Subscribe to our newsletter

What we do

The Committee builds on its history and past successes to work collaboratively, refine policy and advocate for a better Melbourne future.

For the Committee, providing leadership on important matters and generating outcomes from ideas, requires us to:

• Be an engaging forum where Members can collaborate and channel their passion for Melbourne, enabling them to grow from their involvement;
• Be an expert facilitator of initiatives, policies, projects and activities which foster positive developments for Melbourne; and
• Be an informed commentator and credible advocate on important Melbourne issues now and in the future.
 

Current areas of focus:

1.     Future Growth

The Committee estimates that Melbourne’s long-term growth will drop from 1.65 percent (over the last 50 years), to 1.4 percent (over the next 50 years), resulting in a population of around eight million Melburnians by 2060.  Rather than focusing on limiting population growth, the Committee works to plan for accommodating a realistic population figure.

Melbourne can get better as it gets bigger – but only if there is a plan in place.  To support long-term growth, the Committee believes community consultation is needed to develop a visionary 50 year plan for Melbourne.

To better govern the city, the Committee also advocates for a new planning and implementation mechanism, incorporating an Infrastructure Commission, to support the effective planning of Melbourne’s infrastructure and public transport needs.

Melbourne’s housing mix needs to include medium density housing options as well as other high and low density housing options.  To achieve broad community support, the Committee will aim to help community understand the benefits by gathering applying the lessons learned from the Docklands to improve other Urban Renewal Areas like Fishermans Bend.

The Committee has identified the removal of rail level crossings (grade separation) as the hinge point issue preventing more trains operating on Melbourne’s public transport network.  Members will work together to examine how level crossings can be removed in ways that are economically, socially and environmentally sustainable.

Maintaining and enhancing Melbourne’s social cohesion will also be crucial as population grows. The Committee will unite a genuine mix of organisations to examine ways to sustain and enhance Melbourne’s social cohesion.

2.     Future Economy

International education is critical to build Melbourne’s economy and position the Melbourne as a great knowledge and innovation city.  

Committee Members will work to promote Melbourne as a destination of first choice for international students and collaborate to enhance the international student experience.

Melbourne is also Australia’s home of Philanthropy, Social Responsibility and Humanitarian Affairs, making it ideally placed to seek a global leadership position in the emerging field of social investment.  The Committee will continue to support the new Melbourne based UN Secretariat for Social Investment.

3.     Future Leaders

The Committee will continue to provide high quality leadership training for Melbourne future leader via its Future Focus Group Business Leadership Program.