There has been more media focus on local government in the past week, with Elizabeth Proust’s call for the number of metropolitan councils in Melbourne to be reduced to one. We were contacted by Melbourne media for our thoughts, and you might have seen the article in The Age on Wednesday. There have been a range of commentators who have called for a reduced number of local governments in metropolitan Melbourne. This idea gets ‘wind in its sails’ every so often. For us, it’s not quite so straightforward. Re-organising doesn’t necessarily address the issues of resourcing, quality service provision, quality representation and so on. Around Australia, and indeed internationally there are different models, and reducing the number of local governments isn’t, in our view, the best option. A serious study of capacity and financial sustainability across local governments would be a more instructive way of looking at the issues around value for money, infrastructure maintenance, and meeting service demands more efficiently. We encourage a closer examination of more co-operative models such as the Greater Vancouver model in Canada, which covers 21 municipalities and more than 2 million people through a voluntary partnership that has existed since 1967. In fact this is one of the models being looked at in the metropolitan review of Perth in Western Australia currently. In the VLGA’s view, long term strategic planning is best achieved by local governments being highly engaged with their communities, and through good co-operation between the State Government and local authorities especially for projects that transcend local government boundaries. The experience of local government amalgamations has taught us that reducing the number of local governments doesn’t necessarily save money. There is no need for expensive and disruptive merger processes in order to achieve better economies of scale. There are other ways in which local governments have been able to demonstrate reduction of cost duplication very effectively, such as the Community Chef model for meals on wheels services for a group of neighbouring metropolitan local governments. Last Monday, as part of my role as Chair of the Eastern Regional Libraries Corporation I attended the Victorians Love Libraries launch by Local Government Minister Jeanette Powell, at Clayton Library. I congratulate the Public Libraries Network of Victoria, the Municipal Association of Victoria and the City of Monash on the successful launch event. 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
Moneyless pokies ban a win for community
Last week, the VLGA welcomed the move by the Victorian Government to ban moneyless Electronic Gaming Machines (EGMs) in Victoria over the next decade, as announced by the Minister for Gaming Michael O’Brien on 15 March. See our media release with more details.
More on the Charter of Human Rights
Last week, we featured our media release welcoming the Victorian Government’s announcement that they will retain the Charter of Human Rights and Responsibilities and its commitment to protecting the rights of all Victorians. A number of our members have expressed interest in seeing case studies and stories about the Charter and its impact, and this article from last Monday’s Geelong Advertiser might be useful.
Good planning plus affordable housing equals a liveable city
In an article in The Age on 16 March, Carolyn Whitzman and Billie Giles-Corti from the University of Melbourne argued the importance of affordable housing to the overall liveability of Melbourne. With Melbourne’s population continuing to climb, local governments increasingly have to review and improve their strategies for sustainably managing growth and urban change. The VLGA has long been committed to raising the profile of housing affordability in the local government sector and is focusing on the need for a connected approach across the community. Through our Resilient Neighbourhoods project, we will work with local and State governments, not-for-profit organisations, research institutions and the private sector to improve issues such as affordable housing through integrated and sustainable planning for urban growth and change. For more information about the Resilient Neighbourhoods Project, contact Micaela Drieberg on 9349 7943 or via email.
Successful ‘Think women’ forums in Loddon Mallee Region
Last Wed
nesday and Thursday around 20 women interested in local government, from as far afield as Mount Alexander, Greater Bendigo, Macedon Ranges, Swan Hill and Gannawarra, attended the Think women for local government forums at Castlemaine, Kerang and Cohuna. Guest speakers included Mount Alexander councillors Bronwyn Machin and Christine Henderson; former young councillor of Greater Bendigo Trudi McLure, Loddon Cr Christine Brooke, Cr Yvonne Jennings of Swan Hill and Cr Ellen White of Buloke. Of special note was the strong support offered by the hosting mayors, Mount Alexander Mayor Janet Cropley and Gannawarra Mayor Max Fehring. The VLGA thanks the Shires of Mount Alexander and Gannawarra for hosting these events and women councillors for offering their valuable insights to potential candidates. 
Pictured above: Swan Hill Cr Yvonne Jennings, Loddon Cr Chris Brooke, Gannawarra Mayor Max Fehring, Gannawarra CEO Rosanne Kava & Buloke Cr Ellen White
Pictured right: Mount Alexander Cr Bronwyn Machin, Trudi McLure, Loddon Cr Chris Brooke, Mount Alexander Cr Christine Henderson & Mount Alexander Mayor Janet Cropley
Enough talk – 2012 is the year to Make it Real!
VLGA members may be aware of the Every Australian Counts campaign and the NDIS Make it Real rallies planned for capital cities around Australia on Monday 30 April. In Melbourne, the event will be held at Federation Square from 12 noon. The rallies are being held to send a clear message to political leaders and the broader community that the time has come for the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS). The campaign team needs volunteers in the lead up to the event and on the day to help with various tasks. To view the promo clip and to sign up as a volunteer, visit: http://everyaustraliancounts.com.au/rally/. There’s also more information on the website.
Save the date! Victorian Youth Conference ‘Connect For: Improved Outcomes for Victoria’s Vulnerable Young People’, 25 & 26 June in Melbourne
A two-day collaborative conference that brings together State and local government and the community sector is being held in Melbourne in June. The conference is a response to children and young people experiencing barriers to accessing opportunities to learning and development. It is designed for those working in education, youth support, health, housing, justice services, and police. Further information contact Liz Leahy at the Youth Affairs Council of Victoria Inc (YACVIC) on 1300 727 176 or see www.yacvic.org.au.
‘Ngootyoong Gunditj, Ngootyoong Mara’ South West Management Plan
Parks Victoria, the Gunditj Mirring Traditional Owners and the department of Sustainability and Environment are developing the South West Management Plan. ‘Ngootyoong Gunditj, Ngootyoong Mara’ translated means ‘Healthy Country, Healthy People’. The Parks Victoria website now has a dedicated section for the plan and we encourage you to take a look. Several Community Open House Days are also scheduled in Macarthur, Portland, Heywood, Casterton and Nelson. To find out more contact James Hackel via email.
Towards a Waste Account, Australia – Drivers and Approaches
The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) has just released a discussion paper Towards a Waste Account, Australia – Drivers and Approaches. There is considerable interest in the development and implementation of environmental accounts in Australia and internationally. Despite this interest, there is a lack of knowledge and understanding of what environmental accounts actually mean and their potential for supporting environmental, social and economic policy. The discussion paper seeks advice on how output from a Waste Account could be used to answer key policy questions and assistance in identifying and accessing appropriate information sources. Comments are due by 19 April 2012. For more information email Duncan Cockburn or Sarah Coleman.
Project Procurement Executive Program
Bond University is offering its new ‘Project Procurement Executive Program’ on 29 and 30 May at the University of Melbourne’s Graduate House. Presentations will showcase experienced industry leaders making wide use of transactional evidence and case studies. Completion of the two day executive program will provide credit towards a Bond University Professional Certificate of Project Procurement or other postgraduate programs in Infrastructure and Project Management. As a newly offered program the course fee has been heavily discounted as a once-off opportunity. To find out more go to http://bit.ly/project-procurement or contact Marisa Mansfield on 07 5595 2198 or via email.
VLGA Events
Leading Edge Forum – Future Waste: emerging issues and collaborations
Thursday 29 March, 6-9pm
VLGA, 60 Leicester St, Carlton
We invite you to join us at our next Leading Edge Forum. Come along and hear the new CEO of Sustainability Victoria Stan Krpan outline his vision for SV, joining with Cr Heinz Kreutz, VLGA Board Member and Chair of the Metropolitan Waste Management Group, to talk about emerging synergies and opportunities for collaboration between the State Government and local governments. Agnieszka Kleparska from HealthWest Partnerships will showcase a terrific case study that saw western suburbs local governments collaborate on food security projects. Download the flyer and RSVP online by Monday 26 March or phone (03) 9349 7999.
Campaign training: Essential campaigning for local government elections
Saturday 21 OR Saturday 28 April, 9am-5pm
60L meeting rooms, 60 Leicester St, Carlton
This full-day training program has been specifically designed for anybody considering standing for election in October 2012. Everything you need to know about successful campaigning, including:
* Communications basics and beyond – strategies to assert your points of difference
* Media basics and beyond – what the media and voters want to know
* Preferences and voting
* Tips for 150-word candidate statements
* Street stalls and doorknocking
* What you need to do between now and Election Day
There will be two opportunities to attend this training program (please choose one) – either Saturday 21 April OR Saturday 28 April at the VLGA. Note that the program is identical for both days.
Pokies Assessments: a ‘how to’ short course
Monday 30 April or Thursday 3 May
VLGA, 60 Leicester St, Carlton
Everything you ever wanted to know about assessing the social and other impacts of pokies, and the context and history of pokies. This is the most comprehensive training program ever put together in Victoria and includes:
* Practical case studies, tools and guides
* Local Government Initiatives Marketplace – talk to people who’ve achieved results
* Gaming and planning processes
* Understanding community wellbeing
Designed for statutory and strategic planners, social and community planners, social researchers, health professionals and consultants, as well as councillors, this short course includes a comprehensive 120-page ‘step by step’ Training Manual. There will be two opportunities to attend this full-day training program (please choose one) – either Monday 30 April or Thursday 3 May at the VLGA. Cost is $245 VLGA Members and project contributors, $275 for non-members. Download the flyer, program and registration form from the VLGA website.
Other Events
Space x People: Forum – Rethinking Community Infrastructure Practice
Thursday 29 March, 8.30am-5pm
Marriott Hotel, Cnr Exhibition & Lonsdale Streets, Melbourne
Capire Consulting Group is hosting a forum for practitioners involved in the planning, delivery and operation of community infrastructure. They invite leading practitioners to share their ideas, frustrations and big questions, and participate in robust discussion about the future of community infrastructure in Victoria going beyond the usual topics. Practitioners will be encouraged to challenge our everyday thinking. For full details and program visit http://www.capire.com.au.
Local Government Forum – Sustainable Transport
Friday 30 March, 9.30-11.30am
Sustainability Victoria, Level 28, 50 Lonsdale St, Melbourne
Local governments can influence the sustainability of transport options both for their community and in their own operations. For rural local governments, fleet can account for over eighty per cent of their energy use. This forum looks at the latest theory for developing sustainable transport options. The forum will be webcast. RSVP essential by Tuesday 27 March, including for the webcast, via email.
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. Enquiries can be directed through the Global Cities Research Institute via email or phone 9925 8322.
‘Making Culture Count’ Conference
2-4 May 2012
Melbourne
The Cultural Development Network hosts the Making Culture Count: Rethinking Measures of Cultural Vitality, Well-being and Citizenship Conference, at the Woodward Conference Centre, University of Melbourne. The conference will feature 62 presenters from six Australian states and territories and eight other countries across Europe, Asia- Pacific and the Americas. Speakers will represent universities, government departments from four different countries, local governments, foundations, arts and community organisations as well as several independent artists and researchers. There is also a Pre-Conference Local Government Workshop: Measuring Cultural Vitality, and a Pre-Conference Postgraduate Masterclass.
Nonprofit Masterclass in Advanced Strategy, Risk and Governance – in the South-West
Monday 14 MayLady Bay Resort, 2 Pertobe Rd, Warrnambool
Leading-edge strategies and tactics for nonprofit executives and Board members.
Do you have new Board members who would benefit from the latest in strategic thinking and governance practices? Would your Board benefit from renewal of energy to facilitate them to be even more strategic? Would you like the latest and most powerful strategies to get your Board truly engaged and making the decisions that create the future for the community you serve?
Steven Bowman, a leading international adviser in corporate and nonprofit conscious leadership, is presenting an intensive one-day Masterclass that will shake long-held beliefs about strategy, risk and governance. CEOs, senior executives, Chairs and Board members should not miss this event. Registrants will receive a free copy of the nonprofit e-book, The Conscious Chief Executive. Enquiries to Allan Bassett or Richard Zerbe at Community Southwest on (03) 5559 1032 or by email.
Alternative Futures Conference
21-24 May
Newcastle, NSW
Convened over three days in Newcastle City Precinct, NSW, the conference will deliver an exciting multidisciplinary event addressing climate and risk, land use planning, biodiversity conservation, liveable communities and urban design, and feature some of the leading thinkers and innovators from across Australia and overseas addressing many of the challenges facing regional Australia’s future planning and development. For more information contact Steve Wilson via email.
4th Annual Victorian Transport Infrastructure Conference
28-29 May
Melbourne Convention Exhibition Centre
Victoria is experiencing an infrastructure backlog to meet growing economic and community needs. The State Government has begun planning and investment to address the backlog and realise Victoria's potential. This conference will discuss the prioritisation, planning and delivery of critical transport infrastructure in Victoria.
