Melbourne Explores Future Liveability Ideas
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Melbourne Explores Future Liveability Ideas
- Melbourne is hosting a public forum in October 2026 to discuss ideas for improving the city's liveability, building on its consistent ranking as one of the world's most liveable cities.
- Among the suggestions being considered are constructing a swimming pool on the Yarra River, making public transport free on weekends, and potentially implementing further regulations on short-term rental platforms like Airbnb.
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Melbourne is looking to its future, with a public forum, the “Melbourne Assembly,” scheduled for October 2026 to gather ideas on enhancing the city’s liveability. This initiative comes as Melbourne consistently ranks highly in global liveability indexes, placing third in the Economist Intelligence Unit’s Global Liveability Index 2026, and first in Time Out’s 2026 Best Cities list.
The upcoming forum aims to bring together urban planners and local thinkers to discuss various proposals. Some of the ideas already put forward by the community include innovative projects like building a swimming pool on the Yarra River, a central waterway in Melbourne. Additionally, there are discussions around making public transport free on weekends, an idea that has seen recent implementation in Victoria with free weekend travel offered from early December 2025 until February 1, 2026, to celebrate the opening of the Metro Tunnel.
Another significant topic under consideration is the regulation of short-term rental platforms such as Airbnb. As of January 1, 2025, Victoria introduced a 7.5% short-stay levy on bookings of fewer than 28 nights, with owners corporations also gaining the power to ban short-term rentals in their buildings through a 75% majority vote, with an exception for principal residences. These regulations aim to address housing affordability concerns and fund social and affordable housing initiatives.
Melbourne’s commitment to liveability is a long-standing one, with previous strategic plans like “Future Melbourne 2026” and the 1994 “Melbourne Metropolitan Strategy Discussion Paper” focusing on urban planning, increased dwelling density, and the creation of walkable neighborhoods. The city’s population is projected to reach eight million by 2050, necessitating ongoing efforts to manage growth while maintaining its renowned quality of life.