Ms Kate Brennan

Each time I return to Melbourne from visiting international cities I am reminded what a great city, in a truly fortunate country, it is.

It is a city which has always valued ideas and got behind making them happen.

There is no greater evidence of this than the way successive years of vision and planning have realised a mix of natural, urban, sporting, cultural and civic spaces which complement each other in ways that are envied across the world.

The thinking behind the public spaces and facilities of Melbourne is what makes them successful.

At Federation Square, the striking design was in response to a brief requiring it to support Melbourne’s civic and cultural identity and, as a result, Victorians and visitors have voted with their feet, making it one of their favourite places to visit.

Melburnians like to get things done and there is a sense of urgency in business and public life supported, generally, by a spirit of co-operation.

The results are obvious.

Harnessing our problem-solving capacity, capitalising on translating ideas into action and environments, and continuing to push a vision for the city that is future-oriented, will not only mean Melbourne will solve the ongoing dilemmas of 21st Century urban life, it will continue to set benchmarks for other cities.