When it all gets too much, take $7000 to escape the rat race

STEVE McCARTHY knew it was time to escape Sydney when he realised he loathed the city more than he liked it.

Mr McCarthy and his young family fled Erskine Park in western Sydney for Tamworth, for a life without traffic congestion and crowded public transport.

And the state government hopes others will do the same. It is offering a one-off, $7000 grant to encourage frazzled city dwellers to leave Sydney, Newcastle or Wollongong for regional NSW on the condition they do not spend more than $600,000 on a home.

The four-year relocation scheme will start on July 1 and be capped at 40,000 grants.  

Source: SMH.com.au