This week’s introduction to our eNews will be longer than usual, because I would like to start a dialogue with our members about our role and responsibility in shaping the future of urban planning in Melbourne. The view that we live in a pro-development state is now uncontested. Many important planning decisions are made by government or VCAT, resulting in a rapidly changing urban landscape with limited local control.
Last week I mentioned that I was pleased to report how the Planning Minister shared our concern about the spectre of a centralised metropolitan planning agency, as this might further erode local decision-making powers. In the process, I invoked the recently published report by the Committee for Melbourne, Melbourne beyond 5 million – Getting better as we get bigger, Vol. 1 Governance and the Melbourne Proposition. See http://melbourne.org.au/static/files/assets/23f5a8bd/ShapingMelbourneVersionFAlr.pdf.
I find it remarkable that among the approx. 110 members and contributors to the Shaping Melbourne Taskforce (p.27) there is not a single local government represented – neither metropolitan nor interface (with the exception of Melbourne City Council). As a member of the VLGA – and I know that many of you share my interest – I am always intrigued when other agencies and peak bodies talk about governance. A couple of experiences in the past week have given further impetus to my desire to delve a little deeper into the nature of ‘good governance’ and its importance for the local communities we represent. The VLGA defines its approach to good governance as a set of “values and operations ... predicated on strengthening local government as a robust and responsive level of government in Victoria which provides leadership to and engages with its communities.” (http://www.vlga.org.au/Projects___Campaigns/Good_Governance.aspx). Accordingly, we try to assist our members (local governments and communities) by providing information, training and support on a broad range of topics, all of which are underpinned and informed by good governance principles. We also play a strong advocacy role on behalf of our members vis-à-vis other levels of government on issues which impact on good governance and strong, diverse and inclusive local government.
This is at the centre of everything we do, and with our members we have built a reputation based on these values and principles. The Committee for Melbourne, in its recent publication Melbourne beyond 5 million – Governance and the Melbourne Proposition, takes a more process-oriented view; for the Committee, governance is “the process for making and implementing decisions for our city’s future” (p.9). The document goes on to stress the importance of governance, and its authors clearly understand that governance needs to be “treated first, as effective decision making will define the way we grow. If we get the governance right, it makes it easier for other things to follow” (p.5).
This is good stuff, and so far so good, because if there is one aspect to planning Melbourne’s future, all players – State and Local Government, private and community sectors – can agree on, it is that the current system is ambiguous and inefficient, and creates an enormous amount of anxiety, frustration and uncertainty. We therefore welcome the caution exercised by the Committee for Melbourne when they are reluctant to propose a new planning system and structure which they believe would be premature. This is an important point, because there has been a fair amount of misrepresentation and misinterpretation since the release of the report a couple weeks ago. Melbourne beyond 5 million clearly states that:
“before a structure can be proposed (be it a Greater Melbourne Council, a Minister for Melbourne, a non-political authority such as the old Melbourne and Metropolitan Board of Works, a refinement of the status quo, or a completely new system) the community must first come together (my emphasis) to debate the problems and agree on the characteristics of a new model for governance. Only after we agree on the characteristics can we put shape to a governance model.” (p.9).
It is difficult to critique such good intentions, and we commend the Committee for Melbourne for its efforts. However, as our local government constituencies constantly remind us, the real challenge will be to find the right balance of approach that brings the community together so that they can engage in an informed debate. Even if not everybody agrees, the process of engagement, as I argued at our recent planning debate at the VLGA, is just as important as the outcome. It the process itself that informs, educates and ultimately empowers us. This, I believe, is where the Committee for Melbourne’s and the VLGA’s interpretation of governance intersect: theirs is about the importance of process, ours about the importance of values and operations. It is far more difficult to form an informed opinion about what is good for society as a whole than to determine where one’s self-interests lie, and there will be instances where a compromise cannot be reached and the greater good will have to prevail. We at the VLGA and in local government in general, hold a deep faith in both the virtue of informed debate and the ability of ordinary people to govern themselves. This view rests on a fundamentally positive conviction, as opposed to negative governance principles espoused by those in power who do not understand, or refuse to accept, that taking away people’s problems and challenges is taking away their entitlement to participate.
The VLGA, as a local government peak body with its many community chapter members, welcomes the Committee for Melbourne’s longer-term, integrated approach to making our City and our communities stronger. We note, however, with some concern, that the members of, and contributors to, the Committee for Melbourne’s Shaping Melbourne Taskforce, with the exception of the City of Melbourne, do not appear to reflect any local government expertise at all. While the private sector and the State Government (e.g. Department of Planning & Community Development, Department of Innovation, Industry & Regional Development, the Department of Transport and other State Government statutory bodies such as the EPA (see p. 27 of Melbourne beyond 5 million) are active participants, with the exception of the City of Melbourne, not a single metropolitan local government or any of its peak bodies such as ours are included. One can only hope that the good intentions of the first volume of the Shaping Melbourne series, which is full of good intentions and places so much emphasis on effective and inclusive advocacy, will form a platform for an ongoing evolution of dialogue with the people and groups that constitute the very essence of metropolitan Melbourne – its people, its local communities and, not least, its local government bodies.
CEO Sleepout
The Vinnies CEO Sleepout, on Thursday 17 June at Etihad Stadium, will give participating business and community leaders insight into some of the challenges faced by people who live on the streets while raising funds to support Vinnies’ homeless services. Among many Victorian CEOs participating will be local government CEOs Kay Rundle from Port Phillip, Adrian Robb from Bayside, Tony McIlroy from Benalla, Acting CEO Rob Adams from Melbourne and Chairman of VincentCare Victoria and VLGA Life Member Peter Johnstone. You can support the abovementioned participants by clicking on their names and donating, or by encouraging CEOs to participate. More information is available here.
Do you want to know more about land use planning?
Build your knowledge and understanding of the Victorian Planning System and play a more meaningful role in the planning system process by enrolling in the VLGA’s online course and, at your own pace and in your own time, make your way through the introduction module specially designed for local government councillors. The module is also suitable for staff across many departments, tertiary students and community members because it has been developed to ensure anyone can access the content level they require. Should you choose to, you can opt in for voluntary additional assessment tasks recognised by La Trobe University. For more information on this and other online courses and training go here. Please pass this information onto councillors and staff you think might be interested.
Timor-Leste Ambassador talks with VLGA forum participants
As mentioned before, good friend of the VLGA, Abel Guterres, has been appointed as the new Timor-Leste Ambassador to Australia. We were pleased that one of Abel’s first official roles as Ambassador was his participation, via telephone hook up, in the VLGA’s forum last month on friendship groups. We will keep you updated on our work in this area. For more information or assistance, contact Gary Jungwirth at gary@vlga.org.au or (03) 9349 9986.
Want us to help you realise your local transport projects?
Through our Local Government Transport Facilitation Project we want to know what you need and the best ways we can assist. Our online Local Government Transport Barrier and Capability survey is designed to assist local governments to implement sustainable transport networks by determining the resources and people-power available in each local government. It will also help us identify gaps in information and resources holding local governments back. Please encourage staff working on transport projects to fill in this survey here by no later than 30 June. For more information please email Gordon Young at gordon@vlga.org.au or phone (03) 9349 7943.
Reminder – Sally Isaac Women in Local Government Leadership Awards close 9 July
In previous editions of the VLGA President’s eNews we’ve alerted you to the Sally Isaac Women in Local Government Leadership Award. This award was established by LGPro to recognise the contribution of Sally Isaac, a remarkable young women and former staff member at the VLGA and City of Yarra. The Awards also seeks to foster young women leaders in local government and encourage young people to consider local government as a ‘career of choice’. Awards will be presented at the Women’s Network dinner on Thursday 29 July at Hilton on the Park and submissions must be received in hard copy, at the LGPro office, and electronic format by 5pm on Friday 9 July. More information.
Power Up! Communities in Control 2010 Conference papers now available
Last week we shared with you our praise for the 2010 Communities in Control Conference and some of our highlights. Conference papers are now available online here and will detail: what power lies in Australia and how local communities and local government can get more (David Hetherington); the opinion trends which are shaping our world and how to create the change we want to see (Rebecca Huntley); and a very thorough study about why more equal societies almost always do better (Richard Wilkinson and Kate Pickett). We recommend taking a look. Much of the data and arguments presented could help community leaders show real leadership by articulating the future we want to see, rather than the one we fear we’ll get.
Directory of women in trades and services
This directory identifies women working in trades and non-traditional employment, promoting their services and offering a range of support services. To access the online directory or to register your trade or service go here. Please encourage women in your community to do the same.
Watch this space
Triggers for planning applications to be advised to Owners Corporations
The VLGA has been contacted by Owners Corporations Victoria (formerly the Institute of Body Corporate Managers Victoria) to highlight a gap that exists on many planning permit application forms. OCV is enlisting our support for their request to the Minister for Planning to update all forms to include a reference as to whether the Owner’s Corporation has been informed, or approves of the application. This seems like an easy step to take, and one that will assist the hundreds of thousands of Victorians who are members of Owners Corporations.
VLGA events for your diary
Human rights implementation in local government: successes, challenges and strategies for moving forward
Wednesday 7 July 2010, from 9am
Jasper Hotel, 489 Elizabeth St, Melbourne
Together with the Victorian Equal Opportunity & Human Rights Commission, the VLGA brings you a half-day symposium to launch From compliance to culture: a toolkit for local governments to implement the Victorian Charter of Human Rights and Responsibilities. Hear from a range of speakers including local governments, our CEO Maree McPherson and myself on the development of a culture of human rights through the work of local governments. Register here to attend, or for further information contact Gary Jungwirth at gary@vlga.org.au or on (03) 9349 7986.
Other upcoming events
Civil Contractors Federation Victorian Civil Construction Conference 2010
The 2010 CCF Victorian Civil Construction Conference will be held at Etihad Stadium on 21 July. Minister for Major Projects Tim Pallas will open the conference which includes a panel forum where attendees can direct questions to government authorities and contractor representatives on pertinent areas in Alliance Contracting and how this strategy fits with civil construction projects in today’s market. For more information and to register, go here.
Cr Heinz Kreutz
VLGA President
0438 006 656
heinz@vlga.org.au
Last week I mentioned that I was pleased to report how the Planning Minister shared our concern about the spectre of a centralised metropolitan planning agency, as this might further erode local decision-making powers. In the process, I invoked the recently published report by the Committee for Melbourne, Melbourne beyond 5 million – Getting better as we get bigger, Vol. 1 Governance and the Melbourne Proposition. See http://melbourne.org.au/static/files/assets/23f5a8bd/ShapingMelbourneVersionFAlr.pdf.
I find it remarkable that among the approx. 110 members and contributors to the Shaping Melbourne Taskforce (p.27) there is not a single local government represented – neither metropolitan nor interface (with the exception of Melbourne City Council). As a member of the VLGA – and I know that many of you share my interest – I am always intrigued when other agencies and peak bodies talk about governance. A couple of experiences in the past week have given further impetus to my desire to delve a little deeper into the nature of ‘good governance’ and its importance for the local communities we represent. The VLGA defines its approach to good governance as a set of “values and operations ... predicated on strengthening local government as a robust and responsive level of government in Victoria which provides leadership to and engages with its communities.” (http://www.vlga.org.au/Projects___Campaigns/Good_Governance.aspx). Accordingly, we try to assist our members (local governments and communities) by providing information, training and support on a broad range of topics, all of which are underpinned and informed by good governance principles. We also play a strong advocacy role on behalf of our members vis-à-vis other levels of government on issues which impact on good governance and strong, diverse and inclusive local government.
This is at the centre of everything we do, and with our members we have built a reputation based on these values and principles. The Committee for Melbourne, in its recent publication Melbourne beyond 5 million – Governance and the Melbourne Proposition, takes a more process-oriented view; for the Committee, governance is “the process for making and implementing decisions for our city’s future” (p.9). The document goes on to stress the importance of governance, and its authors clearly understand that governance needs to be “treated first, as effective decision making will define the way we grow. If we get the governance right, it makes it easier for other things to follow” (p.5).
This is good stuff, and so far so good, because if there is one aspect to planning Melbourne’s future, all players – State and Local Government, private and community sectors – can agree on, it is that the current system is ambiguous and inefficient, and creates an enormous amount of anxiety, frustration and uncertainty. We therefore welcome the caution exercised by the Committee for Melbourne when they are reluctant to propose a new planning system and structure which they believe would be premature. This is an important point, because there has been a fair amount of misrepresentation and misinterpretation since the release of the report a couple weeks ago. Melbourne beyond 5 million clearly states that:
“before a structure can be proposed (be it a Greater Melbourne Council, a Minister for Melbourne, a non-political authority such as the old Melbourne and Metropolitan Board of Works, a refinement of the status quo, or a completely new system) the community must first come together (my emphasis) to debate the problems and agree on the characteristics of a new model for governance. Only after we agree on the characteristics can we put shape to a governance model.” (p.9).
It is difficult to critique such good intentions, and we commend the Committee for Melbourne for its efforts. However, as our local government constituencies constantly remind us, the real challenge will be to find the right balance of approach that brings the community together so that they can engage in an informed debate. Even if not everybody agrees, the process of engagement, as I argued at our recent planning debate at the VLGA, is just as important as the outcome. It the process itself that informs, educates and ultimately empowers us. This, I believe, is where the Committee for Melbourne’s and the VLGA’s interpretation of governance intersect: theirs is about the importance of process, ours about the importance of values and operations. It is far more difficult to form an informed opinion about what is good for society as a whole than to determine where one’s self-interests lie, and there will be instances where a compromise cannot be reached and the greater good will have to prevail. We at the VLGA and in local government in general, hold a deep faith in both the virtue of informed debate and the ability of ordinary people to govern themselves. This view rests on a fundamentally positive conviction, as opposed to negative governance principles espoused by those in power who do not understand, or refuse to accept, that taking away people’s problems and challenges is taking away their entitlement to participate.
The VLGA, as a local government peak body with its many community chapter members, welcomes the Committee for Melbourne’s longer-term, integrated approach to making our City and our communities stronger. We note, however, with some concern, that the members of, and contributors to, the Committee for Melbourne’s Shaping Melbourne Taskforce, with the exception of the City of Melbourne, do not appear to reflect any local government expertise at all. While the private sector and the State Government (e.g. Department of Planning & Community Development, Department of Innovation, Industry & Regional Development, the Department of Transport and other State Government statutory bodies such as the EPA (see p. 27 of Melbourne beyond 5 million) are active participants, with the exception of the City of Melbourne, not a single metropolitan local government or any of its peak bodies such as ours are included. One can only hope that the good intentions of the first volume of the Shaping Melbourne series, which is full of good intentions and places so much emphasis on effective and inclusive advocacy, will form a platform for an ongoing evolution of dialogue with the people and groups that constitute the very essence of metropolitan Melbourne – its people, its local communities and, not least, its local government bodies.
CEO Sleepout
The Vinnies CEO Sleepout, on Thursday 17 June at Etihad Stadium, will give participating business and community leaders insight into some of the challenges faced by people who live on the streets while raising funds to support Vinnies’ homeless services. Among many Victorian CEOs participating will be local government CEOs Kay Rundle from Port Phillip, Adrian Robb from Bayside, Tony McIlroy from Benalla, Acting CEO Rob Adams from Melbourne and Chairman of VincentCare Victoria and VLGA Life Member Peter Johnstone. You can support the abovementioned participants by clicking on their names and donating, or by encouraging CEOs to participate. More information is available here.
Do you want to know more about land use planning?
Build your knowledge and understanding of the Victorian Planning System and play a more meaningful role in the planning system process by enrolling in the VLGA’s online course and, at your own pace and in your own time, make your way through the introduction module specially designed for local government councillors. The module is also suitable for staff across many departments, tertiary students and community members because it has been developed to ensure anyone can access the content level they require. Should you choose to, you can opt in for voluntary additional assessment tasks recognised by La Trobe University. For more information on this and other online courses and training go here. Please pass this information onto councillors and staff you think might be interested.
Timor-Leste Ambassador talks with VLGA forum participants
As mentioned before, good friend of the VLGA, Abel Guterres, has been appointed as the new Timor-Leste Ambassador to Australia. We were pleased that one of Abel’s first official roles as Ambassador was his participation, via telephone hook up, in the VLGA’s forum last month on friendship groups. We will keep you updated on our work in this area. For more information or assistance, contact Gary Jungwirth at gary@vlga.org.au or (03) 9349 9986.
Want us to help you realise your local transport projects?
Through our Local Government Transport Facilitation Project we want to know what you need and the best ways we can assist. Our online Local Government Transport Barrier and Capability survey is designed to assist local governments to implement sustainable transport networks by determining the resources and people-power available in each local government. It will also help us identify gaps in information and resources holding local governments back. Please encourage staff working on transport projects to fill in this survey here by no later than 30 June. For more information please email Gordon Young at gordon@vlga.org.au or phone (03) 9349 7943.
Reminder – Sally Isaac Women in Local Government Leadership Awards close 9 July
In previous editions of the VLGA President’s eNews we’ve alerted you to the Sally Isaac Women in Local Government Leadership Award. This award was established by LGPro to recognise the contribution of Sally Isaac, a remarkable young women and former staff member at the VLGA and City of Yarra. The Awards also seeks to foster young women leaders in local government and encourage young people to consider local government as a ‘career of choice’. Awards will be presented at the Women’s Network dinner on Thursday 29 July at Hilton on the Park and submissions must be received in hard copy, at the LGPro office, and electronic format by 5pm on Friday 9 July. More information.
Power Up! Communities in Control 2010 Conference papers now available
Last week we shared with you our praise for the 2010 Communities in Control Conference and some of our highlights. Conference papers are now available online here and will detail: what power lies in Australia and how local communities and local government can get more (David Hetherington); the opinion trends which are shaping our world and how to create the change we want to see (Rebecca Huntley); and a very thorough study about why more equal societies almost always do better (Richard Wilkinson and Kate Pickett). We recommend taking a look. Much of the data and arguments presented could help community leaders show real leadership by articulating the future we want to see, rather than the one we fear we’ll get.
Directory of women in trades and services
This directory identifies women working in trades and non-traditional employment, promoting their services and offering a range of support services. To access the online directory or to register your trade or service go here. Please encourage women in your community to do the same.
Watch this space
Triggers for planning applications to be advised to Owners Corporations
The VLGA has been contacted by Owners Corporations Victoria (formerly the Institute of Body Corporate Managers Victoria) to highlight a gap that exists on many planning permit application forms. OCV is enlisting our support for their request to the Minister for Planning to update all forms to include a reference as to whether the Owner’s Corporation has been informed, or approves of the application. This seems like an easy step to take, and one that will assist the hundreds of thousands of Victorians who are members of Owners Corporations.
VLGA events for your diary
Human rights implementation in local government: successes, challenges and strategies for moving forward
Wednesday 7 July 2010, from 9am
Jasper Hotel, 489 Elizabeth St, Melbourne
Together with the Victorian Equal Opportunity & Human Rights Commission, the VLGA brings you a half-day symposium to launch From compliance to culture: a toolkit for local governments to implement the Victorian Charter of Human Rights and Responsibilities. Hear from a range of speakers including local governments, our CEO Maree McPherson and myself on the development of a culture of human rights through the work of local governments. Register here to attend, or for further information contact Gary Jungwirth at gary@vlga.org.au or on (03) 9349 7986.
Other upcoming events
Civil Contractors Federation Victorian Civil Construction Conference 2010
The 2010 CCF Victorian Civil Construction Conference will be held at Etihad Stadium on 21 July. Minister for Major Projects Tim Pallas will open the conference which includes a panel forum where attendees can direct questions to government authorities and contractor representatives on pertinent areas in Alliance Contracting and how this strategy fits with civil construction projects in today’s market. For more information and to register, go here.
Cr Heinz Kreutz
VLGA President
0438 006 656
heinz@vlga.org.au
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