Lockdowns behind Melbourne’s liveability slump

Melbourne has taken a “disappointing” topple down the list of most liveable cities but even lockdowns and Covid outbreaks couldn’t stop it beating its biggest rival.

Melbourne has taken another tumble on the world’s most liveable cities list, dropping to eighth place.

Coronavirus shutdowns and health concerns helped push the Victorian capital from second place in 2019.

Melbourne had topped the Economist Intelligence Unit’s (EIU) liveability index for years, but was pipped at the post by Vienna two years ago.

There was no survey done in 2020 due to the pandemic, but this year Auckland is rated number one, followed by Osaka and Adelaide.

Wellington is number four and Tokyo came in fifth.

Perth (8th) and Brisbane (10th) were the only other Australian capitals to make the top 10, while Sydney was 11th.

“The pandemic has caused huge volatility in our biannual liveability index, which ranks 140 cities across five areas: stability, healthcare, education, culture and environment, and infrastructure,” said the EIU’s report.

Melbourne scored 100 for both education and infrastructure on the index, but compared with previous years was let down in healthcare (83.3) and culture and environment (88.2).

Lord Mayor Sally Capp said the results were disappointing but not surprising.

“Lockdowns have had a devastating impact on our city, yet we remain one of the top 10 most liveable cities in the world,” she said.

“We have lost thousands of international students, city workers and tourists from our streets, but we will bounce back. Melburnians are resilient, strong and caring.”

Property Council of Victoria executive director Danni Hunter said Melbourne’s performance was a setback.

“The city’s liveability is under threat and we have to claim it back,” she said.

“We have to fight to keep our amazing things, otherwise our attractions will go interstate and overseas.”

The world’s least liveable city according to the survey was Damascus, then Lagos, Port Moresby, Dhaka and Algiers.