Monday 9 November, 2009

New VLGA CEO Appointed
We are delighted to announce the appointment of our new CEO, Maree McPherson. We thank Jo Fisher Executive for assisting the VLGA Board with our appointment. Introducing herself to you, Maree writes:

“I am delighted to be joining the VLGA team. The diverse range of issues on the VLGA’s agenda, and the organisation’s reputation, culture and ethics, have attracted me to the CEO role. I look forward to bringing a new set of perspectives to the VLGA, including my understanding of issues facing regional councils and members.

My twenty-five year career has predominantly been in community development and in management roles for a range of local, state and national organisations, including the water, health and finance sectors, family violence/homelessness services, and the adult and community education sector.

From December 2001 through July 2009, I was the Executive Officer of the Gippsland Area Consultative Committee. My work experience, especially seven years in the Commonwealth’s regional development delivery agency, has afforded me a strong operational understanding of the Australian, Victorian and regional political and social contexts.

I have tertiary qualifications in Social Welfare and Business and I am a Graduate Member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors. I am also a member of Economic Development Australia, and of the Institute of Public Administration (Vic), and a former delegate to the South East Australia Transport Network (SEATS).

I live in Gippsland with my partner and two Labradors with whom I enjoy long walks on Gippsland’s magnificent beaches.”

We look forward to introducing Maree to you in person at our end of year drinks with Minister Wynne on Thursday 3 December at 6pm. We’d love to see you there and invite you to RSVP to vlga@vlga.org.au or 03 9349 7999.

Annual Report and 2009 AGM
It was wonderful to see many of you at our AGM. The VLGA is in a good financial position, reporting a healthy surplus for 2008/09. We have a well-developed five year Strategic Plan developed in consultation with members and, as an organisation with a broad membership and wide brief, we are well poised for an active and productive year ahead.

Please take some time to look at our Annual Report – you can find it on our website.

Support for Councils to Implement Human Rights Charter
On 12 October, I mentioned the ground-breaking work that the VLGA has been doing to assist councils to implement the Human Rights Charter. Apparently, there is not widespread knowledge of this, so here are the details again.

The VLGA in partnership with the Australian Centre for Human Rights Education have worked together to develop a toolkit to support local governments to implement the Human Rights and Responsibilities Charter and to become ‘Human Rights Local Governments’.

The VLGA is being funded by the Victorian Government through the Department of Justice to deliver this support to councils. The toolkits and the final report are available on our website.

The next stage of the VLGA’s work is to work with five local governments in using the self-assessment and milestone tools and then to refine the tools so that all 79 local governments can benefit from the project and meet their responsibilities under the Victorian Human Rights Charter.

For further information, you can contact our Human Rights Policy & Project Officer, Gary Jungwirth on 9349 7986 or gary@vlga.org.au

Development Assessment Committees Bill
The Development Assessment Committees Bill is due in the Upper House this week. The Coalition of Concerned Councillors has communicated with many of you expressing ongoing concerns about the mechanisms that are contained in the revised Bill.

As pointed out in previous eNews, the DACs will operate in Activity Centre Zones which do not allow third party appeal rights unless councils specifically include notice and appeal rights.

The VLGA continues to express concerns about the mechanisms in the Bill and calls for commitment to enforcing local planning policies in call-ins and mechanisms such as DACs.

Brimbank Act
The legislation to dismiss the Brimbank Council is expected in the Upper House this week. The Bill sets the date for the next election as November 2012, with three administrators to be appointed for the interim three years. We understand that there will be no reporting on any progress in Council reforms during that time.

We have alerted Minister Wynne to our view that an election should be held within the next 12 months. The Local Government Act seems to specify that councillors can only be suspended for 12 months (an amendment in 2008), but arguably allows for councillors to be dismissed indefinitely. This is cause for concern and cause for further amendments to the Local Government Act.

Local Government Networking and Capacity Building Project to Prevent Violence Against Women
Darebin Council has been funded by VicHealth to build local government and community capacity across Victoria to prevent violence against women before it occurs and foster safe and inclusive environments in which women and men can participate on equal terms.

Darebin would like to get a snapshot of local government engagement in the White Ribbon Campaign through a quick survey. They are seeking your contribution by Wednesday 18 November 2009. The information will be collated and circulated to all local governments, enabling you to contact each other and replicate ideas.

Please click on the survey link or copy and paste it into your browser: http://survey.darebin.vic.gov.au?SURVEY=darebin8

Contact Kellie Nagle at preventing.violence@darebin.vic.gov.au or phone 03 8470 8552.

It’s not too late to plan your local government action to highlight the message “Not violent; not silent” on and around White Ribbon Day November 25: the United Nations International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women.

White Ribbon Day marks the start of 16 days of international action leading to International Human Rights Day on 10 December.

White Ribbon Foundation website (including ideas and events NoticeBoard)

2010 National Year of Women in Local Government
The VLGA continues to support the Year in a variety of ways, including through the recent September LEF and latest activities of the Women’s Policy Working Group. We will keep you posted as details are finalised. In preparing for next year, we recognise the work of ALGWA in this initiative and look forward to collaborating with women in local governments across Australia during 2010.

You can also attend the Expert Forum of the Women’s Participation in Local Government Coalition – get inspired and gain ideas for your local activities on Thursday 12 November, 12-2pm at the MAV. Further details from Linda Bennett at VLGA on 03 9349 7904 or Linda@vlga.org.au

Rooming Houses
Last week we talked about the VLGA's support for licensing of rooming house operators. The human side of this need was sensitively summarised in a confronting Opinion Piece by Paul Austin in last Thursday's Age.

Responsible Gambling: LGWGOG Meeting, Wednesday 11 November, 9am-12pm
Does your council or community have or want a Responsible Gambling Policy?
This Wednesday's Local Government Working Group On Gambling (LGWGOG) meeting will draw together the experiences of those who have tried to get better planning and social policies to reduce the harm that pokies cause to problem gamblers and local communities.

This meeting is an opportunity for concerned councillors, staff and community members to find out how to take more action locally in 2010. LGWGOG meets at the VLGA from 9am to midday this Wednesday (with a pause at 11am). Please RSVP to vlga@vlga.org.au or 03 9349 7999.

Changes to the Community Support Fund (CSF) were announced recently. The Government has announced that it will sharpen the criteria for assessing funding applications for the CSF. The VLGA has called for greater transparency and focus for funding on problem gambling and disadvantaged communities in many previous submissions to the Government. This is welcome news.

For more information on the CSF visit the Community Support Fund web page

Events

What will we leave behind? Sustainable living now and forever
Tuesday 17 November, 6.00-7.30pm (doors open 5.30pm)
BMW Edge, Federation Square, Cnr Swanston & Flinders Sts, Melbourne
The speakers will discuss economic, social, cultural and environmental developments for present generations whilst securing and strengthening the life chances of future generations.
Speakers: Professor Peter Doherty AC, Professor Spencer Zifcak, Professor Larissa Behrendt, Ms Larissa Brown
Moderator: Mr Peter Mares

Future Leaders in partnership with Melbourne Conversations is presenting this event. Melbourne Conversations is the City of Melbourne's program of free talks. This event is supported by Readings.

“Are we there yet?”
Saturday 28 November, 4.30-6pm
New Council Chambers Room, Trades Hall, Lygon St, Carlton
Launching a Year of Re-commitment to Addressing the Unfinished Business of Reconciliation
Speakers: Tom Calma, Muriel Bamblett, Richard Frankland
Free Entry: Donations welcome at the door

RSVP for tickets to antar@antarvictoria.org.au
ANTaR Victoria forum Sponsored by the Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission (VEOHRC)

Hamer Oration in Good Government - Fiddling While Australia Burns: Will this be History’s Judgement of Our Governments’ Response to Climate Change?
Tuesday 24 November, 6.00pm for 6.30pm start
Copland Theatre, the Economics and Commerce Building at the University of Melbourne
Speakers include David Karoly, Amanda McKenzie and Tim Colebatch
See the University of Melbourne website for more details.

Planners Master Class on Writing an Integrated, Best Practice Licensed Premises Policy
Wednesday 2 December 2009, 10am-4pm
MAV, Level 12, 60 Collins St, Melbourne
This Planning Institute of Victoria (PIA) workshop will assist participants to identify opportunities to embed alcohol harms management in a variety of planning documents including Council Plans and their Municipal Public Health Plan. The workshop encourages Planners to proactively manage alcohol-related harms and builds confidence amongst councils to understand what is enforceable in the Liquor Licensing Tribunal and VCAT.

Facilitators: Mark Boyd is the Director of Cities for Safe and Healthy Communities at ICLEI Oceania. Bonnie Rosen is a planning consultant and lecturer in urban planning at the University of Melbourne. Participation in this workshop will attract 5 PIA professional development points.

Places are limited, so to register for this informative event please contact Mark Boyd on 0403 204 394 or mark.boyd@iclei.org by Monday 30 November. $250 for PIA Members, $300 for others.

I trust this eNews finds you well.

Regards
Cr Rose Iser
VLGA President
0414 959 427
rose@vlga.org.au