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GOOD NEWS IS BAD NEWS

Rural Victoria is thriving:

Property values in the most sought-after towns had skyrocketed …

The median house price in 2001 in country Victoria was $121,000. By 2006, it was $220,375.

Naturally, the Age warns of “gloom”, “serious development pressures”, “a downside”, locals who “can’t afford to live there”, “risk”, and “spread[ing] the destruction”.

Posted by Tim B. on 10/24/2007 at 12:10 AM
  1. They can’t afford country living?
    Let them eat beachfront!

    Posted by SwinishCapitalist on 2007 10 24 at 12:15 AM • permalink

  2. Maybe the ABC can commission a drama series about a crusty old country real estate agent, played by Bryan Brown, and his abrasive new sidekick, played by, oh, Toni Collette.

    Posted by cuckoo on 2007 10 24 at 12:21 AM • permalink

  3. Two years ago the same culprits were bemoaning ‘dying’ rural centres and how the population in such towns had shrunken to such an extent that services such as banks and post offices had left. Now?

    Posted by Nic on 2007 10 24 at 12:24 AM • permalink

  4. The Age spreads more destruction in divulging idiocy day after day after day after day after day. Not to mention Leunig for Pete’s sake.

    Posted by The Best Infidel on 2007 10 24 at 12:26 AM • permalink

  5. The Age doesn’t like the idea that anyone else can have any equity, does it?

    Posted by Ash_ on 2007 10 24 at 12:36 AM • permalink

  6. And this is in Australian dollars too. I can think of a few hundred thousand people who’d love to be able to live in brushfire territory for a lot less than they’re doing now. How strict are Australia’s immigration laws?

    Posted by mythusmage on 2007 10 24 at 12:50 AM • permalink

  7. What can you expect from people who evidently thought Sea Change was a documentary?  The thing I hated most about that show was the assumption of its writers that regional towns are magical Brigadoons where the laws of supply and demand simply don’t apply.  No business ever has to make a profit, the price of goods never changes in response to market demand.

    Posted by cuckoo on 2007 10 24 at 12:56 AM • permalink

  8. Where I live, if you buy enough land, it can be as cheap as $75.00 US per acre ($100.00 to $150.00 is more likely for the cool stuff).  But, I’m talking 10,000 acre chunks of wild nothingness: No electricity, no sewer, no roads, no nothing, basically…  However, you will have scads of mule deer, pronghorn antelope, mountain lions, javalena (A small wild pig), coyote, bobcat, and herds of wild mustangs (Quarter horses, in essence) wandering around on your property… Plus the likelihood of neolithic native American caves with pictographs, and old Cavalry outposts from the Pancho Villa era.

    $250,000.00 US could set me up nicely with a place where the nearest border from my house to my property line would be a mile away (And, I’ve saved up most of that).

    And people wonder why I love it out here in BFE.

    Posted by Hucbald on 2007 10 24 at 12:57 AM • permalink

  9. It’s called a “market” value, Age. Market value is generally defined as the price a willing buyer would pay a willing seller for a property.

    The higher the demand, the higher the “market” value.

    It doesn’t necessarily represent the actual “property” value. Although tax assessors love it. I wonder why?

    Posted by El Cid on 2007 10 24 at 01:03 AM • permalink

  10. Earlier this year, the ABC ran a piece about property developers in a small Tasmanian coastal town.  Normally a story like this would write itself on the ABC, but the catch was that the developers were a gay couple from Sydney.  After a few ABC staffers were hospitalized with acute cognitive dissonance, it was decided that homophilia trumped hatred of capitalism, so the story cast the objecting locals -who would normally be heroically resisting capitalist encroachment on their traditional community - as inbred backwoods homophobic hicks.

    Posted by cuckoo on 2007 10 24 at 01:03 AM • permalink

  11. For those unfamilar with Hucbald’s BFE…It’s full name is Bum Fuck Egypt…:)

    Posted by El Cid on 2007 10 24 at 01:05 AM • permalink

  12. Bryan Brown?  I haven’t seen that poor bastard since Spring Break: Shark Attack!

    Posted by richard mcenroe on 2007 10 24 at 01:10 AM • permalink

  13. 11. El Cid

    Jesus H. Christ in a chicken basket, do you HAVE to go and spill the beans and frijoles on EVERYTHING?! LOL!

    Posted by Hucbald on 2007 10 24 at 01:10 AM • permalink

  14. another appeal to give

    Posted by Col. Milquetoast on 2007 10 24 at 01:14 AM • permalink

  15. Mother of Christ…Bum Fuck Egypt. I absofuckinlutely can’t believe it. I’m standing on Bum Fuck Egypt…lol.

    Posted by El Cid on 2007 10 24 at 01:16 AM • permalink

  16. 14

    I’m still coughing up what was a perfect Bombay Sapphire..Gin and Tonic.

    Posted by El Cid on 2007 10 24 at 01:20 AM • permalink

  17. Tim B, I’ve made the GENEROUS cheque for you today, it will be in the mail you’ll have next week.

    Tights? Tim, puffy shorts with blue tights (drools)

    Posted by 1.618 on 2007 10 24 at 01:23 AM • permalink

  18. #10 yeah that was funny - the ABC standing up for the rights of beachfront highrise developers in coastal villages

    #11 thanks El Cid, Hucbald had me daydreaming about applying for a greencard if the worst happens here and you’ve spoiled it :)

    Bum Fuck Egypt? should I be afraid to ask why?

    Posted by eeniemeenie on 2007 10 24 at 01:24 AM • permalink

  19. Hi El-cid!! (waves)
    Colonel,greetings have we got the copy in yet for the 1.618 weekly’s first print dear chap?

    Posted by 1.618 on 2007 10 24 at 01:24 AM • permalink

  20. El Cid

    You and I will NEVER tire of The Onion Moon Landing.  Proving, of course, that we suffer from the advanced stages of good-humoritis. 

    Hell, why not: I’m gonna watch it again. ;^)

    Holy mother of fuck.

    Posted by Hucbald on 2007 10 24 at 01:28 AM • permalink

  21. It’s very simple.  Local people don’t have to sell their homes or real estate to these interlopers.  That will preserve the area for the local people.

    You can blame the Howard government for this sad state of affairs.

    Posted by Mystery Meat on 2007 10 24 at 01:28 AM • permalink

  22. El Cid, Hucbald, the moon landing will never be old.

    Posted by Ash_ on 2007 10 24 at 01:30 AM • permalink

  23. 18 eeniemeenie

    Bum Fuck Egypt? should I be afraid to ask why?

    Meanings can very, in the “diverse” U.S. but the most accepted one is generally…oh damn…how can I say this nicely….ummm, the middle of no damn where. Which isn’t bad by the way, when you aren’t a particularly neighborly type…like Hucbald would seem to be and myself, who IS.

    Posted by El Cid on 2007 10 24 at 01:33 AM • permalink

  24. G’day Ash

    Posted by 1.618 on 2007 10 24 at 01:35 AM • permalink

  25. 18 eeniemeenie

    BFE/“Bump-Fuck Egypt” is simply a colloquialism here in the States that means “the middle of no-fucking-where”: It’s not necessarily pejorative.  BFE can be cool or un-cool, depending on the context.

    My personal slice of BFE here in Far West Texas is as cool as shit dropped on a rock by a coyote in the dead of winter, and slicker than snot on a pump handle.

    Hope this helps. ;^)

    Posted by Hucbald on 2007 10 24 at 01:37 AM • permalink

  26. eeniemeenie

    I must clarify…and myself, who IS...NOT neighborly.

    Posted by El Cid on 2007 10 24 at 01:37 AM • permalink

  27. G’day 1.6.

    Posted by Ash_ on 2007 10 24 at 01:39 AM • permalink

  28. #11
    Oh? I thought it was in Alabama.

    Posted by kae on 2007 10 24 at 01:39 AM • permalink

  29. Sheesh, not everybody can live in Fitzroy - the address of choice for Age & ABC trolls.

    Posted by Bonmot on 2007 10 24 at 01:40 AM • permalink

  30. #29 I thought they all lived in Brunswick?

    Posted by Ash_ on 2007 10 24 at 01:41 AM • permalink

  31. #14

    *SHRIEK*

    and not a good one!

    Posted by kae on 2007 10 24 at 01:43 AM • permalink

  32. eeniemeenie

    Another one of our Southern U.S. colloquialisms. ‘Like a cow pissin on a flat rock’...A downpour or heavy rain.

    Hucbald

    Onion Moon landing, one of, if not the funniest damn things I’ve ever seen and heard.

    Posted by El Cid on 2007 10 24 at 01:46 AM • permalink

  33. Hi, 1.618. Good to see you.

    Posted by El Cid on 2007 10 24 at 01:51 AM • permalink

  34. If these “tree changing” towns are short of space for new housing, why not just chop down some trees to make room for the new ones?

    Doesn’t chopping a tree down involve “changing” it, as in changing it into floorboards, furniture, firewood and so on?

    Oh, you’re talking about people.  Are people now changing into trees?  Is this like the Medusa who turned people into stone?  Do we have a plague of drop bears that turn you into a tree if they touch you?

    Whichever way you look at the question, the answer is “chainsaw”.

    And what, pray tell, are these newly rich country folk who have just sold their clapped out shack doing with their money?  Moving to Fitzroy?

    Posted by mr creosote on 2007 10 24 at 02:00 AM • permalink

  35. Colonel,greetings have we got the copy in yet for the 1.618 weekly’s first print dear chap?

    Uh…Um…Er…I thought you were in charge of that (slinks away hoping to avoid a verbal thrashing)

    Posted by Col. Milquetoast on 2007 10 24 at 02:00 AM • permalink

  36. 32 El Cid

    My favorite “local yokel” term for sudden downpours of rain is, “Turd Floaters.”

    I get a laugh out of that every time I hear it.

    Posted by Hucbald on 2007 10 24 at 02:00 AM • permalink

  37. thanks-El Cid, Hucbald- i thought TV and movies had made me fluent in American but I see now that I will have to drag myself across the pacific for that.

    Only wildlife of note where I live are syphilitic koalas and dugongs ( lazy blobs of blubber good only for putting dents in the speedboat’s propeller)

    Posted by eeniemeenie on 2007 10 24 at 02:02 AM • permalink

  38. 28 kae

    Orignal Lynryd Skynyrd Live…Sweet Home Alabama

    Recorded Song. Cleaner…no crowd noise.

    Yeeee Hawwww…Southern Rock and Roll…:).

    Posted by El Cid on 2007 10 24 at 02:05 AM • permalink

  39. 35.LOL we must start advertising for sub-editors soon and we’ll dress it up and call them spell checkers.

    Posted by 1.618 on 2007 10 24 at 02:10 AM • permalink

  40. 37 eeniemeenie

    Koalas AND dugongs in Oz both frequent asian prostitutes?!  I’d have to see video to believe it.  You can email me a link, right? ;^)

    Here in the US dugongs (Well, their nearest relatives, anyway) are called manatees, and they provide the same propeller-dulling service for boaters in Florida.  Every time one is hit, it’s the boater’s fault of course.  Nobody ever stops to consider that manatees have brains the size of golf balls and move slower than a slug on quaaludes.

    Did you know: Manatees and dugongs absolutely LOVE fresh water?  Give one a flowing garden hose and they will suck on it in an orgiastic trance.  When I was in the Florida Keys on vacation once a local guy showed this to me, and it was amazing to watch.

    I saw a manatee by a dock and was talking to myself, “Wow! Cool!”  So, this local walks up and says, “They love water.”  I’m like, “Of course they love water, they live in it.”  He says, “No. FRESH water!” - Throws a hose in the water and several manatees appear.  They actually seemed to be rather democratic as they took turns drinking the fresh water (Reminded me of passing a joint or bong around).  It was an unmitigated blast to watch.  They really are amazing creatures… just slow and stupid.

    Posted by Hucbald on 2007 10 24 at 02:25 AM • permalink

  41. You have to chortle at these tree-changers.  Most of them have never lived in the country before and are in for a few surprises. It might be cheaper than a great city but there’s a reason for that—lack of amenities, e.g., dentists, decent hardware stores, competition between supermarkets, &c. Don’t these starry-eyed would-be rural types read the complaints about being unable to see a doctor for weeks, or having to travel to a city for specialist care? Or the lack of broadband?

    I was raised in an isolated country town of 10,000.  Pretty, and a popular tourist destination, but a long way from real civilisation.  I went back for a visit a couple of years ago.  Lovely spot, and not cheap these days—but I did and saw everything in four slow days.  That’ll do me for another 20 years.

    Cities might be fast, noisy, brash—but everything you need is close at hand.  There’s a reason why most inbound tourists to Australia prefer the big cities—they’re interesting.

    Posted by walterplinge on 2007 10 24 at 02:40 AM • permalink

  42. Just the koalas Hucbald ( I think they all go for a number 3 with lice)

    I didn’t know that about the fresh water- will have to break our level 5 water restrictions and try it out for myself.


    Just got opinion polled!- told the lady asking the questions that I’d rather castrate myself with a rusty hacksaw than vote for the Kruddster- I think she agreed with me! (are two exclamation marks bad if they’re non consecutive?)

    Posted by eeniemeenie on 2007 10 24 at 02:43 AM • permalink

  43. Let them eat market.

    Posted by Mattofact on 2007 10 24 at 03:35 AM • permalink

  44. #40
    Google chlamydia and koala, you might get a handle on the STD infected koalas.

    Posted by kae on 2007 10 24 at 03:45 AM • permalink

  45. #40 again
    I’ve met marijuana-fazed people like the manatees described. I try to stay away from them.

    Posted by kae on 2007 10 24 at 03:46 AM • permalink

  46. It’s called a “market” value, Age. Market value is generally defined as the price a willing buyer would pay a willing seller for a property.

    While we’re doing the economics lesson, you should probably also mention that market prices represent subjective values. Whether or not median property prices in country Victoria rising by 100% over 5 years is a good thing is cannot be objectively verified, but is purely dependent on your status as a buyer or a seller.

    The higher the demand, the higher the “market” value.

    Or, conversely, the lower the supply, the higher the “market” value. This trend could be indicative of suburban state and council land-release policies and housing density regulations causing demand spill-over into more remote areas.

    Posted by hayesy on 2007 10 24 at 03:48 AM • permalink

  47. #42
    eeniemeenie
    I reckon the rusty nail job and Krudd are equal.

    Posted by kae on 2007 10 24 at 03:50 AM • permalink

  48. #44- you’re right Kae- it’s chlamydia not syphilis the little sex maniacs have all got. silly me

    Posted by eeniemeenie on 2007 10 24 at 04:09 AM • permalink

  49. These are the same hypocrites that charge $100/week to advertise a property on domain.com.au.  Imagine how many properties are listed each week and realise how Fairfax stays in businesss.

    Clue: it ain’t by journalism.

    Posted by Mr Hackenbacker on 2007 10 24 at 04:14 AM • permalink

  50. Sorry about that, I got all Gollum there for a second.

    Posted by Mr Hackenbacker on 2007 10 24 at 04:15 AM • permalink

  51. #50
    Sssssssssss all right, my Preciousssssssss.

    Posted by kae on 2007 10 24 at 04:31 AM • permalink

  52. With the rural real estate prices rising the disillusioned tree-changers will more easily be able to buy back into the city property market.  You would think the Age writers could appreciate that.

    About fifteen years ago a friend’s father wanted a new start after a divorce and moved to Tasmania.  After a few years he discovered he was too lonely there and wanted to come back but found it very difficult to buy a suitable home in Sydney with the proceeds of the sale of his house in Tasmania.

    Posted by Crossie on 2007 10 24 at 04:41 AM • permalink

  53. Good news is bad news indeed- this is pulled from the ABC website- nothing has been added or taken away (the boldenings and italics are mine:

    Labor targets Costello over inflation rise


    The Opposition has used today’s inflation rise to attack federal Treasurer Peter Costello’s economic management credentials.

    The latest Consumer Price Index (CPI) figures show an annual rise in the cost of living of 1.9 per cent, raising the likelihood of another interest rate rise this year.

    In the September quarter the CPI rose a smaller-than-expected 0.7 per cent, leaving the annual headline inflation rate at 1.9 per cent, the lowest outcome in nearly eight years.

    good news?

    The Reserve Bank’s key measure of underlying inflation is up 0.9 per cent in the quarter to be 2.9 per cent higher [that higher is surplus to requirements - underlying inflation is 2.9%- not 2.9 % higher- I’m sure they’re not deliberately attempting to confuse]over the year, prompting speculation from analysts that a near-term interest rate rise is inevitable

    Labor leader Kevin Rudd says Mr Costello has failed to show enough economic leadership.

    because an eight year low in inflation is just so bad

    “Here we are with a concerning underlying inflation number and Mr Costello is not taking any responsibility for the fact that that number has been produced within the framework of his government being in office for 11 years and his government’s policies,” he said.

    damn you peter, why won’t you take responsibility for an eight year low in inflation

    The Australian Council of Trades Unions President, Sharan Burrow, says the latest inflation figures show many Australians are struggling to cover the rising cost of housing, education and food.

    “The government’s economic credentials have to be in tatters if you consider that for working families today’s data for more than 1 million workers and their families already sees them dramatically worse off,” she said.

    tatters-?- I’ll just repeat that what we are talking about here is an eight year LOW in the inflation rate

    “The prospect on top of that of an additional rate rise is just frightening.”

    Remember Freedom is Slavery- and these people might soon be in charge of the economy

    Labor targets Costello blah blah blah

    sorry for the length of the post- but I’m both appalled and amused by this clumsy propaganda

    Posted by eeniemeenie on 2007 10 24 at 05:03 AM • permalink

  54. #53 Get over it mate.  facts are of very limited use when the chase is almost run, we smell the blood, he’s DOWN (let’s kick ‘im”). Again and again and again.  Wot fun.

    Posted by Hero Schema on 2007 10 24 at 05:27 AM • permalink

  55. Labor leader Kevin Rudd says Mr Costello has failed to show enough economic leadership.

    Like Lenin? What does “economic leadership” even mean? It’s just… crap…

    Posted by hayesy on 2007 10 24 at 06:19 AM • permalink

  56. #53 #54, That’s right, facts don’t matter.  it’s how people feel.  Howard’s gone.

    However, I am not certian thea tteh RBA will raise rates, as most of the rise is becuase of fresh food and one offs like elctricity (cuased by state government policy changes in ACT, NSW and Qld).  As such they will not continue, if it rains.

    And of course, nothing Rudd suggests (not that he is suggesting, mind you) to fix the problem would make any difference.  It needs to rain.  A lot.  So the current harping by Gillard, Rudd and co is deceitful at best.

    Doesn’t make any difference to Howard’s prospects though.

    Posted by entropy on 2007 10 24 at 06:51 AM • permalink

  57. preview next time, I promise

    Posted by entropy on 2007 10 24 at 06:51 AM • permalink

  58. Shocking.  House prices going up by 80% in 5 years?  Whoever heard of that?

    Posted by murph on 2007 10 24 at 07:36 AM • permalink

  59. Tell me about electricity.
    My last power bill was $160, the one before was $200. The latest one was $295. This better not be a trend… I know why the bill was high two back, I was baking. A lot. This time I think i’ve sorted the water leak and the water pump isn’t going on all the time… we’ll see.
    Be interesting to see what they charge when we get dust outta the pipes…

    Posted by kae on 2007 10 24 at 08:03 AM • permalink

  60. 46 hayesy

    Could not have stated better myself, no one could have…even at that time of morning, here in the U.S. (spitting up a gin&tonic;, thanks to the Col. The Onion Moon, BFE..had nothing to do with it)...:).

    Posted by El Cid on 2007 10 24 at 08:52 AM • permalink

  61. You have the same brand of reporters in Oz that we have in the States. When the housing boom was on, you saw lots of stories about people being priced out of an escalating market. Now that there’s a downturn, it’s all about plunging property values and excess inventory.

    It must be fun to be a reporter on a date. During dinner, he’s thinking “INCREASING ANXIETY ABOUT BLOWJOB HOPES.” The next day he wakes up with “MOUNTING WORRY OVER CHLAMYDIA FEARS.”

    Posted by Dave S. on 2007 10 24 at 11:50 AM • permalink

  62. #61

    “MOUNTING WORRY OVER CHLAMYDIA FEARS.”

    Only if his date was with a Koala.

    Posted by kae on 2007 10 24 at 03:33 PM • permalink

  63. Kae, the koala who sits next to me appears to be grossly offended and says to tell you that he has *some* standards, thankyouverymuch.  (At least, I think that’s what he’s telling me—I learned my basic Koala from a Berlitz tape.)

    Posted by Mary in LA on 2007 10 24 at 04:46 PM • permalink

  64. Uh-oh, looks like you’re heading for a real estate bubble.

    Posted by Kyda Sylvester on 2007 10 24 at 05:34 PM • permalink

  65. #63
    Yes, I suppose you’re right. Cross species relationships don’t usually work out, there are inherent difficulties….

    Cross species? You mean Koala+Human?

    Nah. Lefty journalists aren’t human.

    Posted by kae on 2007 10 24 at 05:35 PM • permalink

  66. #54 Hero
    When one is in a proper knuckle up, the blood one smells is usually one’s own.

    Posted by Pickles on 2007 10 24 at 06:22 PM • permalink

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