IN-PERSON London. Section A

Abstract

Melbourne has been declared the world’s most liveable city by the Global Liveability Index, 8 times in the past 13 years. With a slip down to 10th in 2021, Melbourne has risen up the ranks back into 3rd place in 2023 as the city emerges from the lockdowns of Covid19. But the experience of Melbournians, particularly those living outside its infrastructure rich inner and middle suburbs, is far from world class. With the high cost of housing and poor access to infrastructure in growth areas, many Melbournians are facing a crisis. The Victorian State Government is at a point where significant planning changes are afoot: seeking to make a meaningful impact on the way in which housing is delivered and access to infrastructure is more evenly shared across this growing metropolis. In a state where third party involvement in planning is a fundamental right and the concerns of those who own housing and seek to protect their rights is the dominant narrative, things are starting to change. This session will explore recent planning reform in Melbourne as it grapples with its popularity as one of the OECD’s fastest growing cities so that it can truly be called one of the world’s most liveable cities. Join Colleen as she builds upon the themes explored at the New York conference in 2023, reviewing planning reform proposed by State Authorities to address the key issues affecting real world experience in one of the world’s supposedly most liveable cities.