Melbourne – the world city – is spreading its reach far and wide, creating not only local, regional and national ties but global networks to achieve its vision of being a connected and accessible city.
The City of Melbourne has five sister cities and is the only Australian city in the prestigious Business Partner City (BPC) Network whose members include Asian powerhouse economies such as Hong Kong, Singapore, Bangkok and Jakarta. Council has an office in Tianjin, China, and, with the Victorian Government, has opened a business development office in San Francisco, United States.
To reinforce its reputation as an accessible city, Melbourne strives to create easy access to and within the city and key sites. The Victorian Government has accepted Council’s preferred option for a fast rail link between Spencer Street Station and Melbourne Airport. In the central business district, Council has guided the installation of tram ‘superstops’ to improve access for all passengers.
Council’s strategies to improve access around the city include better connections between the fast emerging Docklands area and the CBD; increasing public transport services; and ensuring a sustainable and highly integrated transport system including pedestrian and cycle links and river transport systems.
Global networks
Melbourne has five sister city relationships – Osaka, (Japan), Tianjin (China), Thessaloniki (Greece), Boston (United States) and St Petersburg (Russia) and is investigating creating formal links with Milan (Italy). Designed to foster international understanding and goodwill, the Sister City program builds activities around business, culture, education, sport, tourism and youth exchange and promotes people to people relationships between Melbourne and its sister cities. Benefits to Melbourne generated by the scheme include the following.
- A Tianjin Farm Bureau delegation attended Beef Week and International Dairy Week in January 2003, with the positive intention of buying live animals and animal products. This delegation also built links with industry associations and breeders.
- Ongoing and growing program of professional education programs at RMIT University to meet the needs of the Tianjin Municipal People’s Government as well as a range of other groups such as trade union groups, taxation bureau and judicial organisations.
- A 12 week business management course at RMIT for senior level government leaders from Tianjin. One of the participants is now heading up the $US16 billion redevelopment of the Haihe River in Tianjin. The program was inspired by the transformation of the Yarra River precincts, and presents great opportunities for Melbourne companies in the areas of design and construction.
- Planning has started for two major projects in 2003 – the Innovation and Design Product show at the Osaka BPC Centre (part of the end of Tasaki Osaka Cup – Melbourne Osaka Double Handed Yacht race events) and Melbourne’s participation at the annual BPC Roundtable in Seoul 2003.
Access for all
In its mission to be an accessible city, Council is ensuring its information and communication infrastructure and capacity meet world standards, are competitive and serve community and city needs.
One of the focal points is the Digital River program, an innovative collaboration between the Victorian Government, City of Melbourne and businesses to ensure buildings in the city are equipped with the latest digital technology. The City of Melbourne has produced the Digital Building Telecommunications Access Guideline – a best practice guide that encourages take up of broadband services, high speed, high quality, high bandwidth technology, by small and medium enterprises.
Broadband technology allows these enterprises to compete with big business by delivering projects quickly and communicating efficiently.
The Guideline provides a comprehensive introduction to the complex regulatory environment and technical standards surrounding telecommunication services and infrastructure in buildings. Ensuring buildings are capable of supporting broadband technology is pivotal to Melbourne creating a more competitive environment for business and attracting new business investment.
