Antony Lawes notes the research that over the past year, prices for houses and apartments in some of the most popular beach side towns along the eastern seaboard have continued to struggle. (smh.domain.com.au)
Regions hardest hit have been in Queensland, especially in the far north around Cairns, and along the Gold and Sunshine coasts, where prices have fallen on average about 5 per cent, but that NSW has fared only a little better.
The rule of thumb of the market is that tourism is weak, an excess supply of properties for sale in select regions, a lack of sea changers returning to these markets, and the expectations for capital gains by existing 'sea changes' cannot be fulfilled.
Yet, some areas do not follow these trends. Antony Lawes points these out. My Property Investor meanwhile has likened these variants to industries associated by those market forces. I came across My Property Investor by accident when doing a spot check on Christian Today articles that had been republished (with credits) so as to encourage our Press Service International young writers whose articles are published in Christian Today.
Sea Change Philosophy
My Property Investor had republished (with credits) one of my articles. "The Mining Industry is desperate to accommodate its work populations that includes families." (mypropertyinvestor.com.au)
Then I took the time to check out some of the other articles in My Property Investor to ascertain whether my article was a one-off platitude in their philosophy (to be seen as socially responsible) but I was pleased to find a relatively common tone throughout.
This republished article in My Property Investor, as an illustration, singled out the Carlisle Coast (Whitsundays mainland - Laguna Quays, Midge Point) which is 20 minutes south of Proserpine Airport and an hour north of Mackay. This was of interest to me as this is the location of the Basil Sellers Laguna Quays Respite cottage where missionaries visit for their own rest and recuperation.
This area is actually, as the crow flies, less than an hour's drive to the Collinsville mining area and the new Alpha Mines (upper Bowen Basin) where family housing designed for mining families with house and land blocks from $280,000. A 'direct crow flies' road is currently being investigated from Gunyara (south of Proserpine to Collinsville). A one hour drive to Midge Point.
It is this kind of sea change opportunity that seems to be in spite of the general trend. A 103 house block estate in Midge Point is on the verge of being released and there are at least three other more opulent estates currently available. (www.carlislecoast.com.au)
This Carlisle Coast region of Midge Point and Laguna Quays remains embryonic in services. There is a tavern, and along the street is the Laguna Whitsundays Complex of seven shops. One is a fish and chip shop, a general store, a Post Office, a laundromat, a plumbing and electrical trades office, a hairdresser and the real estate office.
Community Desk
One of the Well-Being Australia 'depressed rural region' projects being explored is that of a Community Desk and the Midge Point Real Estate Office is keen to explore this with our mission and our local co-ordinators Sean and Sue Spencer, placing such a 'community desk' in a corner of their office.
The idea behind a Community Desk is that it provides a community link whereby food parcels might be delivered and parcelled up for needy families within the area. A community computer (Internet) for representatives of local community groups having access to communicate meetings and promotional functions and such like. There are many other uses for a Community Desk.
Sea Change experiences are not only to escape from the city and such pressures, is also provide ample scope to bring much needed skills into a very small population base, building fresh links in 'service' with good-will in lovely coastal semi-rural living.
I for one, encourage Christians to consider such a challenge, as there is so much scope for community service in a small population and more so, coastal and rural fun such as fishing, craft, art, sport, socialising, anything really.
Dr Mark Tronson is a Baptist minister (retired) who served as the Australian cricket team chaplain for 17 years (2000 ret) and established Life After Cricket in 2001. He was recognised by the Olympic Ministry Medal in 2009 presented by Carl Lewis Olympian of the Century. He has written 24 books, and enjoys writing. He is married to Delma, with four adult children and grand-children.
Mark Tronson's archive of articles can be viewed at www.pressserviceinternational.org/mark-tronson.html
