Walking the talk….
After growing up in the rural area of North Queensland and then spending nearly 25 years in South East Queensland in the study and practice of Landscape Architecture and Urban Design…a “tree change” called and in 2005 Robert Prestipino relocated his practice (Vital Places Pty Ltd) and his family to a rural property near Crows Nest, on the Toowoomba escarpment.
His colleagues, thought it courageous and many wondered how he could get any work being so “remote” from the city…surely his professional career was over!
Since 2005 Vital Places has consolidated its expertise in the revitalisation and strategic planning of regional communities winning national and international awards as well as securing millions of dollars for regional community revitalisation projects.
Today, his family is thriving and his children go to local schools and most of the living expenses of raising a family are spent within 30 minutes of their residence.
This story was made possible by the internet
The lifestyle and the ability to contribute to the sustainability of regional communities could not have been possible without an internet connection and a mobile phone.
The experience of regional professional practice combined with a strong track record in delivering innovative approaches to the challenges of declining towns and business centres, enable Robert to bring a unique and ‘hands on’ understanding of the challenges facing the prosperity of regional communities and the critical role of Ecommerce to secure its economic future. (see case study presentation for Liveability Framework prepared for RDA Darling Downs & South West)
The future of the Australia’s regional identity and vitality will be determined by our ability to replace the diminishing rural employment with new families who can secure well paid local jobs….this will be underpinned by retaining the vibrancy and profitability of businesses within our regional centres and adjacent towns…and the internet is going to be critical to achieving this goal.
Robert has launched “Local” Vital Places in direct response to the growing need for local businesses to tap into the opportunities of the expanding ecommerce marketplace.
