Media Release
6
November
Australia’s major cities unite to create better cities
Australia’s capital cities have joined with major regional cities Newcastle, Geelong
and the Gold Coast to form a Major City Working Group that will dedicate itself to
ensure a sustainable future for Australia’s cities.
At a meeting of the Council of Capital City Lord Mayors (CCCLM) in Sydney today,
the Lord Mayors unanimously agreed to form an alliance and working group to
ensure that the Prime Minister’s call for the future of Australia’s cities to
accommodate significant population growth is managed effectively.
The Lord Mayors and Mayors of Australia’s major cities moved to form the group to
forge stronger links with the Commonwealth Government and to work closely with
the Prime Minister to develop productive, affordable, liveable and sustainable cities.
Newcastle Lord Mayor John Tate was elected Chair of the Group, and Darwin Lord
Mayor Graeme Sawyer was elected a Co-Chair.
“It is important that the policy and planning for our major cities is grounded in the
knowledge and experience of the city councils and State and Territory
Governments,” Mr Tate said.
“This initiative will not only put the major capitals at the forefront of the planning
agenda but also the major regions which collectively represent a significant part of
Australia’s population, urban infrastructure and environment.
“This is a landmark occasion and is a new approach that will best prepare our nation
for the anticipated population growth announced by the Prime Minister last week. It
will enable us to capture opportunities and meet future challenges.
“On behalf of the working group of Lord Mayors and Mayors, we welcome the
opportunity to work with the Rudd Government to achieve our common objectives,”
he said.
Graeme Sawyer said the group would start the right conversations with the Federal
Government.
“Infrastructure funding will not flow unless we have communication between levels of
government,” Mr Sawyer said.
“Major cities are engaged on a daily basis in balancing the economic and social
needs of their city. City councils have the experience in maximising urban activity
while designing for the density required to accommodate the forecasted population
increase.
“As Lord Mayors and Mayors of major cities, we know how to engage the community
and key stakeholders in both understanding and planning for the changes that are
required to ensure the future sustainability of our cities.”
Media contact: Graham Cassidy, Cato Counsel, 0419 202317, or Deborah Wilkinson,
CCCLM, 6285 1672
Working Group Members:
Chair John Tate, Lord Mayor of Newcastle
Deputy Chair Graeme Sawyer, Lord Mayor of Darwin
Michael Harbison, Lord Mayor of Adelaide
Campbell Newman, Lord Mayor of Brisbane
John Mitchell, Mayor of Geelong
Ron Clark, Mayor of Gold Coast
Rob Valentine, Lord Mayor of Hobart
Robert Doyle, Lord Mayor of Melbourne
Lisa Scaffidi, Lord Mayor of Perth
Clover Moore MP, Lord Mayor of Sydney
SNAPSHOT OF THE INPUTS OF CAPITAL CITIES
o
64 per cent of the total population
o
63 per cent of small, medium and large businesses
o
78 per cent of economic growth (2001-06)
o
70 per cent of Gross Domestic Product
o
66 per cent of total jobs
o
70 per cent of total international visits (6 million plus visitors a year)
o
$1trillion in managed funds (the fourth largest in the world)
o
$3 billion a year investment by capital city councils
o
Administration by capital city councils of more than 25 billion in assets
NEWS 
