Cost pressures spur rise in border crossings

On the streets of Queanbeyan, old weatherboard houses are earmarked for demolition and abandoned blocks are being cleared for future development.

One of the driving factors behind the transformation is an influx of young buyers such as Eline Martinsen, who bought an apartment last month after tiring of expensive group houses in the ACT.

''I decided it was about time to go out on my own,'' she said. ''I'd looked at renting, but I thought I should think further ahead about how it will play out in the future.''

The 26-year-old student and freelance fashion designer said cost was the main reason behind her cross-border shift.

''It was going to cost me less to buy here than rent something similar in Canberra,'' she said.

''Also, I saw that apartments renting in Queanbeyan were getting higher rental returns. In the long-term, this seems like a good investment.''

The surge of first-home buyers and young couples has also boosted business for the new cafes and restaurants throughout the city, with older establishments such as the Royal Hotel opting for redevelopment.

Queanbeyan City mayor Tim Overall said the council was also working to meet the demands of the changing demographic.

''What we are focusing on is to make sure our social facilities and city centre is developed and revitalised,'' he said.

The council's current project is the Crawford Street Lifestyle Precinct, which Cr Overall said would create a ''more vibrant, people-friendly centre''.

''The section of Crawford Street between Monaro and Morisset streets was of particular concern with a number of empty shop fronts,'' he said.

''The street was generally an uninspiring part of the CBD.''

The project aims to create a pedestrian-friendly area encouraging alfresco dining and entertainment through wider footpaths and reduced traffic flow. Stephanie Anderson

This reporter is on Twitter: @stephanieando