University Faculty or Divisional Name Life Impact | The University of Adelaide Sustainable Population in Regional Areas Professor Andrew Beer Centre for Housing, Urban and Regional Planning University of Adelaide

Sustainability Challenges Population growth as the ‘killer’ regional indicator in Australia Number of challenges to achieving population growth in regional areas – Transport – Environmental impacts – Perceptions – Social infrastructure – Employment etc But with adequate will, solutions are possible....

Housing Stress

Housing and Government Limited take up in regional housing markets of major Australian Government housing prorams – National Rental Affordability Scheme – National Affordable Housing Agreement – Housing Affordability Fund Often inadequate state and local government planning for residential growth – Not just a shortage of housing, a shortage of land for development!

Housing and Community Retention of in-migrants is as important as attracting them in the first instance – Sea/treechangers often report that their ‘country’ living experience is not what they hoped for – Can be resistance from others within the community But in-comers from the city may also have unrealistic expectations – Potentially a role for RDA’s in mobilising support for new arrivals and sending appropriate messages to potential arrivals.

Conclusion Substantial potential for population growth There are challenges, but they can be overcome Housing requires long term solutions, including long term planning for additional supply and inter-connection with employment markets.