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A seachange (or sea change) is an Australian term, ultimately adopted from a term found in Shakespeare's The Tempest which describes a form of human migration that involves individuals abandoning city living in favour of a perceived 'easier life' in rural coastal communities. The term was popularised by the popular ABC TV television series SeaChange, which triggered the phenomenon of many city-dwellers mimicking the drama's protagonist's escape from urban life. The result of this phenomenon (known as the 'sea change effect') is a rapid boom in tourism and real estate development in coastal Australia, particularly in New South Wales. A similar term, treechange, describes the movement of urbanites to the countryside.
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SeaChange
In the television series SeaChange, the main character Laura Gibson fulfils her escapist desire by leaving the city for a small seaside town after her career and family life in Melbourne falls apart. The series, which ran from 1998-2000, became one of the most popular programmes in Australia and focused on life outside the big city. The primary filming location for the series at Barwon Heads on the Bellarine Peninsula was the first to experience the seachange effect, with fans of the series both visiting and moving to the community. This experience was replicated in coastal towns across Australia.
Who is shifting
People shifting to the coast have been characterised as:
Effect
The rate of growth in rural coastal areas is 60% higher than the national average. Almost six million people already reside in coastal areas outside the mainland capitals, and a further one million are expected by 2020. In addition to people seeking a better lifestyle, the seachange phenomenon is driven by retiring baby boomers and people forced out of capital cities by high house prices. It typically involves either the purchase of a secondary (or holiday) home in, or a complete shift to, coastal areas.
The seachange effect is having both positive and adverse effects on local communities. While it has led to increased prosperity in regional areas, the phenomenon has also caused an increased burden on local governments and some argue it has changed the character and dynamics of some communities.
In response to the influx of tourists and new residents to their jurisdictions, coastal councils from around Australia formed the National Sea Change Taskforce in 2004 to seek ways to ensure sustainable development in their communities. As at 2008 there are 68 member councils from around Australia collectively representing more than four million residents.