Luring Sydney families with a $7000 grant

Forbes’ population could be set to swell under the state government’s new relocation scheme.

As of tomorrow, the government’s Regional Relocation Grants scheme will provide payments to Sydney families who move to regional NSW.

Families will receive $7000 in a one-off grant if they leave Sydney, Newcastle or Wollongong for regional NSW on the condition they don’t spend more than $600,000 on a home.

By moving to places like Glen Innes, Inverell, Armidale, Guyra, Uralla and Tenterfield families can escape the high cost of living and congestion of life in the big smoke,” Mr Stoner said.

“The NSW Government is determined to kick-start regional NSW by supporting growth, creating jobs and improving infrastructure.”

Northern Tablelands MP Richard Torbay said any initiative to relocate people from Sydney to regional areas had his support and the financial incentive being offered by the government was a positive first step.

“As the scheme rolls out it should be carefully monitored and reviewed to see what the take up is, where people are choosing to move to and whether further incentives might assist in making them consider areas where population growth is required,” he said.

“What it shows is that families with young children are willing to move to rural areas if the incentives are sufficiently compelling.”

Mr Torbay said the government should also reconsider zone taxation measures supported by the NSW Farmers Association and the Chartered Accountants Association.

“This would see tax cuts for businesses that relocate to regional areas,” he said.

However, Mr Torbay said the scheme should be more specific about the location.

“While I applaud the initiative to counterbalance the overdevelopment of Sydney, I would also like to see some positive discrimination towards areas in this state that need extra population,” Mr Torbay said.

“Many parts of the coast, the Hunter and Illawarra where these incentive grants also apply are already overpopulated. Attracting more people would place too much stress on local infrastructure.