NBN to breathe new life into regional Australia

Many believe that the NBN rollout will help to breathe new life into regional Australia, potentially increasing the number of people moving to these areas and the number of businesses being set up.

The ongoing rollout of the National Broadband Network in Australia has been met with mixed reviews, with some people believing that it’s the best thing since sliced bread and others believing that it is nothing more than a wasted of taxpayer’s money.

However, one of the potential benefits that is being highlighted with regards to the NBN is how it could help to breathe new life into regional Australia in terms of the number of people moving there and the number of new businesses being set up in these areas.

Shane Manley, marketing strategist for the pilot “Evocities” move-to-the-country program in New South Wales, said: “People want to move to these regional cities for the lifestyle they offer and the affordable properties. But to do that they must have a job or be able to set up a business there and what we are finding is that greater connectivity is meaning they can now take their jobs or businesses with them.”

Regional Australia Minister Simon Crean added: “If you want city people to come to your towns you have got to make them more liveable – and that means access to higher education, good communications and opportunities for e-commerce.” Greater Geelong economic development councillor Rod Macdonald stated: “Australians have an appetite for life outside the major metropolitan cities, but the NBN will lift regional cities to new heights.”