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Australia's National Local Government Newspaper Online | |
| Editions > 2004 > November | Friday May 25, 2012 - Melbourne Time: 00:53:37 |
Australia leads the world in liveable communities
Australian Local Governments have once again proved to be world leaders in developing sustainable communities as witnessed by the recent United Nations International Awards for Liveable Communities (LivCom). Formerly known as the Nations in Bloom awards, this year eight Australian councils were amongst 48 finalists from 20 nations invited to make presentations to a panel of international judges. The judges used five criteria – enhancement of the landscape, heritage management, community involvement, use of environmentally sensitive practices and planning for the future – to award all finalists a gold, silver or bronze ranking. Councils competed in five categories, A to E, according to their population size. The top three entries in each category are deemed first, second or third. Staged in Niagara Falls, Canada, Coffs Harbour City Council was judged the best entry in the criteria Enhancement of the Landscape. In its presentation Coffs Harbour showed how the landscape has been improved to create environments that generate civic pride, assist enjoyable recreational experiences and the quality of life for the community. It submitted a number of projects under this section including revitalising the city centre, town and village improvements, open space management, the solitary islands coastal walk, improvement of residential areas through to planting and restoring of the landscape in West Coffs. Coffs Harbour was also placed second and received a silver award, in category B covering cities with populations between 20,001 and 75,000 residents. “The award is not a pat on the back for Council, but recognition of the commitment by the community to ensure that our beautiful city remains one of the most liveable communities in the world,” said Mayor Keith Rhoades. 
New South Wales’ Port Stephens also won a silver award in category B, with Camden receiving a bronze in the same section. As well as the city or council wide awards, there are also specific project awards. Victoria’s City of Whittlesea won a gold award and was equal winner in the project category, Natural Award, for developing a public golf course that has helped preserve the growling frog. In the category C for populations between 75,001 to 200,000, silver awards went to Darebin in Victoria, Randwick and Willoughby City Councils in New South Wales, and a bronze went to Frankston and Whittlesea Council in Victoria. Darebin’s submission focused on key aspects of Council’s operations such as:
The record numbers of entries included councils attending the finals for the first time from countries such as Latvia, Austria, Lithuania and Puerto Rico. LivCom is the world’s only awards competition focusing on best practice in the management of the local environment. Each year, communities that have met at the finals have formed partnerships to exchange best practice and practical experiences, and in many cases have arranged exchange visits to address mutual challenges. Other criteria winners of note were Shenzhen PR China (Heritage Management), City of Tshwane, South Africa (Use of Environmentally Sensitive Practices), Nieuwlande Council Hoogeveen, Netherlands (Community Involvement) and Port Moody, Canada (Planning for the Future). Director of LivCom, Alan Smith, said the finals of LivCom once again provided a very high standard of finalists with important information exchanged and partnerships between towns, cities and nations forged that will be mutually beneficial for years to come. The finals of the 2005 LivCom Awards will be held at La Coruna, Spain next October. |
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