Future Melbourne

Democracy, in its true classical sense, is coming to Melbourne with the announcement of the first Future Melbourne public forums hosted by the City of Melbourne and the University of Melbourne.

To start this wide ranging discussion, a series of five public forums will be held over the next two months to identify the issues facing Melbourne and the values that define our city. Melburnians will also be able to participate online through the Future Melbourne eVillage at www.futuremelbourne.com.au.

Lord Mayor John So said Future Melbourne was about inventing Melbourne’s future together.

"We aim to position Melbourne as the Asia Pacific region’s pre-eminent capital city for living, working and investing,” he said.

“This is the first time a city strategy has been created in this way – in partnership with the University of Melbourne, the community and a host of other organisations – and we are all excited about discovering what our future might hold.

“This is the start of a great conversation about Melbourne.”

Professor Vijoleta Braach-Maksvytis, the University of Melbourne's Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Innovation and Development), said the University was delighted to host a series of public forums that brought together a broad range of experts to examine the city's most pressing topics.
''These forums tackle the big issues that confront large cities,'' Professor Braach-Maksvytis said.
"The unique and exciting element of this process is that some of Melbourne's finest minds will provide their views and expertise across a range of subjects.
“That diversity will greatly benefit the inquiry phase of Future Melbourne.''

Issues and Values Forums program:
The forums, to be chaired by science journalist and presenter Dr Gael Jennings, will feature panellists such as Asialink chairman Sid Myer (speaking about Melbourne's cultural identity), economics Professor John Freebairn (sustaining Melbourne's prosperity) and the construction industry's Daniel Grollo and McCaughey Centre director Professor John Wiseman who will discuss change and social inclusion.

The forums will explore key urban issues such as climate change, decline of manufacturing, rising energy costs, water shortages, housing security/access; public safety and vitality, and cultural identity. Audience members are welcome and encouraged to participate in the debate. The June forums will be held in the University of Melbourne Bio 21 Theatre while the July forums will be held at the Carrillo Gantner Theatre at the Sidney Myer Asia Centre on Swanston St at University of Melbourne.


Wednesday 13 June | 6pm to 7.30 pm | Cultural Identity: Melbourne’s Identity
Wednesday 20 June | 6pm to 7.30 pm | Sustaining Melbourne’s Prosperity
Wednesday 27 June | 6pm to 7.30 pm | Meeting the Environmental Shocks
Wednesday 4 July | 6pm to 7.30 pm | Change and Social Inclusion
Wednesday 11 July | 6pm to 7.30 pm | Building our city for the Future

Registration to attend the Future Melbourne events will be available from Friday 1 June 2007. For more information about Future Melbourne please visit www.futuremelbourne.com.au.

Background:
Through the Future Melbourne public conversations a 10-year plan will be developed to position Melbourne as the Asia Pacific region’s pre-eminent capital city for living, working and investing currently being developed by the City of Melbourne in partnership with the University of Melbourne.

Due for completion in September 2008, Future Melbourne will provide a complete vision and action plan for central Melbourne during the next decade.

The plan will be developed along 11 themes, covering the spectrum of Council’s services and responsibilities:

• Business Melbourne
• Cultural Melbourne
• Destination Melbourne
• Environmentally Sustainable Melbourne
• Global Melbourne
• Knowledge Melbourne
• Living Melbourne
• Moving Melbourne
• Public Melbourne
• Service Melbourne
• Sporting Melbourne

The development of Future Melbourne will also be assisted through partnerships with the Committee for Melbourne, the Victorian Council for Social Service, the Property Council of Australia (Vic) and the Australian Conservation Foundation. A reference group of leading Melburnians with expertise in sustainability, community services, sports, arts and culture, events, retail, bio-technology and multi-culturalism will also help steer the Future Melbourne strategy.