SirRealEstate

I moved to Springwood in the lower Blue Mountains 10 years ago for the same reasons as people thinking of moving to the mountains today. It's cheaper than the city and suburbs, is a small homogeneous community with a village feel, and the oxygen is plentiful and free, and English is still the preferred language.

However a decade later the reality is that Springwood is increasingly at risk of becoming yet another victim of suburban sprawl in which the dictates of avaricious developers and a plethora of real estate agents merely lead to rapacious development,prejudice and indifference for tenants rights in favour of owners demands with an inflated price on all real estate transactions.

Yes I am a disgruntled renter, but that needn't put you off, it's still a great place to live as long as you understand and are aware of the long term fatigue which is inevitable if you need to commute to Sydney to work for instance. 2 hours + travel per day by car, 3 hours + per day by train.

Other difficulties are getting a good doctor that will take new patients,need to have a car for transport, and the most exciting aspect of living in the mountains...........bush fires !

Regarding Macquarie Road it depends which end either side of the shopping centre you live, as to the noise from the trains and traffic from the highway you can enjoy mainly at night.If you have a nice plasma TV a good stereo, more than one child or are deaf it won't be a problem.

Very few kids to annoy you on skate boards but an increasing number (3-5 and rising) of seniors on their motorised scooters who appear to have passed their driving tests in dodgem cars.

Everywhere is within walking distance if you have enough time.

Currently the oxygen is still plentiful and free unless the trees and bush are on fire, and everyone speaks English,with the exception of a small number of blokes at the Royal Hotel who are indiscernible in any language after 10pm.

I am inclined to dissuade anyone else from moving into the district for the simple reason that I want it all for myself, and and if you do move here then you will probably share this sentiment also once you survive the first couple of years.

ps the bush is beautiful, and most of the snakes ok (only joking.........I've only seen 1 in 10 years)