Monday 27 September, 2010

I would like to draw your particular attention to the first item in this week’s eNews, as it is important we receive member feedback about issues impacting on you. Sometimes the changes that make a difference to our local governments and communities receive little if any media coverage, so we are relying on you to let us know if the recent planning changes announced by the State Government are as ‘policy neutral’ as has been claimed.

Member feedback sought on new State Planning Policy Framework (Clauses 10-19)

A revised SPPF was introduced by Amendment VC71 to the Victoria Planning Provisions and all planning schemes on 20 September 2010. This was previously unfinished business from the Making Local Policy Stronger process which the VLGA actively participated in a few years ago. The SPPF has been modernised with new themes and structure to accommodate new emerging State policies, improve policy expression and help strengthen its links with the Local Planning Policy Framework (LPPF). Another key change made last week is clarification regarding when prescriptive provisions can be used. This has been a controversial and complex issue for local governments and communities – a new practice note that provides guidance about when mandatory provisions can be used in the planning scheme has been developed and can be found here. Of course, the introduction of any new planning provisions comes with some implementation costs and inconvenience, so we are interested to hear the views of planning departments, councillors and the community. Feel free to email us your concerns via our Director Policy & Public Affairs, Darren Ray at darren@vlga.org.au or (03) 9349 7999. For further questions and answers regarding VC71, go here, or to see the complete version of the rewritten SPPF provisions go here.

Volunteer marshals sought for mayors on bikes event
The VLGA’s Mayors on Bikes event is seeking volunteer marshals to help guide the bike ride on Wednesday 13 October 2010. The event aims to raise awareness in mayors and councillors of the benefits and challenges of cycling by leading them on a ride along the Gardiners Creek Trail, following the Monash Freeway. Marshals will assist the event by ensuring participants find key points of interest and can follow the route easily. If you are interested in assisting, please contact Gordon Young at gordon@vlga.org.au or on (03) 9349 7943.

Let’s talk about transport in your patch
The VLGA’s Local Government Transport Facilitator, Gordon Young, has visited a number of local governments over the last month to discuss transport initiatives and challenges faced by metropolitan, rural and interface local governments. The visits have also been designed to find out how the VLGA can provide more assistance. Common responses include advocacy to the State Government and help with strategic planning. Over the coming month Gordon will be visiting more local governments. If you wish to discuss the transport situation in your area and how we can help, email gordon@vlga.org.au or call (03) 9349 7943 to arrange a meeting.

VLGA constitution review
The outcomes of the recent consultation meeting and the VLGA Board’s subsequent decisions can be found on the VLGA website by clicking here. Your further comments are welcomed. The draft revised Constitution will be considered by the Board at its meeting on 7 October and then voted on by members at a Special General Meeting on the same night as the VLGA’s AGM on 4 November. Please contact Ron Exiner, Director Governance on 0417 392 078 or email ron@vlga.org.au if you have any queries.

Ferrier Hodgson's Pubs on Tap Newsletter
The second issue of Ferrier Hodgson’s Pubs on Tap newsletter is now available here. The newsletter provides an update on the latest developments and issues affecting the hospitality sector. The views contained in this issue are those of the authors and not the VLGA. This edition discusses issues of increased costs and decreased revenue for gaming pubs and clubs as a result of the pokies-regulation deal between Prime Minister Julia Gillard and Tasmanian Independent MP Andrew Wilkie.

2010 Heart Foundation Local Government Awards: Victorian Winners
At a recent VLGA forum the Victorian winners of the Heart Foundation’s 2010 Local Government Awards were announced. The City of Yarra was the state overall winner and national employee health and wellbeing category winner. The City of Melbourne was highly commended across the state. The City of Casey was the state and national winner for the facilities category, with Bass Coast Shire Council being highly commended across the state. The City of Greater Geelong was the state winner of the healthy weight category. The Cities of Greater Dandenong and Stonnington were both highly commended across the state for the category of priority groups. Well done to all local governments who participated and were recognised. For more information on the awards or to view the winning entries go here.


Watch this space

Local Government Women’s Charter Awards – it’s easy to apply
You can nominate your local government, a community group, a young woman or young women’s group for the Victorian Local Government Women’s Charter Awards until 4 October. For more information go here or contact the project team to help complete your application over the phone by calling Linda Bennett on 0417 139 796 or emailing linda@vlga.org.au.


VLGA events for your diary

October LEF – Acting together for a sustainable future: local government and community environment action and programs

Thursday 7 October, 6-9pm
VLGA, 60 Leicester St, Carlton
Join the VLGA and Sustainability Victoria at our next Leading Edge Forum for finger-food, refreshments and networking from 6pm, followed by interesting discussion about emerging actions and programs relevant to local government and community action. Topics will include: Sustainable Precincts, including Zero Emission Neighbourhoods, Armstrong Creek, and Smart Energy Zones; helpful sustainability information and tools for local government, including the Utility Tracker, Best Practice Tracker, and Sustainability Resource Locator; Keep Australia Beautiful Victoria's programs recognising and celebrating community actions at a grassroots level; greenpower trends and challenges; and the new Victorian Government Climate Communities website and grants program supporting local actions tackling climate change. For more information and to RSVP go here.


Other events

ALGWA’s October Networking Lunch
Thursday 7 October, 12.15 – 2pm
Room K, Parliament House, Spring St, Melbourne
Join the Australian Local Government Women’s Association (ALGWA) members and friends for its October Networking Lunch where the 2010 ALGWA Study Award Winner will be announced. Guest speaker is Jaala Pulford MLC, Member for Western Victoria and Parliamentary Secretary for Regional and Rural Development, Industry and Trade. For more information and to register go here.

The Royal Children’s Hospital Safety Centre’s Safety Outdoors workshop
Tuesday 9 November, 9am-12.30pm
Ella Latham Meeting Room, 1st floor, Royal Children’s Hospital
A workshop for health practitioners on keeping children and young people safe in inland waterways, around animals and on farms. For more information and to register go here.

Cr Heinz Kreutz
President
0438 006 656 or heinz@vlga.org.au

Monday 20 September, 2010

It’s been a very stimulating week with lots happening. I have accepted an invitation from the Minister for Planning, the Hon. Justin Madden, to join a newly constituted Planning and Environment Act Review Working Group which will consider some of the reform proposals set out in the Environment Amendment Act Bill 2009. I believe this is an important opportunity for us to advocate on behalf of our members and reflects the substantive contribution we have made through our submission.

I am reassured that we are having an impact and that our State Election advocacy campaign will be very effective. On Friday I attended the inaugural Local Democracy Forum at the City of Boroondara. I was invited to give a presentation on localism and subsidiarity, which was well received. I also managed to catch up with several members who reiterated their concerns about local government’s working relationship with the State Government, in areas such as planning powers in particular.

Finally, let me thank you again for you invaluable input into the constitutional review process currently in progress, both at the recent LEF and in conversations and email. The debate was continued at a last week’s board meeting and a further report is currently being developed for tabling at our AGM in November.

East Timor Ambassador appointed as Honorary VLGA member
Abel Guterres, long term friend of the VLGA – now East Timor's Ambassador to Australia – has accepted honorary membership of the VLGA. In accepting his honorary membership Abel praised the work of the VLGA in supporting the people of East Timor and particularly the support of local government and friendship groups. He looks forward to our continuing friendship and I was touched by his warm and genuine comments in a personal email to me recently.

What do pokies have to do with rural politics?
As stated by an insightful article in this week’s The Weekly Times, “… a helluva lot actually!” According to the Victorian Government’s 2008-09 figures, Ballarat punters put almost $60 million through pokies, Bendigo almost $50 million, Geelong $120 million, Latrobe nearly $50 million, East Gippsland and Wellington $25 million. See the full article here. In my 6 September eNews I mentioned the strong support for a University of Ballarat research project in partnership with the VLGA. Auspiced by the VLGA, the research will look at the psycho-social impacts of the introduction of pokies. I have written to member local governments who may still wish to contribute to the research, and to non-member councils to provide them with the same opportunity to assist with this project over the next two financial years. For more information or to learn about the work we are doing on pokies, contact Darren Ray, VLGA Director Policy & Public Affairs, at darren@vlga.org.au or (03) 9349 7902.

Mayoralty: that time of year
The exercise of goodwill underpins good governance in local government. It would be good for everyone, councils and their communities, if the end of the current mayor’s term is managed respectfully and sets the scene for the next mayor’s term to begin successfully. You would have recently received the VLGA’s Good Governance Grab with respect to the Mayoralty. If you missed it or would like to review it, see it here.

Food for All mini movies – a VicHealth/VLGA call to action
Work on the VicHealth/VLGA Food for All (FFA) Dissemination Project to support local government officers is now well under way. Following a consultation process with local government officers, content for the workshops has now been decided, and host cities/shires are being identified. Over the next ten weeks we would like to introduce you to some of the ways the FFA projects have shown us local government can provide leadership and support in their local communities to help address the causes of food insecurity. Because we know you are all busy we hope the inclusion of the ten short movies, over the next ten weeks, is a good, fast way to let you know how your work can make a difference and get you interested in attending the planned workshops. This week we start with the overview mini movie. It only runs for 107 seconds, so won’t take too much time out of your day. Enjoy the mini movie here and feel free to contact our project officer Leah Galvin leah@vlga.org.au for further information about the project.

Everyday People, Everyday Rights in Yarra
Seventeen Yarra residents from diverse backgrounds will today step out as human rights facilitators at an official launch with human rights advocate, Julian Burnside AO QC. More than 70 people participated in community meetings in June as part of the Yarra Everyday People, Everyday Rights project, with the 17 facilitators given specialised training from the Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission and the Neighbourhood Justice Centre. The facilitators will run activities in the community and respond to requests from workplaces, clubs and groups to speak to staff and run workshops and other activities. For more information email Jessie Lees on jessie.lees@veohrc.vic.gov.au or call (03) 9032 3404.

Darebin a finalist in prestigious Banksia Awards
We would like to congratulate Darebin City Council, a finalist in the Banksia Awards in the 'Leading in Sustainability – Setting the Standard for Large Organisations' category for its Climate Change Action, within council operations and supporting greenhouse reductions in the Darebin community. See the Banksia Award website for all the other categories and finalists. You also have the opportunity to vote in the People’s Choice Award, with VLGA friends SecondBite up for a gong! SecondBite develops simple, efficient and economical models of food redistribution. Making a positive difference by sourcing fresh nutritious food that would otherwise go to waste and redistributing it to people who are homeless, living in disadvantaged circumstances or experiencing food security issues within the community. For more information on the People’s Choice Award go here.


Watch this space

Monash City Council considers further smoke free policies
It’s great to see a member council committed to extensive consultation before proposing changes, as Monash Council has done in agreeing to an extensive community consultation regarding the possible introduction of smoking restrictions on council owned and managed public spaces across the municipality. In a Victorian first, Monash council banned smoking at its 126 playgrounds in 2007. The VLGA is very pleased to contribute to the Smoke Free Policies in Victorian Local Governments Advisory Group established by the Heart Foundation and Quit Victoria, and together with these partners we’ll be bringing you a special forum later this year that will present current case studies in Victoria and NSW, the soon-to-be-launched Victorian resource kit and the opportunity to ask questions, learn, and think more about what your local community might like to see happen in your area.


VLGA events for your diary

Transport Integration for Local Governments Seminar
Thursday 30 September, 9am-12pm
Department of Transport Theatrette, 121 Exhibition St Melbourne
This free seminar is presented by the VLGA, in partnership with the Department of Transport (DoT) and the Metropolitan Transport Forum (MTF). Excellent speakers will discuss the concept of transport integration with local government case studies and will provide you with the information you need to apply the newly introduced Transport Integration Act (2010) to your practices. Go here for more information or email gordon@vlga.org.au or call (03) 9349 7943 to book your place.

October LEF – Acting together for a sustainable future: local government and community environment action and programs
Thursday 7 October, 6-9pm
VLGA, 60 Leicester St, Carlton

Join the VLGA and Sustainability Victoria at our next Leading Edge Forum on Thursday 7 October for finger-food, refreshments and networking from 6pm, followed by interesting discussion about emerging actions and programs relevant to local government and community action. Topics will include: Sustainable Precincts, including Zero Emission Neighbourhoods, Armstrong Creek, and Smart Energy Zones; helpful sustainability information and tools for local government, including the Utility Tracker, Best Practice Tracker, and Sustainability Resource Locator; Keep Australia Beautiful Victoria's programs recognising and celebrating community actions at a grassroots level; greenpower trends and challenges; and the new Victorian Government Climate Communities website and grants program supporting local actions tackling climate change. For more information and to RSVP go here.


Other events

Future Directions: Melbourne Metro Rooming House Group
6 October, 9am – 12pm
Supper Room, Melbourne Town Hall
The Melbourne Metro Rooming House Group would like to expand the group and invite you to join them and identify future directions in working collaboratively. Please RSVP by 28 September to Katie Kirwin on (03) 9658 8833 or katie.kirwin@melbourne.vic.gov.au. Go here for more information about the Melbourne Metro Rooming House Group and the meeting agenda.

Cr Heinz Kreutz
President
0438 006 656 or heinz@vlga.org.au

Monday 13 September, 2010

As the dust starts to settle following the announcement of the new Gillard Ministry (see full list here), there are many VLGA project areas we want to discuss with the new Ministers and Parliamentary Secretaries. It is encouraging to see Simon Crean return to Regional Development after many years. We are keen to ensure that he understands the financial pressures facing particularly small rural councils battling to meet their physical and community infrastructure gaps from limited rates income, let alone insufficient project grant funding. The campaign that many rural local governments and the VLGA have started will inform these discussions. We are also keen to speak with new Minister for Social Housing and Homelessness Senator Mark Arbib about the ways that Federal and Local Governments can work together to increase the supply of affordable housing to low to middle income Australians most in need. Stay tuned!

VLGA to sit on Working Group to agree reforms to planning laws
Following the strong advocacy of the VLGA and others, we are glad to see the State Government defer reforms to the Planning and Environment Act and to appoint a Working Group which we have been invited to be represented on. In our submission to the review we strongly opposed many of the reforms released in an Exposure Draft earlier this year. We were strongly critical of proposed amendments that dilute, rather than strengthen, the role of local government in planning processes – in particular the proposal for applicants to be authorised to prepare their own planning scheme amendments. Throughout the past two years, local governments have experienced an increase in processes that diminish their authority to make planning decisions for, and in close consultation with, their communities, and we will be seeking commitments from all parties that this cease. See a full copy of our submission here. We will keep members informed of our participation in the Working Group and we look forward to your continuing feedback.

Gambling Indicators for Local Areas
Our thanks goes out to Hayden Brown, Social Planner at the City of Greater Dandenong, for developing and sharing a terrific resource that sets out the measures and rankings of gambling losses as well as venue and EGM numbers for 2009-10. Access the resource here. Hayden is also a valued contributor to the VLGA’s Local Government Working Group on Gambling (LGWGOG). For more information about the work of LGWGOG please contact Darren Ray at darren@vlga.org.au or (03) 9349 7901.

Dwelling and Land Prices in Victoria 1985-2010
Once again, Hayden has produced yet another excellent resource in the form of an interactive spreadsheet containing information on price trends in Victorian municipalities for houses, units and land over the last 25 years. Go here to access your local information. We are sure you will find this data fascinating.

Interpreter Scholarship Program
The Victorian Multicultural Commission (VMC) is offering scholarships to students enrolled in the 2011 RMIT University Diploma of Interpreting. The six languages being targeted in the 2011 program include Assyrian, Haka (Chin), Tedim (Chin), Kurdish (Kurmanci), Kurdish (Sorani) and Pashtu, which are particularly relevant to the Burmese, Iraqi and Afghani communities. Scholarship recipients will receive $2,000 to cover course fees for a Government-funded place in the Diploma of Interpreting. Graduates who complete the course with a grade of 70% or higher will be eligible for National Accreditation Authority for Translators and Interpreters (NAATI) paraprofessional accreditation. The course will run part-time from February 2011 to November 2011. The deadline to apply for the VMC Interpreter Scholarship Program is 1 December 2010. For more information contact Leah Bramhill on leah.bramhill@vmc.vic.gov.au or (03) 9651 0675.


Watch this space

2010 Excellence in Local Government Leadership Program (ELGLP) & scholarships

Applications for ANZSOG’s ELGLP are now open. The program is a three week residential program running from 22 November to 10 December and drawing on ANZSOG’s existing expertise, but tailored specifically for the local government sector. The best of academia and practice will be underpinned by purpose-built case study materials, role plays, peer clinics, small group work and problem-solving exercises. Applications close 15 October. Download the program brochure and application form including information about scholarships in Appendix 1. We strongly encourage councillors and staff to consider applying for the scholarships, which this year include 10 Australia-wide half scholarships for high potential female councillors/mayors and/or CEOs/senior executives with capacity to benefit from the program and contribute to the local government sector (sponsored by the 2010 Year of Women in Local Government), as well as eight half scholarships for Victoria sponsored by various State Government departments and MAV Insurance.


VLGA events for your diary

October LEF – Acting together for a sustainable future: local government and community environment action and programs

Thursday 7 October, 6-9pm
VLGA, 60 Leicester St, Carlton
Join the VLGA and Sustainability Victoria at our next Leading Edge Forum on Thursday 7 October for finger-food, refreshments and networking from 6pm, followed by interesting discussion about emerging actions and programs relevant to local government and community action. Topics that will be discussed include: Sustainable Precincts, including Zero Emission Neighbourhoods, Armstrong Creek, and Smart Energy Zones; helpful sustainability information and tools for local government, including the Utility Tracker, Best Practice Tracker, and Sustainability Resource Locator; Keep Australia Beautiful Victoria's programs recognising and celebrating community actions at a grassroots level; greenpower trends and challenges; and the new Victorian Government Climate Communities website and grants program supporting local actions tackling climate change. For more information and to RSVP go here.


Other events

Boroondara Conversations
Friday 17 September, 9.30am-3.30pm
Chandelier Room, Hawthorn Town Hall

The City of Boroondara is facilitating a hands-on interactive workshop with local council stakeholders to understand and draw conclusions about the state of practice of local democracy in Victoria. For information, or to register, contact Helena Johansson at helena.johansson@boroondara.vic.gov.au or (03) 9278 4892.

Eco City Youth Forum
Thursday 23 September
10am-1.30pm at Swanston Hall, Melbourne Town Hall
then 1.30-3.30pm at Signal, Flinders Walk Northbank
The City of Melbourne is holding this free forum for young people aged 13 – 17 years of age to speak about issues that matter to them, then help other young people to develop environment project ideas to present to Council. Young people can attend on the day or contribute via Facebook (EcoCity) or Twitter (#ecocity) before, during and after the event. RSVP by 20 September to ecocityforum@melbourne.vic.gov.au. Find more information here.

Latrobe Valley – Powering towards a new economy
Thursday 30 September, 9am-4pm
Monash University, Gippsland campus
The CEDA forum will discuss and set a vision for the region to adapt to a low carbon emissions future. Join business, industry and policy makers to discuss opportunities and priorities to power a new economy and future for the Latrobe Valley. To register, or for more information, go here.

Community Newspaper Association of Victoria (CNAV) 5th Annual Conference

Friday October 15 – Sunday October 17
The Fountain Room, Warragul Arts Centre
The CNAV is the peak body representing community newspapers in Victoria, defined as a newspaper or newsletter owned by the community; that is, produced by a community house, or a group of volunteers for a town or community group. This conference will give attendees the opportunity to share ideas, knowledge and experience, join a network of community newspapers, update knowledge on production, management, revenue and editorial matters and enter your publication for an award. For more information about the awards contact Liz Hart at Monash University, Berwick Campus on (03) 9904 7040. For more information or to register for the conference, go here.

Cr Heinz Kreutz
President
0438 006 656 or heinz@vlga.org.au

Monday 6 September, 2010

Whatever the outcome, with the dramatic events of the federal election nearly behind us, we now focus on the impending State Election. The media and political commentators seem to be surprised at the ‘unusual’ situation at the federal level where the major political parties suddenly find themselves in a situation where they have to negotiate with independents. At the community level, of course, we know that this is in fact the status quo. Local governments find themselves in this situation every day, where party lines and ideologies matter far less than doing the right thing by our communities.

There is tension between local governments’ limited resources and an ever-increasing array of services and functions that they deliver, and to an even greater extent for smaller rural councils where financial sustainability is a significant challenge. This will be among several issues that we will seek to put on the agenda in the lead up to the November State Election.

Melbourne radio on Friday morning was filled with talk-back callers revealing a diverse range of views on MP-Elect Andrew Wilkie’s stance on pokies. The VLGA’s strong work through the Local Government Working Group on Gambling (LGWGOG) has attracted more than $80,000 over the next two years in contributions from member local governments for the University of Ballarat’s research project in partnership with the VLGA. The University has received Australian Research Council funds for a three year study, auspiced by the VLGA, into the psycho-social impacts of the introduction of electronic gaming machines. The study site will be in the Whittlesea City Council. A large number of VLGA member local governments have contributed funds so that the research can be independent of industry and government, and we can ensure that the research delivers practical benefits to Victorian communities. The research is the first of its kind to examine the public health consequences of electronic gaming machines in a local area. We know that the impacts are of great concern to local governments, and previous research suggests that the number of people with a gambling problem within a community increases after the introduction of machines within a five kilometre radius. I have written to member local governments who may still wish to contribute to the research, and to non-member councils to provide them with the same opportunity to assist with this project over the next two financial years. We are extremely appreciative of the support to date and the high level of engagement with this project.

Floods in rural and regional Victoria
Our thoughts this week turn to our members, colleagues and friends struggling in various parts of Victoria with the worst floods they have seen in some places for many years. As ever, our local government members are front and centre of responding to community and emergency needs. It has been heartening to hear many regional and rural Mayors quickly express their support and outline their emergency service responses. As the most agile level of government, it is hardly surprising that many people turn to their local governments as their first source of information. If you or people you know need to know more, you can go to the list of all local governments here. For the latest flood predictions go here, and to see the latest State Emergency Service evacuations, warnings and bulletins go here.

Successful grassroots campaigning
In keeping with the VLGA’s commitment to grassroots policy development and bottom-up approaches to achieving progressive social change and the exchange and promotion of different dialogues, we highlight the powerful work of GetUp, particularly during the recent federal election. Among its achievements, together GetUp members were able to: successfully launch a High Court constitutional challenge that put an extra 98,138 voters on the roll; build Australia's first online enrolment website to allow Australians to enrol online in just minutes rather than using fax or delivering enrolment forms by hand; win a Federal Court challenge to ensure Australians will be able to enrol online in elections to come; produce a hilarious 'action-hero' election video encouraging Australians to enrol that was seen by well over 1 million people online; support over 7,000 GetUp volunteers distributing issue scorecards, and outnumbering the major parties on many polling booths in marginal electorates; and air over 700 ad spots across the country. For more information, go here.

Reconciliation in Local Government Project
Reconciliation Victoria, in partnership with the VLGA, Reconciliation Australia and the Victorian Government, is leading the Reconciliation in Local Government Project. This project recognises and supports the valuable existing contribution and future potential of local governments to advance reconciliation outcomes. The first phase involves support for a small number of selected local governments to develop Reconciliation Action Plans, and documentation and dissemination of findings about effective approaches for local government in advancing reconciliation. The project also aims to support local governments to respond to their legislative and other obligations in areas such as Native Title, Aboriginal Cultural Heritage and new Indigenous representative arrangements (Local Indigenous Networks). To discuss this project, or for more information, please contact Project Coordinator Erin McKinnon at erin.mckinnon@reconciliationvic.org.au or on (03) 9349 7988 / 0400 332 972.

State Election Public Transport Forums
This month the Metropolitan Transport Forum (MTF) and pt4me2 will be holding a series of political forums in conjunction with the Cities of Yarra, Port Phillip, Maribyrnong, Whitehorse and Moreland in anticipation of the 2010 State Election. Forums will feature speakers representing the major parties as well as questions from the community. For more details on each of these forums, see the Thinking Transport website.

Common sense prevails for Local Government Language Services Program
For more than a decade the State Government has funded the Local Government Language Services Program, a small but significant funding program to assist councils in making information about key services available to people with a low level of proficiency in English. Many local governments redirect this funding into the purchase of credit for services provided by VITS Language Link, a State Business Corporation, with shares owned by the State of Victoria, and have been concerned about the State Government’s intention to discontinue this funding beyond the 2009-2010 program. The VLGA, local governments and sector representatives have lobbied the State Government on this matter, and we are very pleased that common sense has prevailed, with the State Government’s recent announcement that it will reinstate this important program that effects local governments and communities across our state.

Drugs and Crime Prevention Committee recommendations on alcohol supply
Last week the Drugs and Crime Prevention Committee tabled a report in the Victorian Parliament recommending stricter laws for bottle shops, including a recommendation that bottle shops should have to apply for a planning permit in the same way that bars and pubs currently have to apply. Among its reasons for this recommendation, the Committee cited evidence that there is a link between the density of licensed premises, particularly packaged outlets, and assaults. As the supply of alcohol to minors at a house party is not currently illegal, the Committee also recommended that the government introduce legislation making it illegal for older siblings or parents of friends to provide children with alcohol. The Committee expressed concern that current laws allow anyone to supply any quantity of alcohol to minors in private premises, and that currently legislation focuses only on licensed settings. The Australian Drug Foundation and Alcohol Policy Coalition support the recommendations, having previously campaigned for the adoption of supply legislation in Victoria.


Watch this space

Food for All Project workshops to begin later this year
The VLGA is currently planning half-day workshops to demonstrate the usefulness of the Food for All toolkit, including its fact sheets and mini movies, as a means of supporting local government officers to address local barriers to food security. The VLGA will also enhance knowledge and skills in the local government workforce through other means including establishing an online community of practice, providing direct in-house support to local governments with smaller workforces, and connecting local governments that wish to work with mentors who have demonstrated excellence through their work around food security. A schedule of workshops, in partnership with host local governments, will commence across Victoria later this year and into next year. We are keen to ensure the workshop content and approach meets the needs of your local government and community and would encourage you to contact Leah Galvin for a copy of the draft workshop outline and to share your views either via email at leah@vlga.org.au or on (03) 9349 7999.


VLGA events for your diary

October LEF – Acting together for a sustainable future: local government and community environment action and programs
Thursday 7 October, 6-9pm
VLGA, 60 Leicester St, Carlton
Join the VLGA and Sustainability Victoria at our next Leading Edge Forum on Thursday 7 October, including finger-food, refreshments and networking from 6pm, followed by interesting discussion about emerging actions and programs relevant to local government and community action. Topics that will be discussed include: Sustainable Precincts, including Zero Emission Neighbourhoods, Armstrong Creek, and Smart Energy Zones; helpful sustainability information and tools for local government, including the Utility Tracker, Best Practice Tracker, and Sustainability Resource Locator; Keep Australia Beautiful Victoria's programs recognising and celebrating community actions at a grassroots level; greenpower trends and challenges; and the new Victorian Government Climate Communities website and grants program supporting local actions tackling climate change. For more information and to RSVP go here.


Other events

Koori Stories and Song
18 September from 8pm
Northcote Town Hall Studio One, 189 High St, Northcote
The Darebin Music Feast, Songlines Aboriginal Music and the City of Darebin present an insight into aboriginality and its influence on songwriting in an entertaining and enlightening evening. For more information and to purchase your tickets go here.

Bicycle Victoria: Bike Futures Conference 2010
14 & 15 October
Etihad Stadium
A once-a-year opportunity for national and local leaders, planners, designers and builders to come together around the opportunities and challenges we face in meeting the ever rising demand for bicycle transportation. Issues the conference will tackle include: separating riders from traffic and tuning traffic signals; designing effective shared paths and developing shared use; and bike plans, land use and high return investments. Go here for more information.

Cr Heinz Kreutz
President
0438 006 656 or heinz@vlga.org.au