Building liveable cities is an ambition for most councils across Australia, but just what makes up the core ingredients of a city’s liveability? New data shows Australians value inner-city, high-amenity, mixed-density typologies, with access to established landscapes and green space. The Place Score Australian Liveability Census for 2023 also revealed people living in denser suburbs are happier. The national survey of more than 25,000 participants ranked 50 key attributes of a liveable neighbourhood and the top five attributes were access to amenity, connectivity, green space, visual character of the neighbourhood and a sense of personal safety. Compact and walkable cities of the future Australia’s most liveable community is Subiaco in Western Australia. It scored a Place Experience score of 81, compared to the national average of 67.  Place Score chief executive Kylie Legge says the data shows higher density communities also beat out the national average, with a score of 69, notably higher than its low density counterparts.  Legge says there have been big spikes between the previous survey two years ago and now in terms of demand for access to amenity and green space.  “We want more compact and more walkable cities and a sense of community,” Legge says. “This census data is about creating high level agreement on what is the common good, and to create more certainty and transparency about what liveable communities look like. We need a new approach to a new normal.” Legge says ease of driving was ranked at 31 in the list of 50, which demonstrates that drivability does not correlate with liveability.   Top 10 most liveable local government areas Rank LGA State PX score 1 Subiaco WA 81 2 Lane Cove NSW 79 3 Hunters Hill NSW 78 4 Boroondarra VIC 77 5 Surf Coast VIC 77 6 Vincent WA 77 7 North Sydney NSW 76 8 Cambridge WA 76 9 Port Phillip VIC 76 10 Noosa  QLD  76 *Source: State of Place 2023 Australian Liveability Census Legge says the data can be used to help generate planning and policy that aligns with values and priorities of cities and their inhabitants.  “The data shows we want neighbourhoods with walkable local amenity, that’s close to stuff. It’s not necessarily about having a regional hospital, it may be about having a local park or a community space where people can come together, because they want to feel connected,” she says. ▲ Place Score chief executive Kylie Legge says it is difficult to create liveable communities in the outer growth suburbs. The data also points to the challenges faced in developing liveable greenfield communities.  “You can’t develop the outer ring growth areas with the same liveability as you can in the established suburbs, and that talks to the infill development of the missing middle,” Legge says.  “Established suburbs have 150 years of investment and infrastructure embedded in it. The most liveable neighbourhoods are in that middle ring with mixed density and housing typologies. “Essentially what the community is asking for is a 15-minute neighbourhood.” Legge says applying this data to planning across Australia it is clear that we need to look at going up instead of out, and develop more flexibility around land uses, and retain as many trees as we can to combat the heat island effect and protect residents’ connection to nature.  Medium density communities are happiest Creating medium density liveable communities comes down to the strategic selection of sites close to public transport and existing infrastructure, according to Nightingale’s chief executive Dan McKenna.  “Our projects are predominantly car-free and designed at human scale, ensuring that residents can effortlessly reach all their necessities within the equivalent of a brief stroll,” McKenna says.  “Our heartland is Brunswick [inner north Melbourne] where Nightingale residents can easily get their groceries, go to the doctor, visit the pool, go to work, play soccer, see some live music and get to a school or kindy without relying on a car.”   ▲ Dan McKenna says developing community is about creating space for connectedness.  McKenna says there are a few “essential ingredients” for developing and delivering liveable communities, such as award-winning Nightingale Village at Brunswick. Engagement with prospective residents was the first step, and helping to foster a sense of community within that group.  “We make sure to celebrate key project milestones in person, so by the time residents move in, they have already forged connections with their neighbours, started WhatsApp chats, and established a sense of security,” he says.  “Nightingale projects feature ground-floor, tactile commercial spaces that play a vital role in activating the streetscape and fostering a connection between residents and the broader community. At Nightingale Village, you’ll find a diverse mix of businesses, from a Japanese-style corner store, restaurant, and flower shop to a cycle store, psychologist’s office, and other professional spaces.  “We also prioritise the inclusion of high-quality shared spaces in every project. While rooftop laundries might not be a groundbreaking concept, they are undeniably some of the most dynamic community spaces. There’s nothing quite like striking up a conversation with your neighbour while sharing a friendly chat during a laundry cycle.” Creating smarter and more liveable communities is something that is also close to Dr Michael Rosemann’s heart in his bid for “efficient growth” in cities.  The zero-minute city of the future Rosemann is the director of the QUT Centre for Future Enterprise and spoke at the recent Asia Pacific Cities Summit in Brisbane.  Rosemann says crafting better cities was about “smart consumption”, which requires step change.  “The sense of urgency is prominent in growing cities, they all face the same situation. They can’t just grow, they can’t just get bigger, they need to get better,” Rosemann says.  “The notion of smart cities is very much about what we provide, whether it’s sustainable infrastructure, more trees, efficient transport, it’s a very provider-centric view.  “But the focus now is not what we do but how our citizens live. In a city with zero constraints I get the most livable city I can imagine.” ▲ Dr Michael Rosemann says smart and liveable cities of the future will anticipate its residents needs. Rosemann says there are five types of constraints holding back cities, economic, spatial, temporal, personal and informational. He says cities should be working towards becoming a zero-minute city.  “We are living in an age of unconscious incompetence, you sleep well but you shouldn’t. The future has arrived, just probably not in your city.” Rosemann says cities should be able to anticipate its residents needs and technology is aiding this drive towards a zero-minute liveable city.  “I would like to propose City 5.0 as a collective ambition. And the ambition is not about how we become smarter about what we provide, but what we can do for our citizens. And that means creating a liveable city by eliminating anything that prevents you from consuming anything that we offer.” You are currently experiencing  The Urban Developer  Plus (TUD+), our premium membership for property professionals.  Click here to learn more.
