GEELONG remains one of regional Australia’s most popular destinations for people hunting a lifestyle change, new migration data shows.<\/p>\n
The Regional Australia Institute this week released its quarterly Regional Movers Index for June, which showed Geelong was the third-most popular region in the country for attracting new residents.<\/p>\n
The Greater Geelong area, which includes the Bellarine, attracted 8.3 per cent of all people that moved to regional Australia in the 12 months to June \u2013 about two-thirds of which moved from capital cities, and a third from other regions.<\/p>\n
Geelong’s figures were proof of a wider trend that RAI chief executive officer Liz Ritchie said showed the pull of the regions was growing for city dwellers seeking a happier, cheaper and better quality of life<\/p>\n
“In 2020, 67 per cent of people thought regional living would give them more time for themselves. In 2023, this jumped to 74 per cent.<\/p>\n
“At the same time, net dissatisfaction with city life is up, and more people are now worried about cost-of-living pressures in the city.<\/p>\n
“It clearly shows that the love affair with regional living is far from over and highlights the importance of resourcing the social and physical infrastructure that these growing places urgently need.”<\/p>\n
Commonwealth Bank executive general manager for regional and agribusiness banking Paul Fowler said jobs, lifestyle and housing continued to be the main drawcards to regional Victoria.<\/p>\n
“Mobility around the country continues to be supported by employment opportunities in the regions.<\/p>\n
“Growth in local economies and opportunities in sectors such as wholesale trade, manufacturing, health and education will continue to entice people to regional areas.<\/p>\n
“We expect regional areas to continue to attract city movers as commercial businesses in core sectors and agribusinesses alike step up their push for workers.”<\/p>\n
Only the Sunshine Coast (16.6 per cent) and Gold Coast (9.4) had a higher share of total migration to regional Australia, with the Gold coast leapfrogging Geelong in the most recent data.<\/p>\n
Geelong’s total net internal migration inflow was 28.9 per cent higher than the same period last year.<\/p>\n
It was also down 17.4 per cent on the March quarter \u2013 largely due to seasonal data trends.<\/p>\n
But the rapid growth is slowing according to the RAI data, with Geelong’s growth rate down 28.8 per cent on the same period to last year.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
GEELONG remains one of regional Australia’s most popular destinations for people hunting a lifestyle change, new migration data shows. The Regional Australia Institute this week released its quarterly Regional Movers Index for June, which showed Geelong was the third-most popular region in the country for attracting new residents. The Greater Geelong area, which includes the […]<\/p>\n