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In February this year (2006), mechanical engineer Tim Bliesner left his job with Toyota in Melbourne to take up a position with a local manufacturer in the Queensland town of Dalby.
Situated on the rich soils of the Darling Downs, Dalby is a modern urban centre with a town population of over 10,000 located 211 km north west of Brisbane, 85 km north west of Toowoomba.
Despite a Brisbane upbringing and then a five-year stint in Melbourne, the decision to go bush with his wife and two young children was a relatively easy one for 27 year-old Tim.
"There was a sense of coming home in moving back to Queensland, and we felt the country lifestyle suited us better," explained Tim, now the Engineering Manager for Bushmans Tanks, the country's largest manufacturer of polyethylene rainwater storage tanks.
Living in Dalby, according to Tim, is much the same as living in an outer suburb of Melbourne, but without the burden of metropolitan expenses and heavy traffic.
"Dalby has all the necessary infrastructure and services, and the technology - like cable television and high speed internet. There is a big new shopping centre being built now, which will be just like those you find in the city suburbs."
"It's just so much more affordable but you're not compromising any of your standards. The demand for work is there, we have all the facilities we need and in some ways, doing business is easier than in the city because you're not dealing with huge corporations."
Dalby has been experiencing a development boom extending services and creating a solid employment base.
Recent developments include the construction of CS Energy's $1.2 billion power station - the largest single generating unit in the national energy group - and coal mine at nearby Kogan Creek, Ergon Energy's $52 million gas-fired power station, the construction of the $50 million Dalby Shoppingworld in the CBD, construction of Dalby Bio-Refinery's $80 million grain to
ethanol plant, the $60 million Grassdale feedlot, a $20 million redevelopment of Dalby Hospital, and a $30 million expansion to the Wilkie Creek coal mine.
Despite Dalby's growth, the average cost of a home is still an affordable $180,000.
Tim says it was a "big relief" to be able to buy a house on a quarter acre block, five minutes walk from the town centre, with a very small mortgage.
In addition to its mining and industrial base, Dalby and the surrounding Wambo Shire is a rich agricultural region growing crops such as cotton, sorghum, wheat, barley, sunflowers, chickpeas, mung beans and corn, as well as the production of lamb, beef and pork. Diversification into the fish and native flower markets has occurred in recent times.
The region has the largest grain receival depot in Queensland as well as the largest one day livestock market in Australia. Dalby also hosts the Australian Cotton Week Festival, an event staged in March each year which attracts thousands of visitors. Two Environmental Parks in close proximity to Dalby feature pristine rainforest, a natural lake and flora and fauna in their natural habitat.
According to Dalby Town Council Mayor, Warwick Geisel, "treechangers" like Tim will continue to flow into the town as long as these kinds of developments continue and the infrastructure remains strong.
"Dalby's future is assured because of the major developments both in the town area and adjoining shires," Cr Geisel said.
"With all of this development Council is committed to retaining our easy going lifestyle and improving our infrastructure so that residents; both old, young and new; continue to enjoy living in our town."
"I believe living in Dalby will continue to be an attractive alternative to the big city living."
Web Links
Welcome to Dalby. Information on business, employment, real estate, accommodation, dining and tourism. http://www.dalby.info/Dalby
Dalby Town Council. http://www.dalby.qld.gov.au/home.htm
Dalby Chamber of Commerce & Industry. http://www.dalbychamber.com.au/