Home Property Australia Busy parents choose parks over big backyards

Busy parents choose parks over big backyards

  • May 14, 2019

Rather than lamenting the death of the Aussie backyard, we should celebrate the parks and green space that offer homeowners a new version of the Great Australian Dream, says AVID Property Group’s Peter Vlitas.

Australia’s record-high labour force participation is driving the trend towards smaller lots, as time-poor families move away from big backyards and towards public parks, Vlitas says.

He points to recent data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics, which finds labour force participation rate are at a near-record high of 65.6 per cent, largely driven by increases in women joining or returning to the workforce.

Vlitas, AVID Property Group (AVID) group general manager in Victoria, says many home buyers are opting for smaller-lot housing in masterplanned communities where access to spacious parks holds more appeal than weekly yard work chewing up precious family time.

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“Many families are now two-income households, meaning leisure time is more valuable than ever for mums and dads. They don’t want to be spending their weekends raking up leaves or weeding the garden, they want to be able to get out and enjoy time with their kids.”

AVID has a $3 billion pipeline of projects that encompass broad-acre, medium density and infill subdivisions, and incorporate more than 6,500 residential lots and over 280 hectares of industrial land.

Vlitas points to AVID’s communities Savana and Bloomdale in the Melbourne suburbs of Wyndham Vale and Diggers Rest, which deliver “large, functional parks” and open spaces that provide recreational opportunities as lot sizes decrease.

“We have focused on building parks and open spaces that are really functional for families – with barbecues, play equipment and green space for kids to kick a ball around.

“We are delivering over six hectares of parks and recreational open space at Bloomdale, while at Savana we have created the development’s first park in the early stage of development to ensure our initial residents have access to open space from the day they move in.”

Recent data from the Urban Development Institute of Australia found the median annual lot size in Australia had decreased to 420 sqm.

“It’s not just couples with children pursuing this lifestyle. Young couples who work full-time are also looking for ways to cut down on maintenance to be able to spend quality time together.” 

Jaroslaw Baran, a buyer at Bloomdale, chose a low maintenance, 478 sqm block because of its proximity to parks and amenities.

“We will have a park in front of us with a barbecue space and activities for my kids,” he says.

Vlitas says public green space does more than just replace backyards.

“They give communities a place to come together, a place for local children to play and for neighbours to share a meal together. It’s about building communities.”