The Urban Push for Environmental Amenity: The Impact of Lifestyle Migration on Local Housing Markets and Communities

Across the world the impact of lifestyle or amenity migration on small country and coastal townships has been a focal point for the social sciences. In this chapter, we examined coastal townships and regional places across the eastern coastline of Australia and the impact this migratory phenomenon has had on housing and development. Using statistical resources from a state government reporting authority, we analysed and tracked the changes in housing costs, both purchase and rental, since 2001. We also explored three different responses to development within towns that have grown significantly through this phenomenon which demonstrates that at times communities fight vehemently to protect their ‘sense of place’ through collective action. However, not all responses seek protection from lifestyle migrants and development. As this chapter shows, the division between those who have migrated to the place and local residents can sometimes spill over into public conflict over the destiny of the township. This is pointed directly at the notion to ‘protect from’ or ‘allow’ development to expand the boundaries of towns. From this perspective, the question of ‘authenticity’ that is embedded in different group perceptions becomes an ideal contest between groups and one that suggests that lifestyle migration is an inherently complex phenomenon.

Keywords: Lifestyle migration, housing costs, urban-rural migration, cultural resistance, community.