The theme you have chosen for your conference is Liveability .

The notion of Liveability increasingly underpins every single aspect of how we plan for our future as a community. But what does Liveability actually mean? I'm sure that everybody here would define it differently.

From a government's point of view, there are a number of factors which define Liveability. The first thing that springs to mind when we talk about liveability is the quality of the physical environment.

What measures are in place to ensure that priceless wilderness areas and wildlife are preserved for the continued enjoyment of all members of the community? What controls are in place to ensure the protection of the urban environment including streetscapes, heritage buildings and public open spaces? Are strict air and water quality guidelines vigilantly applied?

Liveability is also about striking the appropriate balance between economic growth and development and social and environmental considerations. Are the necessary planning and environmental controls in place to ensure that economic growth does not come at the cost of social or environmental damage?

Of course liveability is also about ensuring that the population's basic needs for food and public housing are met.

Another key aspect of liveability is the degree to which infrastructure is provided in an efficient and timely manner. Are infrastructure resources being applied where they are most needed? Do all members of the community enjoy equal access to infrastructure and essential services?

Safety and law and order are also central to the notion of Liveability. It is pointless to talk about height controls, heritage preservation and public open space if the citizens cannot walk the streets with confidence.

Livability is also about multiculturalism and the need to put in place a framework to ensure that a richly diverse cultural mix is not just encouraged, but embraced.

So, the concept of Liveability cuts across, and impacts on, every single area of Government.

It is tempting, but too simplistic, to believe that the protection of our environmental and social values is automatically incompatible with the pursuit of economic growth and prosperity. In fact, these objectives should always go hand in hand despite the cries from a few shrill critics that they cannot; because without a strong and dynamic economy the State cannot afford to provide the essential services and infrastructure which are vital components of livability, nor can it attract private sector investment in infrastructure.

As you know, the Kennett Government was elected in 1992 on a platform of sweeping reform. Underpinning the broad reform programme was a very straight forward aim; to make Victoria a better place to live, invest and do business.

We set out to achieve this with a mix of microeconomic reforms designed to increase the competitiveness of the Victorian economy, and broader macroeconomic measures aimed at strengthening our budgetary position and creating a stable environment for investment and economic growth. A vital element of the reform process involved the review of many of the services and utilities traditionally provided by Government, often at a loss, with a view to transferring the provision of these services to the private sector.

The State Government believes that private sector operators do offer consumers a better service, more efficiently.

Since that time a number of privatisation initiatives have resulted in significant savings to both the state government and the public, including:

• Structural reform and privatisation of the electricity industry, which will deliver real reductions of 16% and 28% in household and small business electricity prices respectively between 1993 and 2000,
  
• Structural, reform of the water industry, to achieve economies of scale and improve servicers to water users,
  
• Reform of Local Government which led to an overall reductions in rates of $263 million in 1995-96,
  
• The former Gas and Fuel corporation has now been unbundled into three separate businesses which will be sold to private operators creating genuine competition in the gas industry,
  
• The privatisation of more than 90% of Melbourne's bus network, with the remaining service now up for tender, resulting in a more customer responsive service and the introduction of much-needed new services in outlying suburbs.
  

The State Government has really encapsulated the concept of liveability, and the inextricable relationship between economic growth and quality of life, in a suite of inter-related policy initiatives launched over the last three years.

Central to these is Living Suburbs, a policy for Metropolitan Melbourne into the 21st century ; a ground-breaking policy document with which many of you are very familiar, I'm sure. Developed by the then Department of Planning and Development, with input from a range of State Government Ministers and their Departments, Living Suburbs is the first whole of government broad planning framework for Victoria; encompassing economic development, transport, community services and planning whilst recognising and celebrating those things that make Melbourne liveable; its vibrant cultural mix, its beautiful parks and open spaces, its magnificent heritage buildings and unique streetscapes.

The document is pragmatic about the fact that it is only by ensuring ongoing prosperity that we can preserve and protect this high standard of liveability. The policy identified five directions for future planning for Melbourne, dedicated to preserving and enhancing the city's much vaunted liveability.

The five directions are:

1 To provide a business environment conducive to sustainable long-term economic growth by;
‚ promoting strategic business and infrastructure investment; and
‚ streamlining the regulatory framework and making Melbourne more internationally competitive.

2 To build on Melbourne¼s strengths as an international transport, production and communications hub by;
‚ improving road, rail, air and sea links to national and international markets, and
‚ improving public transport.

3 To strengthen trade, investment and transport links between Melbourne and regional Victoria to increase the competitiveness of the Victorian economy.

4 To enhance Melbourne's environment and liveability by preserving its urban character and heritage, maintaining and expanding the city's parks and recreation facilities, fostering multiculturalism and creating safer communities.

5 To create a more functional city by better managing Melbourne's infrastructure and urban development.

Living Suburbs incorporates other key State Government policy initiatives including the Department of Infrastructure's Good design guide for medium density housing, Transporting Melbourne and Transporting Victoria.

Transporting Melbourne, launched by the Department of Infrastructure in September 1996 is the first integrated transport strategy for Melbourne since 1969. The document, which was developed to complement the Living Suburbs planning policy for metropolitan Melbourne, takes an overall strategic look at Melbourne's future road and public transport needs.

The strategy will ensure that not only will Melbourne get the big ticket infrastructure investments like freeways, as and where they are needed, but also that all of Melbourne, from the established suburbs to the newly developing areas, will continue to have access to a clean, safe and reliable public transport network.

Transporting Melbourne will be complemented by Transporting Victoria, which is currently being developed by the Department of Infrastructure and is due to be released in draft form later this year. Transporting Victoria is an integrated transport strategy for country Victoria, covering passenger and freight, road and rail.

Linking Victoria, a strategy for managing Victoria's rural freeways, highways, main roads and tourist roads, which was released by Vicroads in December last year, will form a key element of Transporting Victoria.

So there you have a potted version of the State Government's ideas about Liveability; rather characteristically, I suppose, a healthy mix of pragmatism and idealism.

Melbourne glories in our title World's Most Livable City. But it is only by building and maintaining a robust economy that we will retain this title into the next century. Stringent environmental controls, high standards of public health, low crime rates, attractive streetscapes, good public housing, safe and reliable public transport, modern hospitals and beautiful and extensive parks and gardens are all luxuries which only a wealthy and prosperous community can afford.

To those of you have travelled from elsewhere to attend the conference, I welcome you to Melbourne, and urge you to enjoy our beautiful city.

Thank you .

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