Local livability gets top marks in PwC index

SURF Coast and Bellarine towns have scored highly in PricewaterhouseCoopers’ (PwC) list of the best places to live in regional Victoria, locking in three of the five top spots.

PwC Australia’s RegionalPulse analysis reveals which towns across Victoria are the most attractive to those moving as part of the ‘treechange’ trend based on a range of livability metrics.

Torquay was ranked in second spot behind only Woodend, with Ocean Grove in third place and Anglesea in fifth place.

Three other towns in the Geelong region made the top 20, with Point Lonsdale at 12, Apollo Bay at 15 and Queenscliff at 17.

In its analysis, the international professional services firm notes Geelong and the suburbs surrounding it were also popular with treechangers, but these had been excluded to keep the focus on smaller regional towns.

The analysis recognised it was difficult to quantify many of the factors that families and homeowners found attractive, but there were key characteristics shared by the top destinations.

“Since COVID-19, we’ve witnessed a profound trend in Victoria where many families have traded city living for a regional experience, especially now that many jobs can be done flexibly and remotely,” PwC Melbourne managing partner Suji Kanagalingam said.

“This shift is here to stay, so it’s important we get the planning right when it comes to the services and infrastructure required for these growing regional communities.”

According to RegionalPulse, liveability is highest in regional areas stocked with bars and entertainment venues, a good availability of state school places, where parks and gardens are common, and easy access to hospitals.

The metrics that most negatively affected livability score included high bushfire risk, high crime rates, and unemployment.

A higher rate of people per bedroom was also a negative metric, suggesting people who move to the regions are looking for more space.

“When we look at the areas experiencing population growth, it’s no surprise that they resonate with these priorities of Victorians,” Mr Kanagalingam said.

“While there’s no one-size-fits-all reason for why people trade in their city lives for a country move, it’s clear there are key criteria that many people consider important.”

The Bellarine Peninsula and the Surf Coast Shire were identified as great “pockets” for regional migration, with the former having six in the top 35 suburbs (including Armstrong Creek and Curlewis) and the latter having three (including Lorne).

“The data tells us that there are clearly some spots better than others for those embarking on a new life in the country, depending on their tastes, and these tend to be near beaches or near motorways, which enable access to amenity and services, ” Mr Kanagalingam said.