Maintaining a healthy community should be at the forefront of our community planning. With so much media coverage in the past few weeks concentrating on urbanisation and growth, it is timely to note that Wednesday 7 April is World Health Day. This year’s theme of Urbanisation and Health reminds us that urbanisation impacts on community health and wellbeing unless we take measures to secure health based design, infrastructure and services. The Alfred Medical Research and Education Precinct (AMREP) will be holding a free Conference on the day. See details in Events later in this eNews. If you have World Health Day events you would like us to promote, email us at vlga@vlga.org.au.
Vice President Cr Ruth McGowan resigns from VLGA Board
It is with sadness that the VLGA has accepted Cr Ruth McGowan’s resignation from the VLGA Board this week. Ruth was diagnosed with cancer at the end of last year and has reluctantly chosen to step down in order to focus her energy on staying well as she considers treatment for non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. She will continue in her role as councillor with the Baw Baw Shire.
Cr McGowan wrote, “It has been a great privilege to work with fellow Board members who are dedicated to serving the community and strengthening democracy. I admire the commitment and passion to local government shown by VLGA members and staff and I hope to continue supporting the VLGA where I can.”
We all convey our deep thanks to Ruth for her service to the VLGA as Vice President and Interim President, and her outstanding commitment to communities, social justice and local government. We wish her and her family well at this time.
VLGA congratulates Kaele Way AM JP on her service to ALGWA
Last week, we omitted an important acknowledgement when reporting on the successful ALGWA Conference. Our sincere thanks to Kaele Way AM JP for her tireless work for women in local government. Kaele has been a driving force in ALGWA for 13 years serving as both President and also National President during that time. Congratulations Kaele and we wish you well.
Essential Services Commission – Local Government Performance Monitoring Framework
After five months of working with CEOs, mayors and councillors, the Essential Services Commission has released their Draft Report for comment. The Draft Report can be found via the Essential Services Commission website.
Submissions are due by 23 April and can be submitted via email to localgovernment@esc.vic.gov.au.
There are two seminars for councillors including ESC presentation of its preliminary findings, presentation from invited guest speakers, as well as the opportunity for questions and answers. Call (03) 9651 0259 to register your attendance.
Melbourne: Thursday 29 April 2010, 5.30-7.30pm
Treasury Theatre, Ground Level, 1 Macarthur St, Melbourne 3002
Shepparton: Tuesday 4 May 2010, 6.30-8.00pm
Shepparton RSL, 88 Wyndham St, Shepparton VIC 3630
Other forums and seminars include:
* Local Government Ministerial forum, 22 April
* Public Forum (Melbourne): Wednesday 28 April, 2-5pm
Treasury Theatre, Ground Level, 1 Macarthur St, Melbourne 3002
* LGPro CEO Forum, 30 April
* Public Forum (Shepparton): 11 May Tuesday, 2-4pm
Country Comfort Shepparton Parklake, 481 Wyndham St, Shepparton VIC 3630
Meetings with councils to road-test indicators will also occur during April-May.
The VLGA has been vocal throughout the consultation process to date about the need for any performance measures to be useful, not overly costly or onerous, and to report on and to be focussed on driving improvement rather than making unfair comparisons. We will be sending an email soon with some initial thoughts about the draft report. We look forward your comments.
Landfill levies to assist recycling
On Wednesday 24 March, Environment Minister Jennings announced an increase in the landfill levy as a charge on the delivery of material to landfill sites. The aim of this levy is to provide an incentive to avoid landfill and stimulate the development of innovation around recycling. The VLGA generally welcomes the State Government’s $54 million reinvestment to reduce waste including: $5.5 million to help councils implement the Metropolitan Waste Plan; a $6 million strike force to address illegal dumping; and $5.69 million to ensure waste agencies can fully support households, councils and industry to tackle waste. We welcome the work with local governments to tackle illegal dumping. The environmental gain is significant, despite the cost impost. The cost to individual households is likely to be $10-$15 maximum per annum (half that in rural areas). The changes have been supported by environmental groups in the state through the Boomerang Alliance. We know that sometimes it is financially difficult for smaller rural councils to find matching funds to meet Government grants and welcome the opportunity to explore this issue further with the State Government. The impacts of the levy on council budgets and rates will be felt sharply this year, but should be balanced by the long term benefits to the environment and local amenity. The VLGA Board spokesperson on this issue is Cr Heinz Kreutz.
Agriculture and food shortage – the next national challenge?
As our members would know, the VLGA has been leading the charge to raise awareness on food security for many years now. As we mark World Health Day on Wednesday 7 April, it is timely to also link other issues such as urbanisation, health, agriculture and food security. Our most recent work involved looking at the economic significance of the Food Sector and as mentioned in previous editions of this eNews, the need to integrate land use planning and food security. You may be interested in a recent article sourced from the Foodforethought blog. This article from SBS’s World News Australia proposes a government intervention to help the nation cope – by way of a national food policy. For more information on the VLGA’s Food Security work, contact Dr Beverley Wood on 03 9349 7999 or beverley@vlga.org.au.
Sharing government and community facilities
One of the pressures facing urban and regional or rural local governments alike is to ensure that our facilities can keep pace with community needs. An area that has recently come under the spotlight is the issue of sharing government and community facilities. With the release of the Victorian Competition and Efficiency Commission’s (VCEC) Final Report and the State Government’s Response, the focus in the future will be on simplifying government grant processes for shared facilities and increasing community access to them. VCEC consulted the VLGA when it was scoping the issues to be covered in the inquiry, and we welcome the recommendations in their final report.
A significant number of local governments made submissions to the inquiry. These included Ararat, Banyule, Bass Coast, Baw Baw, Bayside, Boroondara, Cardinia, Casey, Colac Otway, Darebin, Frankston, Greater Geelong, Hobsons Bay, Hume, Knox, Latrobe, Manningham, Melbourne, Monash, Moorabool, Moreland, Moyne, Strathbogie, Surf Coast, Warrnambool, Wellington, West Wimmera, Whitehorse and Wyndham. You can download copies of these submissions here.
Transport notices
Wyndham City Council is hosting the Transport Access & Inclusion Forum: Exploring Transport Access & Inclusion Challenges & Options in a Growth Area on Thursday 13 May 2010, from 9.30am-3.30pm, as part of the Wyndham Transport Connections Project. Further details can be found via the Thinking Transport website.
Also, three more area-specific surveys have been released by pt4me2 for the North-East, South-East and Western regions of Melbourne. Access the survey for your area via Thinking Transport.
Statistical training opportunities with ABS Victoria in 2010
The Australian Bureau of Statistics is offering practical, informative and relevant training to help you develop your statistical skills. Courses include: Introduction to ABS Statistical Collections; Turning Data Into Information; Analysing Survey Data Made Simple; Making Quality Informed Decisions; and Understanding Demographic Data.
Find further details and a flyer via our website.
Events
Alfred Medical Research and Education Precinct World Health Day Conference
Wednesday 7 April, 8.30am-5pm
Ormond Hall, 557 St Kilda Rd, Prahran (enter off Moubray Street)
The two inter-related themes of the conference include:
* Implications of urbanisation for the health of poor and disadvantaged populations, and
* Multi-faceted approaches to improving maternal health in low-income settings.
This conference is organised by Monash University and the Burnet Institute, on behalf of the AMREP Global Health Consortium, with support from 'Compass', the AusAID-funded Women's and Children's Health Knowledge Hub, and VicHealth. The conference is free to all participants, and you can register your details with Emma.Frean@med.monash.edu.au. You can find the Conference and Workshop programs here.
Emily’s List: Empowering the Community Sector training for women
Monday 19 April 2010, 9-11am: Introduction to Lobbying
Monday 10 May 2010, 9-11am: Advanced Lobbying – Lobbying Labor
The Atrium, Level 5, Queen Victoria Women's Centre, 210 Lonsdale St Melbourne
2010 is an important election year at both State and Federal government levels. The Empowering the Community Sector Series is designed to give women in senior levels of the community sector essential skills, insight and tips on how to impact the political process as they advocate for their organisations’ key issues to be placed on the election policy agenda. For more details, including the program and booking forms, go to VLGA Events.
Moreland Energy Foundation Limited (MEFL) Energy Management Course
Tuesday 20 April 2010 or Tuesday 22 June 2010, 9am-5pm
233 Sydney Road, Brunswick
This popular one day course is offered by VLGA member MEFL to equip participants with a broad understanding of energy use, assessment and auditing techniques. If you, or council officers or others you know are interested, you can download the flyer and registration form at VLGA Events.
2010 Premier’s Sustainability Awards
Thursday 22 April 2010, 7pm-12 midnight
Melbourne Convention & Exhibition Centre, South Wharf
Dress: Lounge Suit
Join the Hon. John Brumby MLA, Premier of Victoria, host Eddie McGuire and keynote speaker Mr Andrew Tan, Director of the Centre for Liveable Cities Singapore, at Victoria's most prestigious environmental awards ceremony on 22 April. There are a number of Award Categories and finalists, including Local Government Award finalists Nillumbik Shire Council, Darebin City Council and Boroondara City Council. Community Award finalists include the Alternative Technology Association, FareShare and SecondBite. The event includes unveiling the winners, a night of entertainment and a four-course meal showcasing Victoria's finest local produce.
Tickets to the ceremony are available until 9 April 2010. Individual tickets are $170 plus GST and corporate tables are $1,600 plus GST. Tickets can be purchased here or call 1300 302 161.
Changing cultures, changing attitudes: preventing violence against women
Wednesday 7 April 2010, 10-11am, followed by light refreshments
Zinc, Federation Square, Flinders Street, Melbourne
The Minister for the Status of Women, the Hon. Tanya Plibersek, MP, will launch the report of the National Survey on Community Attitudes to Violence Against Women 2009, Changing cultures, changing attitudes: preventing violence against women, produced by VicHealth with the support of the Social Research Centre, the Australian Institute of Criminology and funded by the Australian Government.
Speakers include:
Nelly Thomas, comedian and creator of the No Means No Show for young people
Waleed Aly, politics lecturer, media commentator, and White Ribbon Ambassador
Jen Allen, advocate, Women’s Domestic Violence Crisis Service
With a performance by the cast of the No Means No Show, a program focused on promoting respectful relationships among young people.
RSVP by Wednesday 31 March to launch@vichealth.vic.gov.au or 03 9667 1354.
Please note there will be no eNews next week. We wish everyone a restful Easter break.
Regards
Cr Rose Iser
VLGA President
0414 959 427
rose@vlga.org.au
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