Brisbane
has been recognised as one of the seven most liveable cities in the world after
receiving a ‘special mention’ at the prestigious Lee Kuan Yew World City Prize
in Singapore today.
Lord
Mayor Graham Quirk said Brisbane was the only Australian city named as a
finalist for the prize that recognised cities from around the world that
excelled in urban design, good governance and innovation.
“To be
named a finalist alongside cities like Copenhagen, Denmark and Vancouver goes
to show that Brisbane’s international reputation is growing and we are well on
our way to becoming Australia’s New World City,” Cr
Quirk said.
“I
want Brisbane to be an attractive city that boasts a vibrant city centre where
people can work, live and play and this award shows we are one of the most
livable cities in the world.
“This
esteemed prize acknowledges Council’s investment in Urban Renewal over the last
20 years, where rundown industrial areas like Fortitude Valley and Teneriffe
and the city’s neglected riverfront have been transformed into thriving urban
communities.
“Council’s
urban renewal initiative is the longest running program of its type in
Australia and has achieved remarkable success in transforming inner city
Brisbane.”
The
Lord Mayor said over the last 20 years $8.75 billion had been directly invested
into inner Brisbane, resulting in 14 hectares of new parkland and an extra 4.5
kilometres in public access to the Brisbane River.
“Recent
Council initiatives like the revitalization of Burnett Lane, Market Street and
Jacobs Ladder are making a real difference to the vibrancy of our city centre,” Cr
Quirk said.
“Being
named as a finalist in the Lee Kuan Yew World City Prize is not only an incredible
honour but also a testament to our strong commitment to urban renewal.”
Brisbane
was one of seven entries out of 62 nominations shortlisted in the award after a
delegation of international judges visited the city in October.
New
York was the overall winner of the biennial prize and the second winner in its
history, with the first awarded to Bilbao, Spain in 2010.
Other
special mention finalists in the 2012 Lee Kuan Yew World City Prize included:
§ Ahmedabad,
India
§ Copenhagen,
Denmark.
§ Malmö,
Sweden.
§ Vancouver,
Canada.
§ Khayelitsha,
South Africa.
