City of Kelowna’s Post

We're not regional. We're not metro. We Are Geelong. They are words that are echoing in my head and have been for many months, but I wanted to put out a couple of key facts that help people realise why that isn't just some bumper sticker slogan I came up with, but a way for us to really put in context what an awesome city we live in. Fact 1: Central Geelong is actually built on the Hoddle grid, so it is actually the same size as the Melbourne CBD. Fact 2: We only have about 3,500 people living in Central Geelong. Melbourne has about 135,000 living in the Melbourne CBD. The Geelong Authority is proposing 16,000 living in Geelong (I think we should aim towards 60,000) and that will transform the economy of Central Geelong. Fact 3: Geelong has more workers in its CBD, 35,000, than any other regional city. In fact we're 16th on the list and no other regional centre cracks the top 20. So for those that don't realise, Geelong is a powerhouse! It is a great place to live, work, study and play. The growth potential and the depth of passion for our city we have is almost unending. So, again, we aren't regional, we aren't metro, We Are Geelong! #geelong #geelongbusiness #WeAreGeelong KPMG Australia City of Greater Geelong Committee for Geelong Geelong Chamber of Commerce G21 Geelong Region Alliance

Greater Geelong was the fastest growing regional city in Victoria. It's growth rate however was only 2.2%, lower than Victoria's 2.8%. Overall, regional Victoria grew much slower than Greater Melbourne. However, if the cost of housing continues to rise across Melbourne, the regions may again look attractive.

Accessible and affordable public transport is often a challenge in geographically expansive cities due to urban sprawl, high infrastructure costs, and operational complexity. Tackling these challenges requires a comprehensive approach that includes increased investment in public transport infrastructure, improved urban planning, and policies aimed at enhancing accessibility, affordability, and inclusivity for all residents. Discover how Toronto has excelled in this area in our latest coverage under the Urban Performance Index, developed by Economist Impact and supported by UN-Habitat (United Nations Human Settlements Programme). Toronto Transit Commission (TTC), City of Toronto

Fascinating conversations today as we explore the issues and challenges facing Canada’s cities.

This week I’ve had the chance to connect with New Zealand leaders and industry peers at Local Government New Zealand (LGNZ) Conference in Wellington. The theme, ‘SuperLocal’, is apt, local knowledge and leadership are critical to enabling communities to realise strong social and economic outcomes, and effective urban planning requires a detailed understanding of the underlying characteristics of a place. Our keynote for LGNZ, Arup Global Cities, Planning & Design Leader, Richard de Cani De Cani spoke to the need to deliver place based approaches to economic growth in our towns and cities. Cities and towns have to respond to a changing future context if they are to remain prosperous and successful. Whilst the drivers of change affecting towns and cities may be common – the solutions needed will vary place by place. Local context and economic conditions are critical. This needs to be informed by clear economic analysis of ‘today’ and the ‘future’ to inform the development of plans that will be effective With the government's announcement today of the intent to deliver our first regional deal in 2025, his message to encourage local place-based solutions whilst simultaneously thinking about how to apply the learnings on a national scale so multiple communities’ benefit is timely. Richard de Cani Harriet Dempsey Greer Oliver Martin Swaffield Jochem Dorst Rikash Kumar

Canada’s urban centers, including Calgary, Edmonton, Ottawa, Toronto, Montreal, and Vancouver, are not just places of residence – they are vibrant hubs of economic activity, cultural diversity, and social development. These cities are recognized globally for their livability and competitiveness, with Calgary, Toronto, and Vancouver ranking among the top 10 most livable cities worldwide in 2023. However, they face challenges like climate change, housing affordability, and labor market shifts. It’s time for Government to develop a unified urban agenda in Canada to address these issues comprehensively. Learn more in our latest article https://deloi.tt/45J9JB8. #UrbanDevelopment #EconomicGrowth #Canada #Municipalities Jamie Sawchuk Joe Philbrook Don Sherrah Curt Clement Trevor Ferguson Greg MacQuarrie Derek Nawrot Dan Doré Dalibor Petrovic Harman Gill James Gordon Riyaz Nathwani Craig Walter Mieka Buckley-Pearson Andrew Pau

The Sunshine Coast has surged ahead as one of the most coveted regions for movers accounting for 17.5% of all net internal migration over the last year, according to the latest Regional Movers Index by the Regional Australia Institute. But when it comes to hotspots Western Australia continues to gain popularity. In the last 3 months, regional net internal migration has increased 4.6% to its highest level since September 2022 and 13.8% above the pre-COVID average. The regional migration boom is not slowing down in popularity or growth, as more people seek the benefits of regional living. RAI CEO Liz Ritchie said “The lure of regional living remains strong, with 25% more people moving from the city to the regions, than back in the opposite direction.” The appeal? More space, more time, and more affordability. Want to know more about the Regional Movers Index? Check it out the media release here: https://lnkd.in/ekjK8BDH. The Regional Movers Index is a quarterly report prepared by the Regional Australia Institute in partnership with Commonwealth Bank presenting fresh analysis of movements between Australia's regions and capital cities. #boomtown #regionalmoversindex #regionalaustralia #regionalaustraliainstitute #rethinkregional #regionalmedia #movetomore #rebalancethenation #regionalisation

5 Australian capital cities made the list. Ranked: The world’s 20 best cities to live in 2024. https://lnkd.in/gB3Y8caQ Samuel Hussey Forbes Australia #australia #forbesAustralia

Approximately 2 billion sqm of land has been reserved for new African cities with over $500 billion budgeted to complete these capital-intensive projects. According to our New Africa’s Cities Factsheet, factors like overpopulation, increasing urbanisation, and low quality of life indices are key drivers for these developments. Download our New Africa’s Cities Factsheet to read more! https://lnkd.in/dVzi4Nvf

Did you know 3 out of 4 Canadians are city dwellers? It's not just a statistic; these numbers reveal the blueprint for Canada’s future. The quality of our lives is dependent on the quality of our cities. Canada has led before, regularly topping the global city lists for livability and vibrancy. But to hold our own, we need to demonstrate bold leadership with a clear vision. Dive into the State of Canada's Cities report for insights on strengthening our urban networks. Find it here: https://hubs.la/Q02gjhns0