Culture and the Metropolis

Message from the Ministers By world standards Melbourne is a great city. The Bracks Government is committed to maintaining Melbourne’s reputation as a highly liveable city and an attractive investment destination. The Government has embarked on the preparation of a Metropolitan Strategy to set a clear vision for Melbourne’s future liveability, prosperity and, importantly, its long-term sustainability. The preparation of the Metropolitan Strategy is drawing on inputs from a wide range of sources. It is vital that the strategy has a sound research and information basis. It is also especially vital that community aspirations for the city’s future be well understood. The key inputs to the strategy therefore include both a wide ranging public consultation program as well as a series of research or technical papers on issues that may have an impact on Melbourne’s future. The Bracks Government has given an undertaking to make as much of this background information as possible widely available to stimulate discussion about the future of Melbourne. This report is one of the technical reports commissioned by the Department of Infrastructure, which we hope will stimulate feedback. At this stage content and recommendations are only the views of its authors and not necessarily the views of the Government. The Strategy is still in its early stages of development and we remain open to hearing what the broader community would like it to encompass. We encourage you to read this and other technical reports and, should you wish, to make your views known about the future of Melbourne by contacting us on