PROPERTY SHOWCASE WESTERN SYDNEY
Published in Western Sydney Business Access | Parramatta Times | Blacktown News
Back to the local days
Getting to know your neighbour OUTLOOK | DALLAS SHERRINGHAM NE of the few positive aspects of the fundamental shift in the population during Covid-19 has been the switch back to a more localised way of living for the community. We have returned to a way of life enjoyed by generations past, where we know our neighbors’ names, our children play together in the streets and local businesses have an important role in the community. Research by sociologists has found that wellbeing is positively influenced by community belonging and togetherness during disaster. They expect relationships to be strengthened due to community identification and feelings of unity in response to the pandemic. Working from home is now an entrenched way of life, giving more of us the opportunity to spend quality time in our communities, getting to know our fellow locals better. Researchers expect many workplaces to adopt a hybrid model allowing staff to work from the office and from home once we have a pathway forward to living with COVID-192. Global consulting firm Deloitte has announced a new workplace model prioritising outcome, not hours. They have told their 10,000 staff that they can choose when and where they work, as long as tasks are completed. Westpac and Telstra are considering selling off floor space no longer needed in their Sydney city offices because many staff will be working from home on a permanent basis. This change in the way we work is expanding the horizon for Australian city residents. As social demographer Bernard Salt said: “The city centre is no longer the pivot around which urban life revolves”. COVID-19 is inspiring a shift to middle and outer ring suburban living as more people search for greater open space, more connected communities and housing affordability. The desire to live close to the city to reduce the work commute is no longer
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relevant, so lifestyle has moved up as the No. 1 priority. Mr Salt describes these relocators as ‘VESPAs’ or Virus Escapees Seeking Provincial Australia.
Larger more affordable homes These inner-city residents are buying larger, more affordable homes with backyards away from the CBD, while others are leaving the big cities for a regional sea change or treechange and a closer connection to nature. Both trends have a common denominator – a lifestyle shift away from the urban hustle and bustle to local village living and a slower pace of life. Social connections form part of an area’s appeal. One in two Australians say they feel lonelier due to COVID-19 and the isolation created by restrictions is making life difficult. Research shows people feel more connected to their neighborhoods when they are living away from the urban density of capital cities.
An ABCnsurvey of 60,000 Australians found 55% of inner metropolitan residents know many of their neighbors, compared to about 70% in rural and regional areas. People are increasingly shopping locally, driven by a strong desire to support local business owners and producers, even if it means spending more than they would at large retailers. Going forward, this trend is likely to remain, with a survey of more than 1650 shoppers and businesses finding 73% of Australians want to see brands demonstrate they are connected to local communities. The growing focus on staying local is highlighting the benefits of the 20-minute neighborhood standard of urban planning. This ideal scenario gives residents access to shops, services, schools, public transport and employment within a 20-minute walk. Residents of such neighborhoods not only enjoy convenience but also better health because they are walking more often and spending more time outdoors. “Residents of these neighborhoods
often have a strong sense of community and connection to place,” Professor Linda Corkery of the University of NSW said. “People are out and about on the street socialising, supporting local businesses, being involved with local schools, enjoying local parks.” Finding joy in green spaces is a popular pastime these days. With gyms shut and local sporting activities postponed, people are turning to parks, bike trails and walking paths to exercise their bodies and minds. This is pushing usage of natural spaces up, with a dramatic increase of 112% in Melbourne, 36% in Sydney and 17% in Brisbane during the first few months of the pandemic in 2020. What’s more, green spaces have a positive influence on housing prices. This is particularly the case in higher density areas, where proximity to parks and reserves is more important. CoreLogic Research Director Tim Lawless described a “statistically significant positive relationship between unit prices and proximity to green areas”.
HOW TO WIN THE WEST WESTERN SYDNEY MEDIA ALLIANCE DECEMBER 2021| |EDITION EDITION126 128 OCTOBER 2021
CELEBRATE FUNDING Sydney Hills
Chamber’s Local business plan for arts awards sector: feature:416
BUSINESS| |LIFESTYLE LIFESTYLE BUSINESS
POLITICS Why new State leadership Dune – 5 Stars. is good for The greatest the West: 2
FILM REVIEWS movie of the decade: 26
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PCOVID LESSONS WSABE 2021 celebrates hope, resilience
ARRAMATTA Chamber of Commerce found- 2021, about 700 guests gathered at ATC, Rosehill immaculately dressed in theme ‘Back in Black’ with ed the Western Sydney Awards for Business Gardens to celebrate business excellence in the a touch of gold celebrating hope and resilience. Excellence in 1990, affectionately known region. After what has been the most challenging The resilience of the business community in EEP saying the risk of getting a24, side effect to AstraZeneca renowned experts held recently a collaboration Access News “ as WSABE. Onthat Wednesday, November period of our working lives, guests flowed, Westernby Sydney is second toofnone. More page 17. is one person sitting in a full SCG, and the risk of dying from it Australia and The Westmead Institute for Medical Research. The panel, is one in a million - the equivalent to a lightning strike.” Vivid who hail from a range of disciplines, spoke about their take on the stats voiced by infectious disease expert Professor Tony Cunningham lessons learned from COVID, and their prognosis of future trends in a as he took part in a Regional Roundtable webinar of internationally post-pandemic world. See pages 4,5.
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What it might look like to have flying cars over Parramatta CBD.
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ITS beginning to look a lot like Christmas in the City of Parramatta with an assortment of fun Yuletide activities for people of all ages to enjoy. See page 12.
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160 YEARS
CARS OVER CBD OF GROWTH C AN you imagine cars flying above the Parramatta CBD? Parramatta Chamber of Commerce president Luke Magee can certainly see it as a possibility after the N its 160 years asTimes a localdiscussed government area, from Parramatta certainly hassuggesting grown up -the all Parramatta a report University of NSW the way to thewas sky.not Four after a ceremony commemorating the declaration ofto concept fardays away. “I hope it can be something we can look forward Parramatta as a municipality, Sydney’s burgeoning second city welcomed Premier in the future. It would be good for Parramatta, with its lack of parking,” Mr Magee said. Dominic Perrottet to the “topping out” ceremony of the 225 metre 55 storey high 8 “These flying cars could work like the proposed driverless cars where you park them Parramatta Square, which, with adjoining 4 and 6 Parramatta Square, will house 9500 outside the city and they come to pick you up." More page ͢2. NSW Government workers. More page 8.
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%ඔඉඋඓගඟN COVID Guide to vaccination centre across Blacktown: 19
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PROJECT$ INSIDE
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Cash boost for local precincts
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IGH growth greenfield precincts in Blacktown will benefit from a share of $139M being handed out by the State Govt this year. The cash is up for grabs for eight Western Sydney councils as applications have opened for round two of the Accelerated Infrastructure Funding (AIF). More page 4.
Key to business relationships: 7
From top left clockwise: Grange Avenue, Loftus St and Glengarrie Rd all projects for possible development under the AIF program.
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Blacktown City blacktown.nsw.gov.au
Blacktown
Snapshot
403,000 population
$
18.81 billion regional economy
4.6%
average economic growth
24,990 registered businesses
143,259 local jobs
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