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Sydneysiders are losing count of the number of weeks they've been in lockdown. Meanwhile Melbournians struggle to remember is this the 6th or 7th lockdown since COVID began?
The rest of NSW and Victoria have experienced lockdowns and the situation in some rural areas of NSW is heart breaking but ask most people where they'd rather be and it's a no brainer.
Locked in a Sydney apartment versus locked down in a house with garden and space for the kids to run around? Not to mention enough space to have a home office set up, or at least a dedicated work area instead of perching on a kitchen counter.
it's obvious where many people would rather be and the stats are telling the same story that is being shared anecdotally across the country. Aussies are on the move.
Of all Australian's moving out of a capital city, 95.9% came from Sydney and Melbourne in the March quarter according to the Regional Australia Institute.
Where are they going? Well some aren't going too far - Newcastle to the north of Sydney, Wollongong to the south are beneficiaries, as is the Gold Coast.
So - what is happening with this influx of residents? We've previously discussed housing and how the demand is seeing a boom in prices and placing stress on long term residents but what about other services and infrastructure. Can they benefit from the boom?
If so, how? Whilst government can play a role in offering support for infrastructure projects to support the increase in populations, and dare I say it travellers or tourists sometimes it's locals who know best.
Across Australia people are taking the future of their communities into their own hands and filling the gaps they see. Whether it's new schools, cafes or manufacturing Aussies are forcing governments and business to reimagine the way they work with and support our communities.
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MORE STUFF HAPPENING AROUND AUSTRALIA
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- Where does your electorate stand on climate action? See the map
- Age gap closes between cities and regions
- Infrastructure Victoria's scathing road, rail freight report
- GPs ask: Why would you come to Tasmania, and why would you stay?
- Renewed push to pardon Kathleen Folbigg
- 20 photos from the Tokyo Paralympics you need to see
- The secret life of canines who just can't say no
