Ballarat ranked high for liveability

AS part of the recently launched Regional Activators Alliance, the City of Ballarat has taken the crown as one of Australia’s most liveable cities.

Regional Development Australia regions and industry representatives are made up of 36 municipalities, with the RAA looking to champion the lifestyle and drive population growth into those areas.

The City of Ballarat interim CEO Janet Dore said for many people COVID brought the realisation that location is no longer a barrier to where you can live and work.

“We know this shift has already started, with reports of people leaving Melbourne for Ballarat and other regional centres,” she said.

“Our involvement in this alliance will assist us to spread the word nationally about why a regional city such as Ballarat is a great place to invest and grow a business, increasing the prosperity of Ballarat for all who live here.”

According to the RAA’s report released earlier this year, Ballarat is an attractive place to call home because of things like its proximity to Melbourne, low cost of living and its social infrastructure.

RAA Ballarat champion and CEO of Committee for Ballarat Michael Poulton said while working in Melbourne he chose to live in Ballarat because of the lifestyle it offers.

“For me and I’m sure many others, regional living connects place, purpose and people,” he said.

“It’s hard to measure in quantifiable terms but it’s incredibly powerful and emotional, it’s hard to imagine unless you’ve actually experienced it, but having done so, it’s very hard to leave.”