This report aims to explore and contrast the liveability of Noumea (New Caledonia) and Sydney (Australia)
Background
ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY
Environmental quality is a combination of the amount of pollution, rubbish or noise. The cleanliness of air and water are also important aspects of environmental quality.
In Noumea, nickel mining and ore treatment has definitely made an impact on the atmosphere and this contributes to the 68.1 rating on environment according to the E.I.U. This contributes to Noumea’s air pollution level on the 22nd of August earning a rating of 52/100 (100 being high) as stated by the ‘Air Quality Index’ (AQI). It is advised when the amount of pollution is high, to take it easy when exercising in Noumea.
Sydney though, has a moderate level of air pollution in the city, earning a rating of 55/100 on the ‘QI. In rush hour (morning: 7am – 9am, evening: 5pm – 7pm), Sydney can get overpopulated from many people coming home from work in the city and that results in lots of pollution from cars, buses, etc. Sydney’s moderate amount of air pollution is perfect for bringing your toddlers outside, exercising or eating out. Although, in both Sydney and Noumea, long term exposure to these amounts can constitute a health risk.
Tap water in Noumea and most resorts is safe to drink, though bottled water is more trustworthy and a safer option. Water-borne diseases and parasites are around, though hygiene and sanitation standards are good in resorts, so the majority of visitors will not need to worry.
In Sydney, drinking water pollution and water pollution are very low. The quality of the drinking water is very high, unlike Noumea.
In Noumea, there are pockets of times of noise, though Noumea is generally a quiet place. Sydney have laws against noise pollution and the City of Sydney have policies and procedures to help you deal with any cause for concern. In both cities, noise is expected at:
Construction sites
Dogs barking
Garbage collections
Licensed venues
Cars and other vehicles
Public transport
Major works
Due to the lower population density of Noumea and the relatively small amount of high rise buildings, less light pollution is emitted among the city. There are also less large neon advertising signs which emit high levels of light pollution. For example, there is only one McDonald's restaurant in Noumea.
In contrast, Sydney’s population density is much higher, with high rise buildings and a proliferation of advertising signage, emitting light pollution in all directions.
Though I was not able to find anything on the internet about street cleanliness (which is probably something they do not want you to know about), I know from my own experience in going to Noumea that the streets are relatively untidy and not kept to the same standard as Sydney’s.
There are some parks and sport fields in Noumea. Many being in schools although maybe not to the standard Sydney’s population enjoys. In consequence of these reasons, you could argue that Sydney is also more liveable when it comes to environmental quality.
CLIMATE
Most people prefer to live in mild climates without extremes of heat or inclemency. The amount of rainfall or precipitation is also important in the means of liveability.
The climate in Noumea varies less than in Sydney. Noumea is host to a more temperate climate that maintains the average max of at least 22 degrees Celsius within every month. In contrast, in the winter months, Sydney can reach lows of 7 degrees Celsius and highs of 18-19 degrees Celsius. Therefore, you could argue that Sydney is colder and less suitable for someone yearning for a warmer climate.
Sydney also receives more precipitation, although there are some similarities. Both cities receive over 100mm on average in the first four months and the amount of precipitation then decreases for the rest of the year. Tropical storms and cyclones are common from November to April the next year. Due to the lack of capacity for commercial flights, it is customary to ride-out any cyclone or storm.
For these reasons, you could argue that Sydney is more suitable for liveability for climate and rainfall.
INFRASTRUCTURE
Infrastructure
In Noumea, road quality is good. Major roads and most minor roads are sealed and in good condition. Off the main roads, road signs are sometimes missing or placed down the turn-off where they can't be seen. A good map is essential when travelling in Noumea.
Roads in Sydney are of a very high standard and road signs are highly visible on major and minor roads. Traffic congestion is a problem though. According to the ‘Sydney Morning Herald’, “Sydney is becoming the congestion capital of Australasia”.
Public transport in Noumea is mostly done by bus. There are many different bus services in Noumea, each providing great comfort and mild prices. Rai (one of the leading bus services in Noumea) operates buses in nearly every town in the Noumea region connecting to the capital. Boats can be used to travel to other islands from Noumea.
Sydney’s public transport is provided by an extensive network of operating modes that include buses, ferries, light rail and commuter rail. Bus services in Sydney account for almost half of the public transport journeys taken into the city. Trains are also an option when wanting to reach the city as well as ferries. It can be seen that there are more modes of transport in Sydney than in Noumea.
The standard of emergency services is pretty high in Noumea though it can be very expensive. Service d’Aide Medicale d’Urgence (SAMU) provides 24 hour pre-hospital care and emergency transfer though this could cost in the excess of AUD $1,550. Like every other place, crimes do exist. If you are a victim or bystander of a crime, call 17 on your mobile or telephone. In case of medical emergencies, call 15 and if a fire occurs, call 18. If sea rescue is needed, call 15.
Sydney’s emergency services are some of the best in the world. Amazingly, in 2015, the response time to a potentially life-risking injury was under 11 and a half minutes. An ambulance trip in Sydney costs a fee of AUD $349 and plus an additional charge of AUD $3.15/km, which is considerably less than that of Noumea. This is not funded by Medicare though. These emergency services provide great help in all situations. In the case of a crime, medical emergency or fire, call 000.
Sewerage treatment plants have been financed in Noumea for the past 10 years though 70% of the wastewater is currently being left untreated. The development of sanitation is a major challenge in Noumea though a master plan in Noumea has been implemented.
This is significantly worse than Sydney. The Sydney area own and operate 16 wastewater treatment plants. These plants collect more than 1.3 billion litres of wastewater from 1.8 million homes in Sydney, Illawarra and the Blue Mountains. Less than 1% (approximately 12 million) litres of wastewater is left untreated and released into the ocean. This is outstandingly better than the 70% of water left untreated in Noumea.
La Tontouta International Airport is the main airport of the Noumea region and one of the only international airports in New Caledonia.
Sydney has one main international airport, the Sydney airport providing flights from all over the world.
Noumea have a motor cross track, a go-kart track and a horse racecourse. That is the closest you will get to stadiums in Noumea. In contrast, Sydney is host to many sporting and entertainment facilities including the SCG (rugby league, soccer, cricket and AFL) Allianz Stadium (Soccer and rugby league) and the Capitol Theatre.
It can be seen from these figures that Sydney is more liveable for infrastructure.
SAFETY AND STABILITY
Noumea has a low incidence of serious and violent crimes although petty crime does occur from time to time. Assaults and fights can sometimes occur outside bars, mostly over the weekends or holidays.
According to the national ‘Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research’, crimes across NSW have reached their lowest in 40 years. The last annual snapshot shows that crime rates in most major categories have fallen or steadied in the last 12 months. "The rates of robbery in New South Wales are now back to where they were in the 1970s and the rates of home burglary and motor vehicle theft are the lowest they've been since records began in the early 1970s.” said Don Weatherburn, from the bureau.
Based on these figures, Sydney is more liveable in the means of safety and stability.
ACCESS TO HEALTHCARE AND EDUCATION
The standard of healthcare and medical facilities in Noumea is very high though it is very expensive. An intensive care bed could cost up to AUD $5,500 per day and an aeromedical evacuation to Australia could cost AUD $40,000. This is a problem for the poorer population of Noumea as it means that these people and families cannot get the access to healthcare facilities that they deserve.
The public healthcare system in Sydney is funded by Medicare, a cheap service available to Australian citizens or permanent residents. This covers or subsidises all treatments by general practitioners and hospitals. Private health insurance is also available but not free.
High-quality dental care can be found in Noumea and most villages have dentists in dispensaries.
Dentists in Sydney are of a very high-quality though Medicare does not cover most dental care so, like Noumea, you have to pay most, if not all of the price. The amount of dental practitioners has risen, therefore pulling down the price because of the other competition. 25% of adults have chosen not to attend dental care because of the cost.
Medication found in most well developed countries will also be available in Noumea though with different commercial names. All pharmacists are graduates from university and when there isn't one, a local doctor will fill in.
Pharmacies or chemists in Australia, are easy to locate in Sydney and can be spotted in all major shopping centres or on the corners of streets. Many of these are open until 10pm and there are about two that are open 24/7.
Blood is only taken from volunteers and screened according to international standards. The blood supply in Noumea is considered safe although it's best to avoid blood transfusions as their screening cannot detect all blood-borne diseases. Immune reactions can vary from minor to life-threatening. All specialist clinics are held in Noumea.
Sydney has one of the safest blood supplies in the world. All blood donors are carefully screened and are unable to donate if they do not meet the safety criteria required. All donated blood is then carefully tested by the Red Cross Blood Service in Sydney for diseases such as HIV/AIDS, Hepatitis C and Hepatitis B.
Noumea strive to give every child access to free and quality education which makes them far more developed than other countries. Despite this, Noumea’s quality of education is not very good earning a rating of 66.7 on the E.I.U rankings.
Sydney caters to a broad range of educational needs. Children can attend public (free), faith-based, co-educational, private or independent schools in Sydney. High school graduates are able to attend some of the best universities in the world including UTS, Macquarie University and Sydney University. This earns Sydney a rating of
SUBJECTIVE FACTORS
Firstly, I prefer Sydney over Noumea because I love to play sport and because of the lack of parks and fields in Noumea, there would be less of an opportunity for me to do that.
Secondly, aside from playing sport, I love to watch it, especially in stadiums. There is a lack of stadiums and playing fields in Noumea and there are not any good quality teams that play the sports that I love.
Lastly, I do not like too hot and humid weather. Noumea’s tropical climate would not suit me because I love relatively cold days and breezes. Therefore, I would prefer to live in Sydney rather than in Noumea.
Conclusion
According to the E.I.U rankings, Sydney is rated higher in almost every area of liveability. I believe that Noumea is a great place to visit though expenses are a worry. There are many aspects of liveability that Noumea need to improve on though I think that if they do, they can become one of the greatest tourist attractions in the world. As for Sydney, I believe that it is a great place to start a family although the rising house prices are worrying. I think that Sydney overall is a better place to live and the figures certainly back that up.