Sydney moves up in global liveability rankings

Sydney’s improved liveability ranking, moving from number 11 in the world to number five in The Economist Intelligence Unit’s Global Liveability Ranking shows we are on the right track as a city.

Sydney scored best for infrastructure, healthcare and education demonstrating the increased investment in infrastructure across the city is starting to produce results.

“We are a city that is growing and with this growth comes challenges; challenges for how we move around the city easily, educate our children, access healthcare and provide housing for future generations; we know the key to meeting this challenge is good planning,” Property Council NSW Executive Director Jane Fitzgerald said this month.

“We have all the right pieces in place in Sydney including investment and sound metropolitan governance, the important thing over the next five to ten years will be the implementation of the plans we have and ensuring equitable growth and increased liveability across our city.”

Professor Greg Clark’s Creating Great Australian Cities report, released by the Property Council earlier this year, found that Sydney was a ‘contender’ city with a strong brand yet one that struggles with issues such as transport, congestion, low density development and fragmented local government.

“The findings from The Economist reflect what we have found in our research, that we have some great strengths as a city as well as areas that require an increased focus – we must stay the course on our plan for growth in Sydney, implementing the plans of the Greater Sydney Commission, Transport for NSW and Infrastructure NSW is critical,” Ms Fitzgerald continued.

“Implementing these plans will ensure that the record investment we are seeing in social and transport infrastructure can be met with well planned, sustainable communities that will mean that Sydney can continue to move up the world liveability rankings.

“As we move towards an election in March next year, our focus must be on creating a great Sydney for everyone and a strengthened resolve to make the decisions and the policy moves to ensure that happens.”