=1003&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/480516/original/file-20220823-13-8jt4mz.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=1003&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/480516/original/file-20220823-13-8jt4mz.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=1003&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px">
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<span class="caption">Kevin enjoys working from home but hopes public transport access to the city will improve.</span>
<span class="attribution"><span class="license">Author provided</span></span>
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</figure><img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/188009/count.gif" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" />
<p class="fine-print"><em><span>Tania Lewis received funding from The Australian Communications Consumer Action Network (ACCAN) to conduct this research.
</span></em></p><p class="fine-print"><em><span>Andrew Glover received funding from The Australian Communications Consumer Action Network (ACCAN) to conduct this research.</span></em></p><p class="fine-print"><em><span>Julian Waters-Lynch received funding from The Australian Communications Consumer Action Network (ACCAN) to conduct this research. </span></em></p>Can we now work from anywhere with an internet connection? We interviewed workers who left the city but held onto their jobs to see how they fared. One year on, some had no regrets. Others moved back.Tania Lewis, Professor of Media and Communication and Co-Director, Digital Ethnography Research Centre, RMIT UniversityAndrew Glover, Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Sustainable Urban Precincts Project, RMIT UniversityJulian Waters-Lynch, Lecturer in Entrepreneurship, Innovation and Organisational Design, RMIT UniversityLicensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.tag:theconversation.com,2011:article/1547242021-02-14T18:50:00Z2021-02-14T18:50:00ZHas COVID really caused an exodus from our cities? In fact, moving to the regions is nothing new<figure><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/383707/original/file-20210211-17-jczzwd.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&rect=0%2C228%2C4697%2C3147&q=45&auto=format&w=496&fit=clip" /><figcaption><span class="caption">
</span> <span class="attribution"><a class="source" href="https://www.shutterstock.com/image-photo/man-unpacking-moving-boxes-removal-truck-451241938">Shutterstock</a></span></figcaption></figure><p>Internal migration resulted in a net loss of 11,200 people from Australia’s capital cities in the September quarter of 2020, according to Australian Bureau of Statistics <a href="https://www.abs.gov.au/statistics/people/population/regional-internal-migration-estimates-provisional/latest-release">data</a> released this month. At the same time, some regional areas experienced significant <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-01-04/house-prices-rise-1pc-regional-beats-capital-cities/13029268#:%7E:text=Annual%20data%20by%20real%20estate,research%20director%20Tim%20Lawless%20said.">growth in house prices</a> as <a href="https://thenewdaily.com.au/finance/property/2020/12/04/regional-australia-property-boom/">demand for properties</a> increased. So this has raised the questions: are we starting to see an <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-02-02/abs-data-confirms-city-exodus-during-covid/13112868">exodus from our cities</a>, and is this related to the COVID-19 pandemic? </p>
<p>To work out what is happening there are a few important things to consider. </p>
<h2>In Australia we move a lot</h2>
<p>The first thing to keep in mind is that Australia has one of the <a href="https://www.abs.gov.au/ausstats/abs@.nsf/Lookup/by%20Subject/2071.0%7E2016%7EMain%20Features%7EPopulation%20Shift:%20Understanding%20Internal%20Migration%20in%20Australia%7E69">most internally mobile populations</a> in the world. About 40% of the population change their addresses at least once within a five-year period. However, the level of internal migration within Australia has <a href="https://www.abs.gov.au/ausstats/abs@.nsf/Lookup/by%20Subject/2071.0%7E2016%7EMain%20Features%7EPopulation%20Shift:%20Understanding%20Internal%20Migration%20in%20Australia%7E69">fallen since the 1990s</a>. </p>
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Read more:
<a href="https://theconversation.com/australians-are-moving-home-less-why-and-does-it-matter-133767">Australians are moving home less. Why? And does it matter?</a>
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<p>The greatest fall has been for long-distance moves between Australia cities and regions, which <a href="https://www.abs.gov.au/statistics/people/population/migration-australia">declined by 25%</a> between 1991 and 2016. Moves between states and territories <a href="https://www.abs.gov.au/statistics/people/population/migration-australia">fell by 16%</a> over this period. An increase or decrease in internal migration from year to year is not unusual. </p>
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<a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/383668/original/file-20210211-19-dvgm7d.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img alt="chart showing net internal migration figures from September quarter 2010 to September quarter 2020" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/383668/original/file-20210211-19-dvgm7d.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/383668/original/file-20210211-19-dvgm7d.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=420&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/383668/original/file-20210211-19-dvgm7d.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=420&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/383668/original/file-20210211-19-dvgm7d.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=420&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/383668/original/file-20210211-19-dvgm7d.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=528&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/383668/original/file-20210211-19-dvgm7d.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=528&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/383668/original/file-20210211-19-dvgm7d.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=528&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px"></a>
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<span class="attribution"><a class="source" href="https://www.abs.gov.au/statistics/people/population/regional-internal-migration-estimates-provisional/latest-release">Data: Australian Bureau of Statistics, Regional internal migration estimates</a>, <a class="license" href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/">CC BY</a></span>
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<h2>Putting the numbers into context</h2>
<p>While the recent loss of 11,200 people from Australia’s capital cities is the largest on record, it’s not a significant proportion of the population. Australia’s population has grown and so we expect to see the number of internal migrants to grow too. </p>
<p>The net loss of 11,200 people from capital cities is only 0.06% of the <a href="https://www.abs.gov.au/statistics/people/population/regional-population/2018-19">total population</a> – 17.2 million – living in these cities. This is comparable to recent years. </p>
<p>While net loss – those arriving less those departing – is interesting, it is also important to consider the actual numbers of people who are moving to or leaving capital cities. The growth in the net loss of population from capital cities in the September quarter was not the result of a city exodus. What happened in 2020 was that fewer people moved into capital cities. </p>
<p>Drilling down further behind the headline data, we find Brisbane, Perth and Darwin all had net population gains. Brisbane has gained residents through internal migration in <a href="https://www.abs.gov.au/statistics/people/population/regional-internal-migration-estimates-provisional/sep-2020/3412055005DS0001_202003.xls">each quarter since 2014</a>.</p>
<p>The greatest contributor to the recent net quarterly loss of 11,200 was Sydney, with a net loss of 7,782 people. Melbourne was close behind with a net loss of 7,445. </p>
<p>While this might look alarming at first, Sydney and Melbourne are the largest population centres in Australia. And Sydney has recorded a net loss of population through internal migration <a href="https://www.abs.gov.au/statistics/people/population/regional-internal-migration-estimates-provisional/sep-2020/3412055005DS0001_202003.xls">every quarter for the past two decades</a>. Melbourne recorded net losses until 2012 and then since 2017. </p>
<p>Sydney and Melbourne’s overall population continued to grow over this period due to international migration. Population churn is part of the rhythm of these global cities. </p>
<p>The <a href="https://www.abs.gov.au/statistics/people/population/regional-internal-migration-estimates-provisional/sep-2020/3412055005DS0001_202003.xls">data</a> also reveal that, on average, regional Australia has been gaining population for many years – decades actually. Moving to regional Australia is not new. </p>
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Read more:
<a href="https://theconversation.com/meet-the-new-seachangers-now-its-younger-australians-moving-out-of-the-big-cities-103762">Meet the new seachangers: now it's younger Australians moving out of the big cities</a>
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<p>The past year’s COVID-19 restrictions closed Australia’s borders to the previously <a href="https://www.abs.gov.au/statistics/people/population/migration-australia/latest-release#net-overseas-migration">large numbers of international migrants</a>. Without these international migrants moving to capital cities, the long-term trend of people relocating to urban areas around major cities has become more apparent.</p>
<h2>Have the capital cities lost their appeal?</h2>
<p>Just considering the September 2020 quarter, <a href="https://www.abs.gov.au/statistics/people/population/regional-internal-migration-estimates-provisional/latest-release">nearly 42,000 people</a> moved to capital cities. This is comparable to the March and June quarters of 2020. </p>
<p>This inflow is noteworthy. At a time when many capital cities had mobility restrictions related to COVID-19 in place, people were still moving to these cities. Australia’s capital cities <a href="https://www.abs.gov.au/articles/300000-more-people-living-capital-cities">have not lost their appeal</a>. </p>
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<a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/383690/original/file-20210211-23-ncinci.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img alt="Table showing quarterly internal migration for greater capital cities in September 2019, June 2020 and September 2020" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/383690/original/file-20210211-23-ncinci.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/383690/original/file-20210211-23-ncinci.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=241&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/383690/original/file-20210211-23-ncinci.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=241&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/383690/original/file-20210211-23-ncinci.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=241&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/383690/original/file-20210211-23-ncinci.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=302&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/383690/original/file-20210211-23-ncinci.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=302&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/383690/original/file-20210211-23-ncinci.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=302&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px"></a>
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<span class="caption">Click on table to enlarge.</span>
<span class="attribution"><a class="source" href="https://www.abs.gov.au/statistics/people/population/regional-internal-migration-estimates-provisional/latest-release">Data: Australian Bureau of Statistics, Regional internal migration estimates Feb. 2021</a>, <a class="license" href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/">CC BY</a></span>
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<p>There is a risk in interpreting net migration from capital cities as an indicator of decreasing satisfaction with city lifestyles or a growing desire for rural lifestyles. It masks the <a href="https://www.aph.gov.au/About_Parliament/Parliamentary_Departments/Parliamentary_Library/pubs/BriefingBook43p/regionalpopulation">considerable variability</a> in the types of moves people are making, where they are going and why. </p>
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<strong>
Read more:
<a href="https://theconversation.com/it-seemed-like-a-good-idea-in-lockdown-but-is-moving-to-the-country-right-for-you-148807">It seemed like a good idea in lockdown, but is moving to the country right for you?</a>
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</p>
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<p>Outside of capital cities are a whole range of different community types. They range from expansive city areas such as the Gold Coast and Geelong through to tiny agricultural and fishing hamlets. </p>
<p>The <a href="https://www.abs.gov.au/statistics/people/population/regional-population/latest-release">fastest-growing areas outside capital cities</a> are those that offer sophisticated urban settings. They have diverse employment options and high-order social, education and healthcare infrastructure. So when people leave a capital city, more often than not <a href="https://www.abs.gov.au/ausstats/abs@.nsf/Previousproducts/3218.0Feature%20Article12016-17?opendocument&tabname=Summary&prodno=3218.0&issue=2016-17&num=&view=">they are moving to a large city</a>. </p>
<h2>Will COVID-19 lead to growth in smaller centres?</h2>
<p>Australia’s overall population growth has <a href="https://www.pmc.gov.au/sites/default/files/publications/planning-for-australia%27s-future-population.pdf">promoted the growth of capital cities and larger regional cities</a>. Some smaller communities, particularly high-amenity coastal towns, have also experienced periods of sustained population growth.</p>
<p>Distributing this growth further inland to smaller towns and cities is both possible and plausible. </p>
<p>A major barrier to population growth in smaller rural communities is the lack of diverse local employment options. For those who have made the transition to <a href="https://theconversation.com/coronavirus-could-spark-a-revolution-in-working-from-home-are-we-ready-133070">working fully or partially online</a> as a result of COVID-19 restrictions, <a href="https://theconversation.com/more-urban-sprawl-while-jobs-cluster-working-from-home-will-reshape-the-nation-144409">moving further from their workplace more permanently</a> – and perhaps to the country – could be on the cards. </p>
<hr>
<p>
<em>
<strong>
Read more:
<a href="https://theconversation.com/more-urban-sprawl-while-jobs-cluster-working-from-home-will-reshape-the-nation-144409">More urban sprawl while jobs cluster: working from home will reshape the nation</a>
</strong>
</em>
</p>
<hr>
<h2>So is there a pandemic-related exodus?</h2>
<p>The COVID-19 pandemic is disrupting the way we live our lives but, no, there is not an exodus from Australia’s capital cities. For some, pandemic-related disruptions might have heightened their dissatisfaction with where they live. For others, working from home might have provided them with the opportunity to consider alternative living arrangements. </p>
<p>However, right now, given the data we have, it is unlikely that COVID-19 is driving a shift away from capital cities or city lifestyles.</p><img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/154724/count.gif" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" />
<p class="fine-print"><em><span>Amanda Davies does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.</span></em></p>The ‘exodus’ from capital cities amounts to 0.06% of their populations – similar to recent years – and people are still moving to the cities. What’s missing is growth driven by international migrants.Amanda Davies, Professor of Human Geography, The University of Western AustraliaLicensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.tag:theconversation.com,2011:article/1488072020-11-23T19:03:31Z2020-11-23T19:03:31ZIt seemed like a good idea in lockdown, but is moving to the country right for you?<figure><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/366345/original/file-20201029-15-15wj3th.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&rect=0%2C0%2C2587%2C1677&q=45&auto=format&w=496&fit=clip" /><figcaption><span class="caption"></span> <span class="attribution"><span class="license">Author provided</span></span></figcaption></figure><p>The idea of moving to the country has <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-05-10/post-covid-19-pandemic-simpler-life-migration/12229082">gained momentum</a> through the COVID-19 pandemic. Many workplaces have introduced <a href="https://theconversation.com/with-management-resistance-overcome-working-from-home-may-be-here-to-stay-144850">new policies on working from home</a> that give employees the flexibility needed to make the switch. </p>
<p>Lockdowns have shown many just how cramped and uncomfortable life can be when you cannot escape to the usual activities that get you out of the house. And if everything is closed, what is the point of being in the city and paying a higher rent or mortgage anyway? The Reserve Bank has <a href="https://www.rba.gov.au/publications/bulletin/2020/sep/the-rental-market-and-covid-19.html">noted rents have gone down</a> and vacancy rates have gone up in major cities.</p>
<hr>
<p>
<em>
<strong>
Read more:
<a href="https://theconversation.com/regional-australias-time-has-come-planning-for-growth-is-now-vital-149170">Regional Australia's time has come – planning for growth is now vital</a>
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</em>
</p>
<hr>
<p>At the same time, some real estate agents have <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-05-15/australians-seek-regional-affordability-house-prices-coronavirus/12242252">noticed an upturn</a> in interest in renting or buying rural and regional properties. The <a href="https://www.domain.com.au/news/these-are-the-best-performing-property-markets-in-australia-domain-house-price-report-1000315/">demand in some regional areas</a> has pushed up prices by <a href="https://www.domain.com.au/news/where-regional-australian-house-prices-moved-the-most-domain-house-price-report-1000799/">as much as 30%</a> in the year to October. It seems many are already making the switch to country living.</p>
<p>It sounds idyllic. Escape the rat race, have space to grow veggies and let the kids play outside. You won’t have to commute any more, and you might even be able to buy a house in the country at a time when city prices remain out of reach for many. You could be living the dream.</p>
<figure class="align-center zoomable">
<a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/370489/original/file-20201120-17-tlk6zm.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img alt="aerial image of Hopkins River and Warrnambool" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/370489/original/file-20201120-17-tlk6zm.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/370489/original/file-20201120-17-tlk6zm.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/370489/original/file-20201120-17-tlk6zm.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/370489/original/file-20201120-17-tlk6zm.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/370489/original/file-20201120-17-tlk6zm.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=502&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/370489/original/file-20201120-17-tlk6zm.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=502&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/370489/original/file-20201120-17-tlk6zm.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=502&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px"></a>
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">The surge of interest in living in coastal towns like Warrnambool in Victoria has already pushed up regional property prices.</span>
<span class="attribution"><a class="source" href="https://www.shutterstock.com/image-photo/hopkins-river-warrnambool-town-australia-aerial-1390082903">Greg Brave/Shutterstock</a></span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<h2>Find a place that matches your values</h2>
<p>So how do you know if this is right for you, or a disaster waiting to happen?</p>
<p>In <a href="https://eprints.usq.edu.au/34713/">my research</a> with people who moved to the country, I found successful moves came down to how closely aligned people’s values were with the attributes of the place they moved to. For example, some people value space and quiet more than bustle and activity. If they found these attributes in their new home, then they were able to craft a new life that was deeply satisfying. </p>
<hr>
<p>
<em>
<strong>
Read more:
<a href="https://theconversation.com/how-moving-house-changes-you-109225">How moving house changes you</a>
</strong>
</em>
</p>
<hr>
<p>When you look through the pages of a glossy magazine such as Country Style, you might find yourself yearning for the lifestyle it depicts – the grassy fields, the peaceful but quirky homes filled with flea-market finds, the home-grown abundance and the happy, contented people. These are long-held and highly regarded values that many hold dear. </p>
<p>The roots of these ideals are deep. Representations of the country as a rural idyll, a place to escape to, are centuries older than our <a href="https://theconversation.com/imagining-your-own-seachange-how-media-inspire-our-great-escapes-105207">current media</a>. </p>
<p>Epicurus (340BC to 270BC) moved from the centre of Athens to the countryside just outside so he could grow vegetables and live simply. Virgil’s (70BC to 19BC) Eclogues emphasised a rural idyll, as did much later painters such as John Constable and Eugene von Guérard. Henry David Thoreau’s Walden (1845) is an oft-quoted classic about an urban dweller moving to a rural place to live a better life (albeit temporarily in his case).</p>
<p>Early Australian writers such as A.B. “Banjo” Paterson and Henry Lawson took up this nostalgic ideal in the fledgling colony. So did artists such as Tom Roberts, Arthur Streeton and Charles Condor when they travelled to then-rural Heidelberg, now part of Melbourne, to paint the uniquely Australian countryside. </p>
<p>More recently, we have seen Peter Mayle’s <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Year_in_Provence">A Year in Provence</a> (1991) sketch a romantic picture of city dwellers moving to rural France. And there are popular television series such as <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Good_Life_(1975_TV_series)">The Good Life</a> (1975-77), <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SeaChange">Seachange</a> (1998-2000, 2019), <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/River_Cottage_Australia">River Cottage Australia</a> (2013-16) and most recently <a href="https://tvtonight.com.au/2020/10/escape-from-the-city-reaches-final-episode.html">Escape from the City</a>.</p>
<figure class="align-center ">
<img alt="three women on a rural property" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/370486/original/file-20201120-15-bwn27j.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/370486/original/file-20201120-15-bwn27j.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=338&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/370486/original/file-20201120-15-bwn27j.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=338&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/370486/original/file-20201120-15-bwn27j.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=338&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/370486/original/file-20201120-15-bwn27j.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=424&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/370486/original/file-20201120-15-bwn27j.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=424&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/370486/original/file-20201120-15-bwn27j.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=424&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px">
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">Escape from the City is explicitly pitched at people who ‘dream of a quieter life’.</span>
<span class="attribution"><a class="source" href="https://iview.abc.net.au/show/escape-from-the-city">ABC iView</a></span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<hr>
<p>
<em>
<strong>
Read more:
<a href="https://theconversation.com/imagining-your-own-seachange-how-media-inspire-our-great-escapes-105207">Imagining your own SeaChange – how media inspire our great escapes</a>
</strong>
</em>
</p>
<hr>
<h2>Beware the gap between depictions and reality</h2>
<p>We know the media are a powerful factor in helping us develop and share our identity and personal narratives. We respond to television shows, books and magazines that we are interested in by becoming their audience. We might share values, goals, ideas or even similar stories with the media we watch. We then, consciously or unconsciously, learn from or adopt those ideas and values in a process of socialisation that shows us how we might live a better life. </p>
<p>Media are only a representation, however. A multitude of factors, not least of which are sales and advertising revenues, go into the process of decision-making as images and stories are crafted for the various outlets. There can be a tendency for media to adopt stereotypes as a shorthand form of communication, but these do not necessarily reflect the reality they purport to depict. </p>
<p>This might seem obvious, but it is all too easy to accept these images as truth when we are inclined towards that viewpoint anyway. </p>
<p>Do you value the things that make a rural place what it is, whether that is peacefulness, an absence of people, vistas of rolling hills, or the community of a small country town? If you do, there’s a good chance a move to the country will enable you to live more closely in line with your values and so be a successful one. </p>
<p>If, on the other hand, you value city-style living, which includes attractions, shops, events and being close to services, you might want to reassess whether a seachange or treechange is right for you. </p>
<hr>
<p>
<em>
<strong>
Read more:
<a href="https://theconversation.com/should-i-stay-or-should-i-go-how-city-girls-can-learn-to-feel-at-home-in-the-country-124579">Should I stay or should I go: how 'city girls' can learn to feel at home in the country</a>
</strong>
</em>
</p>
<hr>
<img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/148807/count.gif" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" />
<p class="fine-print"><em><span>Rachael Wallis does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.</span></em></p>Don’t just let idyllic representations of life in the country seduce you. Making a successful move depends on ensuring the place you have chosen is a good match for your values and needs.Rachael Wallis, Lecturer, University of Southern QueenslandLicensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.tag:theconversation.com,2011:article/1491702020-11-22T18:55:34Z2020-11-22T18:55:34ZRegional Australia’s time has come – planning for growth is now vital<figure><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/368111/original/file-20201108-17-w56i17.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&rect=306%2C7%2C1405%2C914&q=45&auto=format&w=496&fit=clip" /><figcaption><span class="caption">Are regional cities like Toowoomba about to become hot property?</span> <span class="attribution"><a class="source" href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Toowoomba,_CBD.jpg">Porgo, Wikipeida</a>, <a class="license" href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/">CC BY-SA</a></span></figcaption></figure><p>Australian governments have always wanted thriving regional cities, but policy innovations with this goal in mind have a <a href="https://theconversation.com/australias-dangerous-fantasy-diverting-population-growth-to-the-regions-105052">bad history</a>. Planned well, regional cities have huge potential to generate <a href="https://theconversation.com/bust-the-regional-city-myths-and-look-beyond-the-big-5-for-a-378b-return-79760">national economic growth</a> while improving <a href="https://theconversation.com/the-average-regional-city-resident-lacks-good-access-to-two-thirds-of-community-services-and-liveability-suffers-131910">livability and sustainable development</a>. </p>
<p>Governments want strong economies, diverse job opportunities and growing populations in regional cities. The Commonwealth’s <a href="https://www.infrastructure.gov.au/cities/city-deals/index.aspx">City Deals</a> and <a href="https://www.infrastructure.gov.au/cities/smart-cities/plan/index.aspx">Smart Cities Plan</a> have recently renewed focus on these priorities.</p>
<hr>
<p>
<em>
<strong>
Read more:
<a href="https://theconversation.com/cities-policy-goes-regional-90856">Cities policy goes regional</a>
</strong>
</em>
</p>
<hr>
<p>The <a href="https://theconversation.com/australias-dangerous-fantasy-diverting-population-growth-to-the-regions-105052">main policy problem</a> for regional cities has been creating enough employment opportunities to attract residents from capital cities. Unexpectedly, the COVID-driven trend towards <a href="https://www.remoteyear.com/blog/what-is-remote-work">remote working</a> may have delivered a solution. </p>
<p>Suddenly, the potential of digital technology for working remotely is being embraced. Many people could live in regional cities while working remotely for employers elsewhere. If this trend continues, regionalism could well become the newest phase of Australian urbanism.</p>
<h2>An urban country dominated by capitals</h2>
<p>An urban country emerged from <a href="https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/urban-history/article/abs/australian-urban-history-a-progress-report/3740C0E5729075AB694AA58F4B81C895">as early as the 19th century</a> as modern Australia took shape. Almost 90% of Australians now live in cities, making us one of the most urbanised countries in the world. <a href="https://www.abs.gov.au/ausstats/abs@.nsf/Lookup/by%20Subject/2071.0%7E2016%7EMain%20Features%7ESnapshot%20of%20Australia,%202016%7E2">More than two-thirds are in the capital cities</a>; relatively few live in regional cities. </p>
<p>The east coast capitals developed first. Other capitals followed, along with industrial cities like Newcastle and Geelong. Regional cities grew at different speeds; some have <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ballarat">longer histories</a> than <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gold_Coast,_Queensland#History">others</a>. </p>
<figure class="align-center zoomable">
<a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/370462/original/file-20201119-21-a8cxhi.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img alt="Map showing distribution of population centres around Australia" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/370462/original/file-20201119-21-a8cxhi.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/370462/original/file-20201119-21-a8cxhi.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=592&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/370462/original/file-20201119-21-a8cxhi.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=592&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/370462/original/file-20201119-21-a8cxhi.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=592&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/370462/original/file-20201119-21-a8cxhi.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=744&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/370462/original/file-20201119-21-a8cxhi.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=744&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/370462/original/file-20201119-21-a8cxhi.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=744&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px"></a>
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">Most of Australia’s population is clustered around a few big urban centres.</span>
<span class="attribution"><a class="source" href="https://www.abs.gov.au/ausstats/abs@.nsf/Lookup/2071.0main+features1132016">ABS Census of Population and Housing</a>, <a class="license" href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/">CC BY</a></span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<hr>
<p>
<em>
<strong>
Read more:
<a href="https://theconversation.com/bust-the-regional-city-myths-and-look-beyond-the-big-5-for-a-378b-return-79760">Bust the regional city myths and look beyond the 'big 5' for a $378b return</a>
</strong>
</em>
</p>
<hr>
<p>The nationwide shift to suburbia started in the early 20th century and has accelerated since. The “Australian Dream” of owning a free-standing family home in the suburbs remains <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-07-16/housing-affordability-whats-happening-to-great-australian-dream/8694330?nw=0">dominant</a>. It drives the relentless expansion of outer suburbs, especially around the large capitals. </p>
<p>Decades of constant suburbanisation and expansion of capital cities fuelled the rise of <a href="https://theconversation.com/australian-cities-and-their-metropolitan-plans-still-seem-to-be-parallel-universes-87603">metropolitan Australia</a>. Here, expanding outer suburbs extend into surrounding hinterlands before eventually connecting with neighbouring cities and towns. Metropolitan Melbourne, Greater Sydney and South-east Queensland are examples. </p>
<figure class="align-center ">
<img alt="" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/368108/original/file-20201108-23-i5byup.jpeg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/368108/original/file-20201108-23-i5byup.jpeg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=450&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/368108/original/file-20201108-23-i5byup.jpeg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=450&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/368108/original/file-20201108-23-i5byup.jpeg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=450&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/368108/original/file-20201108-23-i5byup.jpeg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=566&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/368108/original/file-20201108-23-i5byup.jpeg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=566&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/368108/original/file-20201108-23-i5byup.jpeg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=566&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px">
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">A bird’s eye view of metropolitan Australia.</span>
<span class="attribution"><span class="source">Leon Brooks, Pixnio</span></span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<hr>
<p>
<em>
<strong>
Read more:
<a href="https://theconversation.com/australian-cities-and-their-metropolitan-plans-still-seem-to-be-parallel-universes-87603">Australian cities and their metropolitan plans still seem to be parallel universes</a>
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</em>
</p>
<hr>
<p>Urban consolidation, focused on increasing the density of urban cores and inner suburbs, is another recent phase of Australian urbanism. It is <a href="https://theconversation.com/vested-interests-behind-city-shapers-often-subvert-higher-density-policies-74244">promoted</a> as an efficient way to improve the availability and mix of urban housing, while slowing unsustainable sprawl. The <a href="https://theconversation.com/media-picture-of-urban-consolidation-focuses-more-on-a-good-scare-story-than-the-facts-58044">broad uptake</a> of urban consolidation across Australia is one of the main reasons inner-urban living became desirable in recent times.</p>
<figure class="align-center ">
<img alt="" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/368112/original/file-20201108-15-ujmr92.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/368112/original/file-20201108-15-ujmr92.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=408&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/368112/original/file-20201108-15-ujmr92.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=408&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/368112/original/file-20201108-15-ujmr92.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=408&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/368112/original/file-20201108-15-ujmr92.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=513&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/368112/original/file-20201108-15-ujmr92.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=513&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/368112/original/file-20201108-15-ujmr92.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=513&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px">
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<span class="caption">The Gasworks is an urban consolidation project in Newstead, Brisbane.</span>
<span class="attribution"><span class="source">Kgbo, Wikipedia</span></span>
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<p>A common thread through the phases of Australian urbanism is that the overwhelming concentration of people and jobs in capital cities has been <a href="https://theconversation.com/australias-dangerous-fantasy-diverting-population-growth-to-the-regions-105052">difficult to reverse</a>. Until now, migrating to a regional city and bringing your job with you was a distant dream for most workers and policymakers. </p>
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Read more:
<a href="https://theconversation.com/australias-dangerous-fantasy-diverting-population-growth-to-the-regions-105052">Australia's dangerous fantasy: diverting population growth to the regions</a>
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<h2>Departures and arrivals</h2>
<p>Things may be about to change for regional cities. A <a href="https://www.news.com.au/finance/exodus-from-australian-cities-as-coronavirus-pushes-people-to-the-regions/news-story/09ef690c2847484f7e9777fd1ca5ce43">new trend</a> of people relocating from capital cities to regional areas appears to be gaining momentum. </p>
<p>This new internal migration creates a unique opportunity for governments to grow regional cities and stimulate economies. </p>
<p>Regional cities will <a href="http://www.regionalaustralia.org.au/home/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/Lighting-Up-our-Great-Small-Cities_Report.pdf">benefit from expanding populations</a>. More people will generate new cultural attractions, more social opportunities and greater vibrancy. </p>
<p>City revenues will rise as more taxes and rates start to flow through. Policymakers can then deliver much-needed <a href="https://theconversation.com/the-average-regional-city-resident-lacks-good-access-to-two-thirds-of-community-services-and-liveability-suffers-131910">liveability improvements</a>. </p>
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<p>
<em>
<strong>
Read more:
<a href="https://theconversation.com/the-average-regional-city-resident-lacks-good-access-to-two-thirds-of-community-services-and-liveability-suffers-131910">The average regional city resident lacks good access to two-thirds of community services, and liveability suffers</a>
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<p>Policy innovations for regional cities should focus on quickly delivering quality housing and social infrastructure such as schools and hospitals. Care must be taken to ensure rapidly rising rents and <a href="https://theconversation.com/its-not-just-the-buildings-high-density-neighbourhoods-make-life-worse-for-the-poor-82070">gentrification</a> don’t displace existing residents. Displacement of regional city residents was a big <a href="https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.5172/rsj.19.3.211">problem during the mining boom</a>.</p>
<p>Regionalism also presents opportunities and challenges for the capital cities. <a href="https://info.propertycouncil.com.au/property-australia-blog/office-vacancy-rates-reflect-strong-base-settings">Growing vacancy rates</a> for residential, commercial and retail space could become permanent. Falling populations and fewer workers will hurt some sectors. Sunk investment in infrastructure, including public transport, might be unrecoverable if projected user numbers don’t materialise.</p>
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<p>
<em>
<strong>
Read more:
<a href="https://theconversation.com/if-more-of-us-work-from-home-after-coronavirus-well-need-to-rethink-city-planning-136261">If more of us work from home after coronavirus we'll need to rethink city planning</a>
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<p>Even if some residents leave capital cities, others will still arrive. There will probably be distinct demographic differences between the two groups. Most of those leaving will be established professionals with occupations they can continue remotely. Most arrivals will likely be interstate and overseas migrants, as well as graduates looking for entry-level professional roles. </p>
<p>For the next few years at least, the option to work regionally for a capital city employer is likely to be negotiated and earned, rather than automatic. </p>
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<p>
<em>
<strong>
Read more:
<a href="https://theconversation.com/it-seemed-like-a-good-idea-in-lockdown-but-is-moving-to-the-country-right-for-you-148807">It seemed like a good idea in lockdown, but is moving to the country right for you?</a>
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<h2>Regional future demands adaptable planning</h2>
<p>The coming years will definitely not be business as usual for Australian cities. The rise in remote working will bring <a href="https://theconversation.com/coronavirus-has-changed-our-sense-of-place-so-together-we-must-re-imagine-our-cities-137789">transformative changes</a>. </p>
<p>It will not be enough to just plan for growth in regional cities. It is imperative to plan well, plan strategically and plan for the long term.</p>
<p>The move towards regionalism will have financial, social and environmental impacts. Established urban patterns may no longer hold. Policy responses will have to be innovative, flexible and dynamic.</p>
<figure class="align-center ">
<img alt="" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/368109/original/file-20201108-21-7i2xd6.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/368109/original/file-20201108-21-7i2xd6.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=207&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/368109/original/file-20201108-21-7i2xd6.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=207&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/368109/original/file-20201108-21-7i2xd6.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=207&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/368109/original/file-20201108-21-7i2xd6.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=260&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/368109/original/file-20201108-21-7i2xd6.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=260&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/368109/original/file-20201108-21-7i2xd6.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=260&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px">
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<span class="caption">Gold Coast, once a regional holiday destination, is now Australia’s sixth-largest city.</span>
<span class="attribution"><span class="source">Vape Fuse, Flickr</span></span>
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<p>Governments may need to activate special regulatory and legal arrangements to effectively manage trends towards regionalism. The innovative frameworks for regional development in recent <a href="https://www.infrastructure.gov.au/cities/city-deals/index.aspx">City Deals</a> are illustrative of new policy approaches to shaping regionalism.</p>
<p>We see a shift in the distribution of some planning and development powers between tiers of government to prioritise certain projects. Changes will have to be justified by economic, environmental or social objectives. Even if necessary, it might cause controversy, upheaval and legal challenges. </p>
<p>Governments will need to be strategic, diplomatic and brave to maximise future opportunities for regional and capital cities. Recognising that regionalism looks like the newest phase of Australian urbanism is a good start.</p><img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/149170/count.gif" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" />
<p class="fine-print"><em><span>Tony Matthews has received funding from the Australian Research Council, CSIRO and the Queensland Government. He is affiliated with the Royal Town Planning Institute and the Planning Institute of Australia. He is an Ambassador for Planet Ark and a spokesperson for Greener Spaces, Better Places (formerly 202020 Vision). </span></em></p>The pandemic has driven Australian workers and their employers to embrace the option of working remotely. And that has opened people’s eyes to the possibilities of living in regional Australia.Tony Matthews, Senior Lecturer in Urban and Environmental Planning, Griffith UniversityLicensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.