This is how much Canberrans can save by working from home

Canberrans can save up to $12,000 simply while working from home, according to new data from RobertsDay which revealed that some of the benefits of working remotely included not having to commute to work, which Canberrans ranked quite highly.

According to the survey, while 72 per cent of Australians across the country said the benefit of working from home was avoiding commuting to work, in the ACT this constituted 94 per cent of respondents.

“Some people are of the view that Canberrans haven’t got a long way to commute because it’s a modest-scale city … but in saying that, it’s quite a dispersed city,” said RobertsDay director and urban planner Mike Day.

“The data tells us that Canberrans are enjoying spending time at home with families or getting some exercise in because they reclaimed time they would normally spend driving.”

Mr Day applauded the territory government’s push for urban infill which has resulted in more walkable neighbourhoods, noting that this should be reflected in other cities.

“When Burley Griffin laid out Canberra, he had this idea in mind,” Mr Day said.

“Residents living in urban renewal areas including Gungahlin, Kingston, Tuggeranong, Dickson and Civic don’t have to rely on their vehicles as much … they are in walking distance to essential services like the grocery store, restaurants and even parks.”

If more people worked from home, it could reduce the need for a second car and could save home owners $10,000 to $12,000 per year in car ownership and maintenance costs, Mr Day said.

Other data from the survey revealed 61 per cent of respondents enjoyed the work-life balance; 57 per cent said they liked not having to dress for work and 36 per cent said there were fewer distractions when working remotely, and therefore was more productive.

“As NSW, Queensland, and the ACT face the possible prospect of a lockdown similar to that of Victoria, it presents an opportunity for all levels of government to embrace a ‘20-minute neighbourhood’ initiative,” he said.

“In turn, this would deliver more equitable, sustainable and affordable contemporary communities that can provide a much more resilient and sustainable living environment during prolonged periods of remote working.”