Last week we met with Minister Powell and presented the VLGA’s proposed State Budget Submission. In our draft submission we have covered a range of issues relevant to the VLGA’s membership, and supported submissions made by other peaks. The submission has been compiled after our visits to local governments and feedback at our various Leading Edge Forums and activities throughout the past year. The specific items the VLGA has called for include:
* a ‘Securing Local Business in the Regions’ program – based on our Leading Edge Forum discussions in Ballarat last year and comments from members before and since
* skills development opportunities, especially for rural councillors – based on many discussions with you over time
* a ‘Building Local Government Capacity to Deliver Affordable Housing’ project – thanks to our Diverse & Affordable Housing Advisory Group members for their ideas in the past year
* funding to support the further development of municipal food security scanning tools and food sensitive urban design – further to the Government’s Victorian Public Health and Wellbeing Plan 2011-2015
* a specific project focused on food security in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities in the metropolitan area
We have also supported the Regional Cities Victoria call for a ‘Planning for Growth’ Gap Analysis project, and the One Million Homes alliances’ proposal for retrofitting Victorian homes for sustainability.* skills development opportunities, especially for rural councillors – based on many discussions with you over time
* a ‘Building Local Government Capacity to Deliver Affordable Housing’ project – thanks to our Diverse & Affordable Housing Advisory Group members for their ideas in the past year
* funding to support the further development of municipal food security scanning tools and food sensitive urban design – further to the Government’s Victorian Public Health and Wellbeing Plan 2011-2015
* a specific project focused on food security in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities in the metropolitan area
This week we will be sending a summary of our draft submission to members and if you have specific items you would like us to include in our thinking, please email us. I look forward to seeing you around the traps soon. In the meantime please don’t hesitate to give me a call to discuss issues of interest to you on 0407 364 509, or drop me a line via email. Cheers.
Cr Samantha Dunn, President
Keeping you up to date
Bushfire planning reforms
Last week, Planning Minister Matthew Guy announced $800,000 to help Victorian local governments adapt to bushfire planning reforms. This brings the Victorian Government’s total allocation to bushfire planning projects to $2 million over the past year. Eleven local governments have received financial assistance based on their areas of significant bushfire hazard, and the Minister has called for Expressions of Interest from local governments that did not receive funding last year. Funding will be directed to projects relating to strategic planning around bushfire risk and mitigation, planning compliance to make communities safer, and implementing bushfire planning provisions. The VLGA encourages local governments to seek more information about the EOI process, which closes on 23 March 2012.
A big or small Australia…?
On 23 March in Sydney, the Committee for Economic Development Australia (CEDA) will launch their research report, A Greater Australia: Population, Policies and Governance. With the recent announcement by Planning Minister Matthew Guy of a vision to expand Melbourne’s CBD, the VLGA and metropolitan local governments will be reflecting on urban densification and the types of infrastructure required in an overall metropolitan strategy, along with such issues as ‘air rights’ as we noted in our eNews of 13 February 2012.
VLGA and VU host reception for Timor-Leste PM, Xanana Gusmao
The VLGA in partnership with Victoria University and members of the East Timorese community hosted a reception and book launch for Timor-Leste Prime Minister Xanana Gusmao last Wednesday. More than 200 people attended the event where Prime Minister Gusmao launched his new collection of speeches, Strategies for the Future. He also spoke about the challenges facing Timor-Leste at this time. VLGA President Cr Samantha Dunn gave an ‘acknowledgement to country’ speech at the reception and the Mayor of Yarra Cr Geoff Barbour gave a speech of thanks to Mr Gusmao. Prime Minister Gusmao, a long term friend of the VLGA, spoke to many local government councillors and friendship group members and thanked them for their ongoing support for his country. In addition to several mayors and councillors, Victorian Members of Parliament, Timor-Leste Ambassador Abel Guterres, Honorary Consul General Kevin Bailey, VU Chancellor George Pappas, Australian Ambassador Miles Armitage and former Premier Steve Bracks all attended. The VLGA was pleased to be asked to co-host the reception and thanks VU for providing the venue and the catering and being a wonderful partner with whom to work.
Focus on sustainability and managing waste
An interesting article in The Age last week profiled some of the changes underway at Sustainability Victoria. The VLGA is giving advance notice to members of our upcoming Leading Edge Forum on Thursday 29 March where we will be discussing waste management issues and priorities for the future with the Chair of the Metropolitan Waste Management Group and VLGA Vice President Cr Heinz Kreutz and with Sustainability Victoria CEO Stan Krpan. More information will follow in the next few days so stay tuned.
More on smoke-free outdoor laws
In this week’s edition of The Conversation, Andrew Penman, CEO at the Cancer Council of NSW writes about that State Government’s plans to introduce a smoke-free outdoors law this year, “making it the sixth state or territory to have some variation of this kind of legislation.” This issue also hit the local media last week with the Herald Sun taking an interest in the NSW developments. A number of VLGA member local governments have put local laws in place and many are considering how best to act. The VLGA will be writing to Health Minister David Davis this week to encourage the Victorian Government to examine laws in other states and to take similar action here, to achieve a consistent approach across Victoria.
Renewing Frankston's city centre: outcomes from community and stakeholder engagement
The VLGA has always supported improved community engagement on matters affecting local communities. Despite the fear that urban renewal consultations can sometimes be controversial, when local governments undertake extensive and diverse forms of meaningful consultation, creativity and agreement abound. This was clearly the case in Frankston when preliminary consultation on the revision of the Structure Plan was held from 25 July to 2 September 2011. Residents, community groups, businesses and other stakeholder groups were invited to have their say on the future planning of Frankston's city centre and were encouraged to share their ideas through a range of activities including an online forum. All feedback received during the preliminary consultation, together with research undertaken and relevant State Government policies will be considered in the review and update of the Structure Plan. The findings of the preliminary consultation are now available online and provide a good basis for understanding the community and stakeholder views and ideas on the future of Frankston. The VLGA congratulates Frankston for genuinely reaching out to their community.Does my society look big in this?
As countries around the world struggle with economic downturns, many policy experts are asking what this will mean for the provision of government services. Big Society: how the UK Government is Dismantling the State and What it Means for Australia is a fascinating essay written by James Whelan from the Centre for Policy Development. ‘Big Society’ has a carefully crafted rhetorical foundation. Few people would refute the assertion that society is a good thing. Who wouldn’t want a bigger one? Beneath this simple logic, the ‘Big Society’ mantra promises outcomes that are embraced widely and deeply – decentralising power from government and dispersing it more widely to communities and individuals; allowing citizens more control over their lives; encouraging cooperation and initiative; inclusive governance and co-production (collaboration between providers and users in service design or delivery). Few critics of ‘Big Society’ question these ideals. In fact, many support them wholeheartedly. But the impacts of ‘Big Society’ programs have contradicted and undermined these ideals. Read more…
What do you think about people using public streets for gardens?
The City of Melbourne is currently undertaking a consultation process around the issue of street gardens. Distinct from organised community gardens, street gardens are a way for people to use public land – like nature strips, footpaths, median strips or laneways to create small gardening spaces for food, ornamental or other green infrastructure purposes. The City of Melbourne would like to determine the level of interest in this topic, so is inviting the community to provide feedback on both the concept of street gardens and the draft Street Gardens Guidelines. The feedback received will be used to assist Council consider its policy position in relation to street gardens. A copy of the draft Street Gardens Guidelines can also be accessed here. The City of Melbourne invites you to provide your comments by completing the online survey. Additionally, you can forward your thoughts either via email or in writing to: City of Melbourne Health Services Branch, GPO Box 1603, Melbourne VIC 3001. The closing date for completing the online survey is Friday 9 March 2012. If you would like a hard copy of the draft Street Gardens Guidelines to review, contact Council at the same email mentioned in this eNews item, or phone 03 9658 9658.
VLGA Events
March Leading Edge Forum: Local governments and alcohol in the community
Thursday 1 March, from 6pm
Hosted by the City of Greater Geelong: City Hall, entry via Little Malop Street
Managing alcohol is a key responsibility for local governments. As community harms and costs resulting from alcohol harm become more widely understood there is increasing pressure for all levels of government to act and develop strategies that reduce alcohol related harm. Hosted by the City of Greater Geelong, this Leading Edge Forum will focus on the policy implications of packaged liquor, venue management and community health impacts. Join us in Geelong to hear a range of speakers presenting academic research and practical insights from councils on this important topic. Download the flyer, and register online or telephone (03) 9349 7999 to RSVP.Thursday 1 March, from 6pm
Hosted by the City of Greater Geelong: City Hall, entry via Little Malop Street
Other Events
Committee for Economic Development Australia (CEDA)
Geelong and Barwon South West: Planning a region for the future
Thursday 22 March, 9am-2pm
Mecure Geelong, cnr Gheringhap & Myers Sts, Geelong
Join CEDA and Regional Development Victoria as they bring together leaders from key sectors to discuss a range of issues for the Barwon South West and G21 region including:
* Providing for communities: education and health
* Providing jobs for a growing population
* Planning a city for the future of the region
Register here and for further information email Gemma Clark.
Sustainable Communities Forum for Local Government
Friday 30 March, 9.30am-4.30pm
Zinc @ Federation Square, cnr Flinders & Swanston Sts, Melbourne
This forum, co-hosted with ICLEI, aims to inform and engage a wider audience of the workshop outcomes and to develop a local response for Australian local government. It will offer a unique opportunity to hear leading examples from the C40 Cities Climate Leadership Group, outcomes from the workshop, and provide input into a sectoral agenda for sustainable communities. The forum will feature:
* parallel sessions for elected representatives, and local government administrators and stakeholders to develop the case for sustainable communities
* release of Local Government Position Paper on Local Climate Change Action; and
* workshop to test the draft Local Government Guide for Green Star Communities, which provides local government with guidance on promoting the planning and design of best practice sustainable communities.
RSVP by email to Kim Lecerf by 5pm Friday 9 March.
2nd National Sustainable Food Summit
2-4 April
Dockside Sydney
This summit is a must-attend event for practitioners with an interest in how Australia's food system will transform to meet the challenge of feeding more people with less over the next century. The inaugural Summit held in April 2011, and attended by over 340 participants from diverse sectors and backgrounds, generated extraordinary consensus for the need to collaborate and continue the conversations necessary to generate change. 2012 may be pivotal for Australian food policy with the National Food Plan due for release. It is also appropriately the Australian Year of the Farmer and United Nations International Year of the Cooperative. The 2nd Annual National Sustainable Food Summit begins in Sydney on 3 April. A series of pre-conference workshops on 2 April 2012 have also been designed to bring people up to speed on the current issues and discussion from the 2011 summit. Anyone who is interested in this area can join the Sustainable Food System Conversation. This conversation is designed to feed into discussions at the Summit so will be particularly useful to attendees. For more information about the program and workshops, please email Cheryl or phone 02 9555 2358.
People and the Planet Conference
26-28 April 2012
Melbourne
Twenty years on from the landmark Earth Summit in Rio, RMIT is collaborating with the UN Global Compact Cities Programme to bring internationally renowned experts in sustainability to discuss the future of the planet. Global superstars such as Sigourney Weaver, David Suzuki and Bob Geldof will be in Melbourne, speaking alongside Australian high-profile speakers including Tim Costello, CEO of World Vision; Robyn Eckersley, leading environmentalist; Ian Lowe, President of the Australian Conservation Foundation; and Dennis Altman, Professor of Politics, to discuss where we go from here.
* How do we move beyond the current set of crises and relative political stalemate?
* How do we get beyond carbon accounting?
The outcomes of the Melbourne forum will become the basis for the ‘Cities and Urbanization’ Track at Rio+20 www.earthsummit2012.org. For more information and to purchase tickets, please visit the official website. Enquires can be directed through the Global Cities Research Institute via email or phone 9925 8322.
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