Sydneysiders are desperate for improvements on cost of living, housing affordability and the city’s mobility, according to a new survey of its own residents.
The Property Council of Australia today released the latest results from My City: The People’s Verdict โ a national poll that tests views on the liveability of our cities.
The survey, now in its fourth year, surveyed 5,400 people across 10 cities, asking them to rate their city on the issues that matter to them and the results show a change in the liveability scores of many of our top cities.
“Sydney has gained ground and recorded the biggest improvement of any city since the survey began in 2010 โ up five points,” NSW Executive Director Glenn Byres said.
“But it sits in eighth place and is being held back by frustrations over housing affordability, cost of living and the challenge of moving around.
“This is the people’s verdict on their own city โ a report card for governments on how liveable our cities are”.
The survey by Auspoll tested the views of 616 Sydney residents โ benchmarking its performance on 17 attributes that define good cities.
The survey revealed the most important attributes of a city for Sydneysiders are:
- being a safe place for people and their property
- being an affordable place to have a good standard of living
- having access to good healthcare services
Sydney performed relatively well on having:
- a vibrant cultural scene โ 80 percent agree
- a good climate โ 79 percent agree
- a wide range of recreational outdoor environments โ 79 percent agree
However, it fared worst when it came to:
- a good road network and minimal traffic congestion โ 23 percent
- a good range of affordable housing โ 28 percent
- an affordable place to have a good standard of living โ 29 percent
Mr Byres said the research also revealed residents are desperate for further reforms to critical State Government policy settings. Approval ratings include:
- planning and managing urban growth (- 2percent)
- supplying infrastructure to keep up with demand (- 46 percent)
- making housing more affordable (-50 percent)
“Sydneysiders are seeking game-changing initiatives that break the back of the housing affordability challenge facing Sydney,” Mr Byres said.
“The proposed overhaul of planning laws has the potential to signal a new era in the way we provide for the sustainable growth of our cities โ and secure the new housing and jobs we need.
“That is why the Upper House’s decision to take an axe to the substance of the reforms was misguided.
“Sydneysiders also clearly want to see continued investment in congestion-busting infrastructure projects and pursuit of other reforms like local government amalgamation should remain a must.”
The report also shows an overwhelming majority of Australians support Federal Government action to improve our cities, particularly that housing affordability is not just a state issue.
“Overwhelmingly, Australians are clear they want the new Abbott Government to step up and take action on housing supply and affordability โ they don’t want buck passing to the states.
“The My City survey makes it clear we need a nation-wide effort to boost the performance of our cities to meet the challenges of the future: population, housing, infrastructure and a strong economy.
The Property Council’s My City: