Article: Melbourne named world's most liveable city by the Economist ...

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From the Herald Sun click here!

Melbourne named world's most liveable city by the Economist Intelligence Unit

Melbourne named world's most liveable city by the Economist Intelligence Unit

   Anne Wright
   From: Herald Sun
   August 31, 2011 12:00AM

MELBOURNE is back on top, crowned the world's most liveable city after almost a decade failing to make pole position.

Our city dethroned Vancouver, which has dominated the rankings of the Economist Intelligence Unit's survey for a decade.

Lord Mayor Robert Doyle yesterday hailed the title as something Melburnians already would know, but would be pleased to hear.

"For most people it will be a quiet sense of satisfaction and them saying, 'Look, I already knew that'," he said.

"But for tourism, it is a big label to have.

"It's still a lovely thing to be able to say."

Other Australian cities fared well, too: Sydney was listed sixth and Perth and Adelaide joint eighth.

Melbourne nosed in front of Vienna by scoring 95.1 in the culture and environment section. Overall, Melbourne scored 97.5.

The city scored perfect 100s for healthcare, education and infrastructure.

Economist Intelligence Unit survey editor Jon Copestake said Australian cities placed so well in the survey's ranking due to "low population density and relatively low crime rates".

Cities in the liveability survey are scored on social stability, crime rates, culture, education, healthcare and infrastructure.

Former No.1 Vancouver was ranked third after being punished for a fall-away in the survey's assessment of its infrastructure, scoring of 92.9.

Other Canadian cities Toronto and Calgary in came in fourth and fifth.

Committee for Melbourne chief executive Andrew MacLeod said the result was wonderful and highlighted "how much this city has got things right".

But he also warned locals against getting a "false sense of security".

"Awards and titles mean nothing if we let the things we have right slip through our fingers," he said.

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A Summary of the Liveability Ranking and Overview August 2011 click here!  (External PDF)