Inclusive and Engaging City An Inclusive City welcomes and enables all people to participate fully in City life. Population, housing, services, social inclusion and liveability are important elements of this theme. An Engaging City is an attractive and stimulating place in which to live, work and visit with a high level of cultural vibrancy and creativity. It supports the arts, recreation, cultural heritage, events, festivals, services, sport and street activities for the greater benefit of the community. Inclusive and Engaging City 43
Increase participation in the cultural life of the City Embrace and accommodate cultural diversity Promote a healthy, active and involved civic society Build on and create a city environment that promotes participation in, and the expression of, the City s various cultures Create a city environment where the community feels safe and comfortable and that stimulates cultural activity and vibrancy Create diverse public spaces and leisure facilities to provide for the needs of the City s diverse communities (for example, children, young people, residents and workers) Create a multicultural community centre within the City Strategic direction 3.1 Welcome and facilitate all sectors of the community to participate in City life An environment that empowers and fosters community involvement and builds social and community networks is essential to the City s future. Understanding, welcoming and embracing all sectors of the community is important to enable all to participate fully in City life. High levels of participation in a city s cultural life generate a sense of vitality, attractiveness, liveability and democracy. Importantly, participation in city life and an active and responsible civic culture are central to enhancing social capital. Use Melbourne Town Hall, North Melbourne Town Hall and the Horticultural Hall as centres of civic life Develop partnerships to enrich the City s social capital Provide opportunities for community involvement and participation in Council activities and decision making Physical settings provide part of the environment that invites participation in public life and provide the venues where people can meet, engage and connect, and express their own identity. A creative, safe and vibrant street environment helps to create an engaging and exciting city. 44
Strategic direction 3.2 Deliver and provide access to facilities and services to support those living in, visiting, and working in the City Services and facilities that are needed, particularly in the Central City, include education, family health facilities, children s services, library and information services, community support and recreation services and facilities for people with a disability. As the residential population changes and grows over time, and given the City s capital city role and high daily visitation levels, it is important that the community s needs are monitored on an ongoing basis and that services and facilities adapt and change. The types of facilities traditionally found in metropolitan suburbs will be required in the Central City. Similarly, the needs of City workers and visitors are becoming increasingly complex as changing demographic patterns influence lifestyles. Access to quality supermarkets, local shops, childcare centres, schools and medical facilities are becoming necessary within the Central City. These services are particularly important in new residential areas and neighbourhoods where there are high proportions of short-term residents, and in areas where stable networks are harder to establish. Meet the diverse needs of City residents, workers and visitors by providing a range of affordable and equitable services and facilities Ensure that City assets and services are responsive to the changing demands of residents, workers and visitors to the City Encourage the development of services commensurate with a capital city and its function Achieve and promote a high standard of environmental health Support the location and contribution of public institutions, including art galleries, libraries, educational institutions, museums and associated public education programs in the City Improve the accessibility of City services and facilities by providing signage and services that are user-friendly for international and local audiences Establish a Central City library and community health care centre in the CBD Maintain accreditation as a Safe City with the World Health Organisation Establish the Capital City Local Learning and Employment Network Improve facilities for young people, children and their families, the aged and people with disabilities Work with other government, non-government and private sector organisations to plan, co-ordinate and improve service provision Inclusive and Engaging City 45
Strategic direction 3.3 Promote, celebrate and further develop the City of Melbourne as a city for the arts and as a sporting capital with a rich and vibrant cultural life Culture is broader than simply the arts it is essentially a way of life and a celebration of the community. Council s facilities and resources for arts and sports are the best in Australia and of a wide variety. Recognition of and support for the arts and cultural community are essential. The 2006 Commonwealth Games and other major events will showcase the City s diverse range of leisure, cultural and sporting activities. Continue to build and develop the strong cultural identity of the City and its communities Nurture, facilitate and further develop the City s arts industry and community Support Melbourne as a hub of diverse arts and cultural activity Support and encourage cultural activity within the public domain Promote and further develop Melbourne s renowned capabilities as the sporting capital of Australia Support programs that support cultural and arts development within the City Encourage artistic expression and activities in the City s public spaces Develop cultural activities/programs associated with the 2006 Commonwealth Games Develop a new Waterfest to celebrate Melbourne s reconnection with its waterways Enhance the Melbourne Cricket Ground and Sports and Entertainment Precinct 46
Strategic direction 3.4 Increase the City s residential population The vast majority of the City of Melbourne s housing growth over the past four years occurred in the CBD; in June 2001 the CBD had a residential population of 9500 16. Apartments now comprise 74 per cent of total dwellings in the City 17. Despite this, it is important that there is a diversity of housing types and tenures throughout the City to provide for people s changing housing needs over their lifecycles. The City housing market is not presently providing for low to moderate income households and there is a growing need for low-cost accommodation and social housing. The establishment of the Inner City Social Housing Trust is one way Council is addressing this need. Ensuring the City s residents have access to appropriate social and support infrastructure is essential to creating a residential environment that is secure and that enables the community to become settled and to establish networks. Making the City safe for residents is also important. Increase housing densities and the number of dwellings throughout the City in a sensitive and sustainable manner Encourage a diverse range of housing options, including affordable housing across the inner Melbourne area and the City of Melbourne to increase the residential population and to meet the housing needs of the community Ensure new residential developments contribute to the social and physical infrastructure of the City Provide a level of residential amenity in the Central City commensurate with a vibrant and active twenty-four hour city Develop the culture and identity of local communities and emerging neighbourhoods Docklands will provide residential accommodation for 15 000 people The Inner City Social Housing Trust has been established to provide a financial and management vehicle to extend social housing stock in inner Melbourne The Athletes Village for the 2006 Commonwealth Games will provide permanent housing for 6000 people approximately 20 30 per cent of the Village will be social housing Inclusive and Engaging City 16 City of Melbourne & ABS estimates, June 2001 17 City of Melbourne, Property Base System, June 2001 47
Strategic direction 3.5 Protect Melbourne s distinctive physical character and ensure it continues to develop a strong sense of place and identity The City s public spaces make up its physical framework/structure and create a setting for people, activities and buildings. The quality of the City s public and built environment and its parks and gardens are one of Melbourne s greatest attributes. The existing form and legibility of Melbourne, which is enhanced by the Hoddle Grid and laneways located in the Central City, contribute to the City s character. These features, in conjunction with the City s people, cultural life and public art, combine to create a unique sense of place and identity. Melbourne s parks and gardens provide a range of passive and active recreational opportunities. As the City s population increases and public spaces are used more frequently, the maintenance and enhancement of these spaces becomes more important. Protect, value and respect the cultural, natural, heritage and built form of the City and its diverse neighbourhoods Reinforce the City s diverse built form, especially the dominance of the Central City/Hoddle Grid Provide and maintain a variety of quality parklands and informal public spaces to meet the passive and active recreational needs of the community Reinforce and extend the role of public sculpture, monuments and artworks in creating landmarks and a sense of place and identity in the City Extend the Central City s street grid, streetscape and urban form into Docklands, especially through the Collins Street extension Create a new City boulevard along the western approach to the City (at Footscray or Dynon roads) Enhance the boulevard appearance of Swanston Street between Victoria Street and Elgin Street 48
Strategic direction 3.6 Enhance the quality of the existing public and private built form and further develop the City as an exemplary urban environment The City s urban fabric is constantly changing with new developments and redevelopments affecting the built environment and public realm. To maintain and enrich the City s distinctive urban character, it is important to achieve positive outcomes in all areas of the City s urban environment design of private developments and public spaces, parks and gardens, infrastructure provision and maintenance of civil infrastructure assets. The location and scale of development can also affect the City s urban form, character and structure. The key is to ensure that new developments add value to the overall character of Melbourne, create an accessible, safe, inclusive and engaging public environment, and that they provide high levels of public and private amenity. The cycle of change offers the opportunity to incorporate sustainable design principles and treatments of built form. Development not only needs to be sensitive to the existing urban environment (especially heritage assets) but also needs to also make a positive contribution to Melbourne. Continuously improve the urban design, amenity, safety and quality of the City s public environment, particularly its streets, laneways, parks and gardens and improve links between key sites and activities in the City Recognise the distinctive character and built form of the City s diverse neighbourhoods and complement their architecture, scale and character in new developments Ensure that the urban form and physical layout of the City facilitates both pedestrian and bicycle access in and around the City Ensure that the leafy nature of the City is maintained and enhanced through parks and gardens and built environment Enhance and develop areas of open and public space throughout the City where people can safely gather, meet and interact Design public urban space and promote activities that encourage people to visit and extend their time in the City Ensure that new development is well designed for users and makes a positive contribution to the public realm and City environment Maximise solar access to key public spaces Facilitate redevelopment of key vacant sites in the Central City Identify creative uses of new spaces and opportunities to revitalise existing spaces Federation Square will create a new civic meeting space for the City and link the civic axes of Swanston Street and the Yarra River corridor Pursue public realm enhancements within Southbank Enhance the City s public environment through the implementation of the Urban Design Strategy Enhance the City s boulevards, especially along Victoria Parade and Wellington Parade Support revitalisation of and enhancements to the public environment of the Central City s west end Inclusive and Engaging City 49
Strategic direction 3.7 Continue to develop the Yarra River corridor as the City s primary recreational and leisure feature The growth and development of Southbank, improvements, links and access to and along the Yarra River, increased population density and growth in outdoor living, and recreational and leisure activities have all acted as catalysts to burgeoning riverside activity. These developments have coincided with increasing use of the Yarra River for transportation, tourism, recreation and cultural activities. Continued development along the river s edge, including an upgrade of the Sports and Entertainment Precinct, improvements to Northbank and the development of Docklands, will contribute to continued growth. The City s future well being and liveability depends on the strategic management of the Yarra River Corridor as the City s primary leisure and recreational feature. Some of the specific opportunities are shown on the map Yarra River corridor. Reinforce the importance of the Yarra River as a central feature and asset of the City Improve pedestrian and bicycle connectivity along both banks of the Yarra River, upstream from Docklands and across the river at regular intervals Facilitate and encourage the expansion of river transport as a regular, affordable and attractive way of moving around the inner City Stage major City events and public occasions within the Yarra River corridor from Birrarung Marr to Spencer Street Bridge Ensure that activity within the Yarra River corridor feeds back into the occupation and use of the City s neighbouring public areas (for example, Southbank and the Hoddle Grid) Protect and enhance the natural capital of the Yarra River Develop bicycle and pedestrian links along the Northbank Enhance Northbank and Southbank Remove the Flinders Street overpass and redevelop the old fish market site Develop Queensbridge Square and Sandridge Bridge Link Federation Square with the Yarra River, Central City and the Southbank Arts Precinct Improve connections between key features Host Waterfest to focus attention on the Yarra River 50
Yarra River Corridor Inclusive and Engaging City 51
Strategic direction 3.8 Increase metropolitan, rural, national and international tourism The City of Melbourne is a world-class city with a vibrant and diverse range of attractions, events and lifestyles. It is in close proximity to the many attractions of regional Victoria. Increase the City s share of the tourism market Promote the City as a gateway to Victoria Enhance the City experience the product, its quality, diversity and availability Increase participation in the City s cultural, entertainment and sporting life Foster and support tourism activity in greater Melbourne as well as within the City s municipal boundaries Support the development of tourism infrastructure, including visitor information Develop a new Plenary Hall to augment the Convention Centre and extend the City s ability to attract international conventions Host at least two major business events in the City each year 52
Strategic direction 3.9 Attract, facilitate and maximise benefits of major City events and festivals Events and festivals not only increase visitation to the City; they also celebrate the community s diversity and talents and increase cultural understanding and awareness. Events and festivals help ensure that the energy of the City s cultural activity is evident on streets and in public spaces, and make an important contribution to the City s economy. Position Melbourne nationally and globally as the events and festivals capital of Australia by providing and supporting a diverse range of quality events year round Enhance the quality and variety of sporting, recreational and entertainment events hosted in the City Derive maximum long-term benefit for the City from key events, such as the 2006 Commonwealth Games Provide a coordinated approach to the hosting of events within the City Increase City visitation and improve public perception and enjoyment of the City through events and festivals Maximise the flow-on effect of events and festivals throughout the City Facilitate the provision of event facilities and encourage the staging of major city events and festivals in a range of public spaces throughout the City Ensure that the community can access the range of events held in the City Inclusive and Engaging City 2002 Melbourne World Masters Games 2003 Melbourne Waterfest 2005 World Deaf Olympics 2006 Commonwealth Games 53
Indicators Indicators The City s progress will be measured against the following indicators: Indicator: Community participation in City activities Expenditure in the City when key events staged Number of visitors to the City for events and their perceptions of the City Number (aggregate and break down) of events, arts and sporting and cultural festivals Affordability of events ratio of free events to paid events Breakdown of events by culture/ethnicity Indicator: Community use of City services Cost to Council to provide community services Number of City residents, workers and visitors accessing Council services Customer satisfaction levels with Council services and facilities Indicator: City safety Resident, worker and visitor perceptions of City safety Indicator: Melbourne s cultural focus Number of artists working in the City Number of arts organisations located in the City Number of registered street buskers Number of approvals for street activities (one-off events, parades, festivals, markets and concerts) Indicator: Standard of living in the City Cost of housing in the City compare types and location Percentage of people who spend 30 per cent or more of income on housing Percentage breakdown of housing types Percentage of City housing that is social housing or crisis accommodation Average household spending on education as a percentage of household income Average household spending on recreation and leisure activities as a percentage of household income Indicator: Quality of the City s urban environment Range, diversity and intensity of use of public spaces Funding provided for public art installations Funding uptake for Melbourne Heritage Restoration Fund projects Funding provided for improvements to the Yarra River corridor Number of visitors to the Yarra River and its environs Water quality of the Yarra River Percentage of City events that are waste wise events Amount of rubbish that is generated by housing construction sites and the amount that is recycled Community satisfaction with the urban environment by street cleanliness; noise; visual pollution; and disabled access/pram/wheelchair access Indicator: The City as a tourist gateway City income generated by tourism Number of hotel rooms and tourist accommodation and occupancy rates Number of tourist industry employees Number of tourists to Melbourne Indicator: Community participation in City governance Citizen satisfaction with Council s governance Number of people involved in Council-run consultations Number of opportunities Council provides for community participation Number of times Council consults with the community 54