2,500th MyChoice
2,500th MyChoice Package Given to New Ballarat Resident
The City of Ballarat has recently given out its 2,500th MyChoice package to a new Ballarat resident.
The Economic Development Unit has developed the “MyChoice for Living” attraction and incentive package to welcome new residents. The package is valued at over $20,000 and contains a range of business and retail offers donated from over 110 Ballarat businesses.
This is a significant milestone and a testament to the outstanding success of the MyChoice initiative. This program is unique in Victoria, and has set an industry benchmark for other Councils to follow.
The Economic Development Unit recently analysed migration trends amongst new residents who have moved to Ballarat over the past 12 months; in order to identify where people are moving from; which areas of Ballarat they are moving to; and the primary reasons why people are choosing Ballarat.
The results of the analysis show that new residents to Ballarat are predominantly originating from metropolitan Melbourne (32%) and regional Victoria (33%); while significant numbers are also moving here from interstate (20%) and overseas (15%).
Of the metropolitan households who relocated to Ballarat in 2005, the majority originated from the eastern, south-eastern and bayside suburbs of Melbourne. In contrast, regional households mostly relocated from Western Victoria and areas close to Ballarat; while some new residents moved from Geelong and Bendigo.
Our new interstate residents were predominantly from New South Wales, followed by Queensland and South Australia; while our international new residents immigrated from China, India and the United Kingdom.
The main reasons that people are choosing Ballarat, are due to lifestyle, employment opportunities and the direct result of a job offer.
While people are moving to all areas of Ballarat, the most popular areas are Central Ballarat, Wendouree and Sebastopol.
Increased population growth is an important measure of the health of our local economy. The City of Ballarat has experienced a long period of sustained population growth, which it anticipates will continue for at least the next 15 years. The Ballarat lifestyle, coupled with excellent employment opportunities, will not only continue to attract new residents, but will continue to set our City apart from other regional centres.
Further Information
For further information on the MyChoice incentive package, please contact the Economic Development Unit on (03) 5320 5581 or e-mail: EconomicDevelopment@ballarat.vic.gov.au.