<?xml version="1.0" encoding="ISO-8859-1"?> <docID>334552</docID> <postdate>2024-12-04 10:37:37</postdate> <headline>Country roads taking Aussies home at a two year high</headline> <body><p><img class=" wp-image-334553" src="https://citynews.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/20160408001246162173-original-1.jpg" alt="" width="708" height="399" /></p> <caption>City dwellers priced out of urban housing markets are shifting to regions like Lake Macquarie. (Andrew Leeson/AAP PHOTOS)</caption> <p class="wire-column__preview__author"><span class="kicker-line">By <b>Stephanie Gardiner</b> in Orange</span></p> <p><strong>Moving to the country has become more than just a quaint daydream, but a way of life for Australians battling cost-of-living pressures and the housing squeeze.</strong></p> <p>Migration from the capital cities to regional areas is at a two-year high, nearly 20 per cent above levels before the COVID-19 pandemic, according to population figures released on Wednesday.</p> <p>The Regional Movers Index showed 35 per cent more people moved to the country than in the opposite direction in the September quarter.</p> <p>And it appears to be more than a short-term plan for many, with moves from the regions to the cities falling by five per cent.</p> <p>"The decline in migration flows from regional areas to the cities may indicate the impact of rising living costs and tightening urban housing and job markets," the report said.</p> <p>The Index, compiled by the Regional Australia Institute and the Commonwealth Bank, showed the eastern states led the city exodus.</p> <p>Areas that attracted the biggest share of movers were the Sunshine Coast in Queensland, Greater Geelong and Moorabool in Victoria and Lake Macquarie in NSW.</p> <p>Maitland, near Newcastle in NSW, was a new addition to the top five suburbs for movers.</p> <p>The population of Maitland has grown by more than 20,000 people in the ten years to 2021, according to Census figures.</p> <p>Commonwealth Bank's head of regional and agribusiness Paul Fowler said it was becoming increasingly clear that life in the regions was more than a trend.</p> <p>"We think it's healthy for the country's economy and population to be more balanced, to be able to deliver better outcomes across the board," Mr Fowler told AAP.</p> <p>"Seeing these continued migration patterns into the regions aids and supports that."</p> <p>Moving to a large regional hub may not ease financial pressures for every Australian, as house and rental prices rise in the country too.</p> <p>Regional dwelling values rose 1.1 per cent in the three months to October, with mining areas leading the charge, according to Corelogic data.</p> <p>That's likely driving people further afield, including to Bunbury in Western Australia, Moira and Wangaratta in Victoria, Queensland's Scenic Rim and Murray Bridge in South Australia.</p> <p>The institute released research last month showing stalled progress to make the regions more liveable as populations boom.</p> <p>Improvements in key areas of housing, education, overseas migration and healthcare slowed or declined in the last year, according to an annual review by the think tank.</p> <p>The institute's chief executive Liz Ritchie said Australia must act on a new era of migration.</p> <p>"It's vital this demographic shift is recognised and regional communities are provided with the infrastructure, services and support they need," Ms Ritchie said.</p> </body>