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‘E-change’ to drive growth

Lucy JarvisNorth Coast Times

The Super connected Lifestyle Locations Report commissioned by the NBN Co identifies more than 50 towns in WA that will have faster broadband, allowing residents to work from home and avoid commuting to the CBD.

Lancelin, Two Rocks, Woodridge and Yanchep are among 18 of the locations listed that fall in the Pearce electorate.

“With improved technology and better connectivity more people are looking to outer metropolitan suburbs as alternative sea and tree changes from the fast pace of the city,” Pearce MHR Christian Porter said.

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“The idea of maintaining your job while leaving the city commute behind and moving outside the suburban sprawl is something that more and more Australians are looking for.”

Report author Bernard Salt said research pointing to the rise in e-change zones is a social movement on the cusp of happening.

“What we are witnessing right now is a quiet lifestyle revolution throughout suburban Australia,” he said.

“City dwellers are witnessing the relaxed lifestyle in sea change and tree-change locations.

“They know when that’s combined with the super connectivity provided by services over the NBN network they will have even greater scope to take control of where they live and how they work.

“I predict a cultural shift or ‘e-change movement’ which could see the rise of new silicon suburbs or beaches in regional hubs as universal access to fast broadband drives a culture of entrepreneurialism and innovation not far outside our capital cities.”

NBN corporate affairs manager for WA Philippa Perry said the research showed while many wanted access to services available in Perth, they did not necessarily want to live in the city.

“We could very well see many Perth CBD workers moving to these ‘e-change’ zones or lifestyle towns, telecommuting using the nbn network and coming into the city once a week for face-to-face meetings,” she said.

For more on the NBN rollout visit nbnco.com.au/rolloutplan .