08.02.2018Infrastructure Australia launches Future Cities report at Committee for Melbourne industry forum

Tomorrow morning, the nation’s independent infrastructure advisor, Infrastructure Australia (IA), will launch its latest report on cities at an industry forum hosted by Committee for Melbourne.

The report warns that our city is at risk of losing its ‘World’s Most Liveable City’ mantle and becoming a congestion capital if development grows unchecked on Melbourne’s fringes.

“Committee for Melbourne supports the premise of the report that we must plan for our population growth now if we want to effectively shape Melbourne’s future”, said Martine Letts, Committee for Melbourne CEO.

“The Committee’s 2010 Melbourne Beyond 5 Million report was based on this premise.”

“The IA report’s approach rightly looks beyond individual major projects and takes a holistic, city shaping approach. However, a key to success is improved inter-agency coordination and close collaboration with state-based infrastructure agencies. So we are pleased to be collaborating with IA and Infrastructure Victoria today.”

“Our city’s success must also be underpinned by increased digital capability and whole-of city metropolitan master planning. This will drive productivity, investment as well as improve public services.”

“Like the IA report, Committee for Melbourne’s Melbourne 4.0 report, used scenario planning methodology. It lists a series of Strategic Needs which complement the recommendations in IA’s report”.

In its May 2017 Melbourne 4.0 report, the Committee for Melbourne called for the creation of an East Coast Megaregion as one key Strategic Need for Melbourne and Australia.

“In addition to providing a real competitive boost by activating key metropolitan hubs and regional centres, an East Coast Megaregion would alleviate the population growth pressures faced by Melbourne and Sydney and move us closer to a polycentric city model, more apt at dealing with growth”, noted Ms Letts.

Committee for Melbourne believes in the power of collaboration in curating better solutions.

“We must end the Melbourne versus Sydney and Federal versus State paradigms. We believe better outcomes are achieved by connecting all the thinking”.

“Great cities do not happen by chance – they develop through visionary thinking and long-term planning”.

-ENDS-