environmentenvironmentenvironmente
This year’s Global Liveability Survey by the Economist’s Intelligence Unit named Melbourne as the most liveable city in the world. The Australian city has been nabbing the top spot of the list for the past three years, so big congratulations to Melbourne on such an outstanding record.
A total of 140 cities were surveyed on the categories of stability, healthcare, culture and environment, education and infrastructure. All the scores were added together and given a total out of 100 where Melbourne scored a whopping 97.5; very impressive I must say!
So what makes the city so liveable? Well, Melbourne boasts high standards of personal safety and comfort, social cohesion and cultural diversity, and most importantly, provides a pleasant environment for its citizens.
In case you didn’t know, the environment is an essential contributor to your quality of life. Recent studies show that the quality of your local living environment has a direct impact on your health and welfare. Having a well-maintained and preserved environment is good for your mental wellbeing as it gives you the chance to unwind and recover from everyday stresses. You also get the opportunity to engage in physical activity when you are surrounded by and have access to green spaces. So it comes as no surprise that Melbourne has a brilliant local environment; the city has more than 500 hectares of open space, which accounts for almost 15% of the total area and has a network of 480 hectares of internationally acclaimed parks and gardens. You can choose to relax in the sun in one of the city’s parks or you also have the option to attend a concert at Fitzroy Gardens, which have recently been awarded Green Flag status for its exceptional management and service provision. How amazing is that? A concert at a magnificent garden! Besides the beautiful greenery, Melbourne also has over 30 safe playgrounds to choose from, so the city has something for everyone, from toddlers to adults.
Another point I have to commend Melbourne for is its upcoming projects to improve the streetscapes. The municipality is investing time and energy into planting more trees and having tree reserves in order to reduce the urban heat island effect and to improve the liveability of the city in the future. Also associated with this is the work being done to increase cycling safety and creating newly separated cycle paths.
With all the work the city is doing to maintain its environmental sustainability, it is no surprise that it was voted number one. Other cities should take note and learn from the best, in particular UK and US cities who disappointingly did not make it to the top ten. Suffice to say, after discovering the environmental perks Melbourne has to offer, I’m determined to have a taste of how it feels to reside in the world’s most liveable city so Melbourne, I’m coming for you soon!
Sandra Ng’ambwa @sandrangambwa
Based between Manchester, UK and Nairobi, Kenya
1: Melbourne
2: Vienna
3: Vancouver
4: Toronto
5: Calgary & Adelaide
7: Sydney
8: Helsinki
9: Perth
10: Auckland
Top 10 most liveable cities of 2013*
*Based on the Economist Intelligence Unit Global Liveability Ranking and Report 2013
environmentenvironmentenvironmente
17