From Maffra to Dili, change occurs when people with ideas and energy decide to make it happen. At the Small Town Summit at Maffra last week, I heard Julie Nethercote talk about how Open Days at Yarram were born last year and now record house sales tell the story; Genevieve Barlow talked about the Transition Town initiatives at Newstead in Mt Alexander Shire. On another scale, yesterday we were reminded of the courage of the people of Timor-Leste who spoke their mind ten years ago and drove change.
Bold initiatives are occurring at the local level across Victoria and at the VLGA we are improving our capacity for collecting and sharing these.
Timor-Leste celebrates 10 year anniversary
The VLGA joins with the people of Timor-Leste in celebrating the tenth anniversary of the vote for independence from Indonesia on August 30, 1999. The many Friendship groups around Victoria are an ongoing opportunity for Victorian Local Governments and communities to provide financial and moral support for the people of Timor-Leste in their continuing struggle for prosperity and security.
We acknowledge and thank the many Councils that continue to support Friendship Groups with communities in Timor-Leste.
The VLGA remains committed to assisting Timor-Leste and is continuing discussions on providing training for elected officials and appointed officials in time for the first municipal elections and the establishment of Liaison Offices in both Dili and Australia. Board member, Richard Brown, chairs the VLGA Timor-Leste Working Group driving these projects.
Tonight, the VLGA is hosting a farewell to Abel Guterres, Timor-Leste Consul General, who has been pivotal in assisting the VLGA to forge its strong links with the people of Timor-Leste.
Rural initiatives show-cased at Small Town Summit in Maffra
Everyone who travelled to Maffra last week learnt something about the way Victorian communities are responding to the global and climate crises shaping our 21st century lives. Accessible tourism, persistence with media outlets, attracting health professionals and creating new jobs through a sustainable revolution were just some of the ideas discussed.
The final debate between Matt Wright from Zero Emissions and Charlie Speirs from Clean Coal Victoria was fascinating and South Gippsland Shire Council’s Andrew McEwan’s final message of “We can solve it” was welcomed for its optimism. Localisation and Transition Towns will be critical in the sustainable revolution and we look forward to further discussion on these movements.
Climate Change Green Paper
This Thursday, the Board will approve themes of the VLGA’s Response to the State Government’s Green Paper. For the most part, the VLGA will be concentrating on the adaptation issues, as well as building community capacity and ensuring the social equity implications of climate change are managed. This is consistent with the focus and work of our Liveable and Just Project.
After consideration by the Board, we will liaise closely with our Climate Change Working Group and our members before finalising our response by the end of September. If you have any ideas you would like us to consider, please let me know.
Planning and Environment Act Review Update
The next stage of the review of the Planning and Environment Act 1987 has been announced. The Department of Planning and Community Development has now prepared five response papers that set out proposals to respond to the various issues and suggestions raised. The five papers and the submissions are available at www.dpcd.vic.gov.au/planning. The reforms proposed in the response papers include:
• Update the objectives of planning in Victoria.
• Improve the operation of the amendment process.
• Improve the operation of the permit process.
• Introduce a new procedure for the consideration of projects declared as state significant major development.
• Improve the operation of s173 agreements.
• Provide for monitoring and reporting on the performance of the planning system through annual reporting.
• Introduce a general power for the Minister to issue directions and guidelines about actions and procedures under the Act.
• A range of miscellaneous changes to improve the operation of the Act.
We look forward to hearing your feedback on the response papers prior to a Draft Exposure Bill being presented to the Parliament later in the year.
Each of the five response papers includes details of how to provide your feedback and the relevant person that you can contact. We would greatly appreciate it if you could provide a copy of your feedback to us.
Events
The VLGA continues to run ‘leading edge events’, which are proving to be very popular, so don’t miss out!
This Thursday’s Leading Edge Forum is on Women in Local Government: ponder, plan and get practical.
This is a rare opportunity for women members and men who support them to get together to listen ponder and plan for VLGA’s participation in the National Year of Women in Local Government in 2010 and our strategy for the 2012 elections.
A panel featuring four women Councillors and former Mayors from different regions, perspectives and experiences will reflect with you what we have to build on and where we can go.
We would love to see you on Thursday 3rd September for an evening of information sharing, debate and strategic thinking. Oh, and of course great food and company!
All are welcome, as gender equity is work that involves us all.
This Leading Edge Forum will be web-cast live.
Details:
Thursday 3rd September 2009
Rear Meeting Room, Ground Floor, 60 Leicester Street, Carlton
6.30pm Drinks and Finger Food; 7.00-9.00pm Leading Edge Forum
Please RSVP to: 03 9349 7999 or vlga@vlga.org.au
Planning and Building - Residential Amenity Impacts of Licensed Premises
Come along to this workshop to hear how, in a recent landmark VCAT decision, the Tribunal set out a test to assess the cumulative impacts of licensed premises in a relevant area.
Will this interpretation be relevant when considering future planning applications for licenced premises in your municipality?
How is the cumulative impact on the residential amenity of the surrounding area to be assessed? Issues include:
• operating hours and patron numbers
• the incidence of violence, property damage and anti-social behaviour
• the density, mix and type of licensed premises
Details:
2.00 - 4.00 PM, Friday 11 September 2009
Rear Meeting Room, VLGA 60 Leicester Street, Carlton
The speaker will be Mimi Marcus, Senior Associate from Maddocks who acted for Yarra City Council at VCAT - followed by a panel discussion
Numbers limited. Please RSVP by Friday 4 September to: 03 9349 7999 or vlga@vlga.org.au
I hope this enews finds you all well. Feel free to contact me if you would like to discuss these or any other issues.
Regards
Cr Rose Iser
VLGA President
rose@vlga.org.au or 0414 959 427
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