More carrot to live in regions

Ren Lanzon | 21st November 2009

PEOPLE wanting to buy a house in Gladstone would benefit from a $3000 bonus being considered by Queensland Premier Anna Bligh to encourage people to move to regional areas of the state.

The Premier is considering boosting the Federal Government’s $7000 grant to $10,000 to encourage people to move to regional centres such as Rockhampton, Yeppoon and Gladstone rather than the congested south-east corner.

The Bligh bounty would also apply to people from interstate wanting to live and work in Queensland.

The bonus would be expected to encourage decentralisation and regionalisation, but also new construction as a means of stimulating regional jobs.

According to a spokeswoman for Ms Bligh yesterday, the offer will be available to people living in regional centres to encourage them to stay where they are.

This means that a Gladstone first homebuyer could apply for the bonus on top of the first homebuyers’ grant to buy or build here rather than move to the south-east corner.

Gladstone real estate principal Colin Burke, who is also the Liberal National Party’s candidate for the Federal seat of Flynn, said the scheme could help first homebuyers, but felt it would be more beneficial in the inland areas than in centres on the coast.

“If it does go ahead, I hope they don’t forget the Biloelas, the Emeralds and the Gayndahs,” he said.

However, Mr Burke was doubtful that many people would jump at the offer.

“I doubt if people would pull up stakes and leave jobs just to take advantage it.

“It’s a good idea, but is it realistic?”

Mr Burke said he did not think first homebuyers would defer buying or building in the expectation of the $3000 offer becoming policy.

He said the Gladstone area was going through a “huge demand phase”, but there were still a number of listings should the offer become available in the short term.