Rockhampton features in multi-million-dollar relocation campaign

Published on 14 July 2021

Mount Archer (Nurim) Elevated Treetop Boardwalk.jpg

The Rockhampton region is being featured in Regional Australia Institute’s multi-million-dollar national awareness campaign, Move to More, which aims to encourage Australians living in metropolitan areas to consider living, working and investing in the regions.

The campaign, which includes an interactive website, positions regional cities as an attractive option to achieve a more affordable lifestyle and turn work-life balance into a reality.

Rockhampton Region Mayor Tony Williams said the Rockhampton region is the perfect regional city to be featured as part of the campaign. 

“The Rockhampton region truly offers an affordable lifestyle where work-life balance can be achieved,” Mayor Williams said.

“According to realestate.com.au West Rockhampton’s current median house price is $277,750 for a three-bedroom home, and when you compare this to inner-city Brisbane the median house price triples. 

“Not only does Rockhampton offer affordable housing, the average commute to work is 15 minutes maximum, we’re just a thirty-minute drive to the Southern Great Barrier Reef, and are surrounded by many beautiful national parks offering weekend adventures at every turn.”

Advance Rockhampton Executive Manager Mr Greg Bowden said the campaign will provide a great boost to the Rockhampton economy.

“Regional Australia Institute’s Move to More campaign provides an opportunity for the local business community to attract a broader skilled workforce and encourage industry to invest in our region,” Mr Bowden said.

“With greater business investment in the Rockhampton region, we can continue to advocate for further services and growth in our regional economy, benefitting local residents.

“The campaign showcases the services, employment opportunities, and lifestyle on offer here in Rockhampton and provides a platform to link prospective residents with the information they need to make the move.

“According to the Regional Australia Institute, between 2011 and 2016 over 1.2 million people either moved to regional Australia or moved around regional Australia from one location to another.

“The team at Advance Rockhampton are excited to put Rocky on the radar to metropolitan areas and encourage continued growth and relocation opportunities to regional Australia.”

Regional Australia Institute CEO Liz Ritchie said regional Australia provides a real opportunity for city-dwellers to rebalance their lives.

“The Move to More campaign shows people that there is more to life than putting up with congestion, rising housing prices, stress levels, and a lack of quality time spent with loved ones,” Ms Ritchie said.

“From 2011 to 2016, Sydney and Melbourne lost more residents to regions than they gained – and this was before we saw regional relocations post the outbreak of the pandemic.

“As a result of COVID-19, we have all had to change how we work, live and play and this has allowed staff and employers to see that location no longer has to be a barrier.

“I encourage Australians to check out the Move to More website and find out why regional Australia is the place to live.”

The Move to More campaign is an initiative of the Regional Australia Institute.

To find out more about Regional Australia Institute’s campaign, visit www.regionalaustralia.org.au/home/move-to-more/.

For the Move to More interactive campaign website, visit www.movetomore.com.au