Liveable Cities Program
The Australian Government has developed the Liveable Cities Program to support State, Territory and local governments in meeting the challenges of improving the quality of life in our capitals and major regional cities.
The Australian Government is seeking to leverage off its significant investment in transport and other infrastructure, health, housing, education, social services and welfare. It is seeking to encourage partnerships between the levels of government to foster innovative solutions to promote high quality urban design, improve the quality of open space and public places, address high levels of car dependency and traffic congestion and support cities in tackling the challenges of climate change.
The Program aims to achieve improved alignment of urban planning and design with the National Urban Policy and COAG principles, resulting in lasting partnerships between and within levels of government, and between governments, not-for-profit organisations and private interests. Projects will provide lessons in achieving good planning outcomes that can be transferred and applied across Australia’s cities
The Council of Australian Governments (COAG) agreed on 7 December 2009 on a national objective and nine criteria to ensure Australian capital cities are globally competitive, productive, sustainable, liveable, socially inclusive and well placed to meet future challenges. The Australian Government released its National Urban Policy – Our Cities, Our Future – in May 2011. The Policy represents an important contribution by the Australian Government to COAG’s cities reform agenda. The Liveable Cities Program is one of several measures which demonstrate the Government’s commitment to make our capitals and major regional cities even more productive, sustainable and liveable.
The Program seeks to improve the capacity of the 18 capital and major regional cities to undertake strategic planning in line with the COAG agreed criteria and will support the development of demonstration projects that facilitate urban renewal and strategic urban development.
Liveable Cities Program
The Liveable Cities Program will provide $20.0 million over two years. It will comprise two streams:
Stream 1 - Planning and Design
- Projects seeking funding under this stream can apply for a maximum Australian Government funding contribution of up to $500,000.
Stream 2 - Demonstration Projects
- Projects seeking funding under this stream can apply for a maximum Australian Government funding contribution of up to $4 million.
Funding in both streams will be provided up to a maximum of 50% of the project costs. Applications will be assessed under the criteria set out in the Program Guidelines.
Applications open
On 20 October 2011 the Minister for Infrastructure and Transport announced the guidelines for the Program, and called for applications from State and Territory governments, and local governments located in the 18 major cities. Applications will close on 15 December 2011. The Department has written to eligible local government authorities and to the States and Territories inviting applications and providing information about the Program.
Enquiries regarding the Program may be directed to liveable.cities@infrastructure.gov.au or to the Program information line at (02) 6274 6758.
Related Links
- National Urban Policy
- COAG objective and criteria
- Minister’s announcement of LCP
- Minister’s announcement of guidelines, call for applications
- Liveable Cities Program - Guidelines
- The 18 capital and major regional cities
- Liveable Cities Program – Announcements and updates
- Liveable Cities Program - Frequently Asked Questions - Pre 15 December 2011
- Liveable Cities Program - Frequently Asked Questions - Post 15 December 2011
