ABSTRACT
This chapter examines the processes of urban and social change experienced by regions undergoing dramatic population shifts in peri- and non-metropolitan areas of coastal Australia. It focuses on population movements associated with a process known as amenity migration, whereby relocation is motivated by lifestyle aspirations, rather than to improve income or employment prospects. The chapter draws on commissioned research for Australias National Sea Change Taskforce. It refers to a sample of 67 non-metropolitan and coastal local government areas across the six Australian states of New South Wales (NSW), Victoria, Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania, and Western Australia. The availability of lower cost housing is declining in Australia's coastal amenity regions. In international terms, Australia has a highly mobile population, with households moving on average every seven years. The socio-economic profile of Australia's coastal amenity communities also means they are currently more vulnerable to the increased risks of natural disaster associated with climate change.
