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Kaya,
Welcome to Issue 19 of Urban Scrawl.
This month, we’re thinking globally and acting locally. In Benchmarking Cities, we spotlight Curitiba, Brazil, a city that’s long been admired for its innovative approach to sustainability and social equity. In Research Bites, we unpack the latest Oxford Economics Global Cities Index – a tool that helps us understand how Perth stacks up on the world stage, and where we can grow. In International Inspiration, we explore the Monocle Quality of Life Survey, which offers a more lived-in, human-centred view of what makes cities great.
And in On the Ground Intel, we hear from Sherif Andrawes, Global Natural Resources & Energy Leader at BDO and Chair at Football West, who shares his perspective on what’s shaping Perth’s future.
Don’t forget to:
• RSVP to our upcoming event Urban Insights: Building Liveable Communities with internationally renowned author and community engagement leader, Cormac Russell. It promises to be a powerful presentation and workshop on building stronger, vibrant and more liveable communities.
• The 2025 Australian Liveability Census is open and Place Score wants to hear what matters most to you about where you live.
This month’s hero image is of Black Mountains Art's (aka Robert Jenkins), a Welsh born, Perth resident artist and illustrator, long-standing mural in Murray Street Lane in Perth's city centre.
If you’ve come across any research, books, podcasts, videos or ideas, please don’t be shy about emailing me. We enjoy exploring interesting ideas with our members, who are just as curious and passionate about ways to improve our region as the team at Committee for Perth is. Happy reading, Francien Boom Committee for Perth |
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Globally, there is a growing war on waste. Statistics estimate that, “more than two billion metric tons of municipal solid waste alone are generated worldwide every year.” In a BAU scenario, this is set to increase to four billion tonnes by 2050.
Curitiba, Brazil’s eight most populous city, home to 3.9 million people, has been a pioneer in progressive recycling policies since the early 1980’s. Around 70% of the city’s waste is recycled thanks to the urban sustainability vision of then mayor (and urban planner!) Jaime Lerner. In the 1980s, Curitiba faced rapid urban growth and uncontrolled housing development, which led to waste accumulation in narrow streets inaccessible to garbage trucks.
One such initiative, ‘Cambio Verde’ (green exchange), was introduced in 1991. It was designed to address three major challenges: a lack of budget for a conventional recycling plant, widespread poverty and environmental degradation due to unmanaged waste. The program set up over 100 designated exchange points across the city where residents could bring recyclable waste. In return, they received a kilo of fresh produce (like fruits, vegetables and eggs), and in earlier phases even bus tickets, for every four kilos of recyclable waste.
This initiative is just one of the many ways Curitiba is paving the way for sustainable city planning with its interconnected programs offering social, economic and environmental benefits for all. Read more here. |
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The Indian Government has announced new plans to standardise and restrict air conditioner temperatures: no cooler than 20°C and no warmer than 28°C everywhere, from homes to hotels.
Amid warming temperatures, is this the future for air conditioning globally? Imagine how this could work in Perth? |
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INTERNATIONAL INSPIRATION |
Monocle’s Quality of Life Survey 2025 presents the 10 most liveable cities in the world. The usual suspect feature in the list: Barcelona, Paris and Tokyo, but the rankings of a human-centred approach: capturing the essence of the lived experience of a city through a unique lens which values culture, innovation, and everyday living.
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Madrid / Parque del Retiro |
| - Paris - Best all-rounder
- Madrid – Best for health
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Athens – Best for nightlife
- Barcelona – Best for urban greening
- Vienna – Best for housing
- Zurich – Best for mobility
- Mexico City – Best for conviviality
- Lisbon – Best for safe streets
- Tokyo – Best for cleanliness
- Tallinn – Best for start ups
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A spotlight on Madrid, which has been said to have “a favourable work/life balance and delicious food are a winning formula in the Spanish capital.” Thanks to meteorological, economic and social factors: “Excellent weather and food, strong intergenerational bonds and a natural gregariousness mean that residents work to live rather than live to work”. Sign us up!
What would we like Perth to be known for? Best for families? Best for living with nature? Read Monocle's article in length here. |
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LIVE MUSIC FOR LIVEABILITY |
Image credit: Live Nation |
This month’s news of the Northbridge Music Hall, set to open in summer 2026/27, with a capacity of 3,000 and a promise of 120 shows in its first year, will do wonders for the city’s music, arts and broader liveability. A report by Creative Australia and Music Australia shows that for the majority of Australians, music is really important (62%). Among existing audiences for live music, 92% say that live music events have a big or very big impact on their sense of wellbeing and happiness.
Cities around the world are embracing live music as a way to define themselves. Austin, Texas, is the self-proclaimed “live music capital of the world”, Berlin’s club culture attracts locals and international looking for diverse, creative and inclusive experiences, and South Korean cities, such as Seoul, offer diverse performances from traditional Korean music and dance, jazz, indie and K-Pop.
Northbridge Music Hall “promises to fill a gaping hole in the West Australian capital's live performance ecosystem”, says the AFR. Let’s welcome it with open arms. |
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Sometimes the best research comes from the people who are living and breathing a city. Sherif Andrawes is one of those people. Born in Egypt, raised in Scotland, and now a proud Perth local for over 30 years, Sherif brings a global perspective and passion to everything he does. As the Global Natural Resources & Energy Leader at BDO, Chairman of Football West, and Patron of the South Side Symphony Orchestra, he is a dedicated advocate for Perth’s business, sporting, and cultural communities, helping shape a vibrant and inclusive future for the region.
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Having been born in Egypt, raised in Scotland, and now living in Perth, what opportunities do you see for Perth to improve and learn from other cities?
I’ve lived in Glasgow, London, and Cairo, and I travel back to them a few times each year. While I love travelling, I always love coming home to Perth, where I have lived for over 30 years. That said, Perth can learn a few things from the places I’ve lived.
London has an incredible public transport system. Although it shows its age, having been built over 150 years ago, it makes the city far more accessible for residents and visitors. I recall being stuck on the Northern Line many times during my nine years there, but it still does the trick. Perth has never quite cracked public transport in the same way.
Cairo is a massive, noisy city full of life. I love the sounds and energy that continue well into the night. It is so energising. In contrast, Perth can still feel sleepy after 5pm. Events like the Fringe Festival help bring the city to life, and more liberal opening hours wouldn’t hurt either. Glasgow, like Perth, is a welcoming and friendly city with a strong sense of community. One area where Scotland has excelled is renewable energy. Driving south from Glasgow, the horizon is dotted with wind turbines. Perth is on its own renewable energy journey, but there’s still a way to go.
How have you seen Perth change during your time here?
Perth has definitely grown up over the past 30 years. When I first arrived, I was surprised to find shops closed at lunchtime on Saturdays and even a roster system for which petrol station could open. Back then, Perth truly felt like a big country town. Since then, it has claimed a place on the world stage. While it may not be a global city just yet, it has gained many of the attributes of one, without many of the downsides. From a business perspective, what are the key benefits of being based in Perth?
As BDO’s Global Leader for Natural Resources and Energy, there’s no better place to be based. Perth uniquely combines financial and intellectual capital with proximity to mines and oil & gas projects. No other city offers this mix.
Perth also has a pragmatic, can-do approach to business that I really value. One often-overlooked benefit is our time zone. Perth is far better placed for Teams calls with the rest of the world than the East Coast. A 10pm call to the Americas and Europe here would be 1am in Sydney or Melbourne. As the Chair of Football West, what impact do you think the ‘Matildas effect’ has had on football in Perth, and what does the future of the sport look like in our city?
Football (soccer) has long been the number one participation sport in Perth, but it was a sleeping giant. The Matildas’ success has been a game changer, especially for young girls, and has brought unprecedented attention to women’s football and the sport in general.
In Perth, we are seeing increased participation from players of all ages together with match officials, coaches, and club administrators, investment in facilities (although we always need more) and a growing participation base. This has brought much more attention and welcome investment from the WA State Government and from corporate sponsors too. Many football clubs in Perth started to bring communities together to support migrant groups, in particular in the post-war period. Football has come a long way since then but even with the massive growth in the sport, the sense of community is still at the core of the modern game, whether a local club has 200 or 2,000 members.
What is your favourite way to spend a weekend in Perth?
Perth is a fantastic city for community activity. Most weekends, you’ll find me around a soccer pitch somewhere in Perth. Every Saturday morning, I play Walking Football—a great way to stay active with others who’ve played at a high level but are now a bit slower! Being part of a team is vital for connection. In winter, I might be at an NPL match in my role as Chairman of Football West, often with my dog in tow. You can watch some great football every Saturday afternoon across Perth. Or I’ll be watching my daughter play netball in Fremantle, always accompanied by the dog.
Sundays are for coaching a women’s social soccer team with Fremantle City, where I’ve coached for 28 years. I’m also a Patron of the South Side Symphony Orchestra, whose concerts are usually on Sundays. There’s nothing like the power of a full orchestra to enrich the community.
What’s your favourite corner in Perth?
I’m incredibly proud of the Sam Kerr Football Centre. I love that every overseas and interstate visitor is impressed by the quality of the facility. But my favourite spot is Point Walter. I was introduced to it on my first morning in Perth in August 1994, during a sunny Sunday breakfast picnic. It blew me away and sparked my love for this wonderful city.
What are your hopes for Perth in 2050?
Perth is an amazing city. As it grows and gains more world-class facilities, I hope it retains what makes it special. I love that it’s welcoming and allows adventurous people to succeed in business and life. I hope it remains easy to get around, with top-tier infrastructure and cultural offerings. Most of all, I hope it’s a city that people long to return to, because they know it’s the best place in the world to live. |
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Perth has ranked 31 out of 1,000 cities in this year’s Oxford Economics’ Global Cities Index – a strong result that reflects the city’s strengths in education, economic stability and governance. Perth’s lowest scoring metric was the ‘environment’ category. This is somewhat surprising, given the city’s excellent air quality and relatively low emissions intensity, with the score influenced by perceived risks of natural disasters and climate anomalies.
This year’s index also saw the publication develop city archetypes – a new framework to classify cities. Perth is classified as a key example of an industrial hub – cities whose growth is driven by extraction or manufacturing. According to the report’s authors, “They tend to have low economic diversity and experience volatile growth due to the nature of their key industries. These cities often have high emissions intensities.”
Central to our vision for Perth in 2050 and a plan for Perth, we believe it’s important for economic diversification, housing densification and decarbonisation to take focus as the Perth region prepares for its future. Encouragingly, the Index says, “the city’s growing services industry will likely ensure that the city’s economy will be more diverse in the future. A key challenge for Perth, then, will be to continue to attract talent to sustain its current growth path.” Download the report here. |
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READ: How Edinburgh is putting people at the heart of its city design. (Jacobs)
LISTEN: Monocle’s Quality of Life Survey podcast: The best cities for everything from housing and mobility to conviviality. (Monocle)
WATCH: From horseless carriages to driverless cars: The evolution of motoring in WA (RAC WA). |
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Committee for Perth conducts its work on Whadjuk Noongar Boodjar. We recognise their peoples' ongoing connection to land, culture and community and in doing so, pay our respects to Elders past and present. |
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