Last week saw ‘wins’ on issues of concern to local governments and communities that the VLGA and other peak bodies have been calling for. The first was the State Government’s decision to give local governments a say over bottle shops which were previously exempt from the usual planning processes. This has been done via Amendment VC79 to change Clause 52.27 (Licensed Premises) in the Victoria Planning Provisions. A Practice Note is available to guide local governments to consider the cumulative impact of licensed premises.
A second ‘win’ was the unexpected VCAT decision to set aside the Victorian Commission for Gambling Regulation’s approval for a new pokies venue at Laurimar in the Whittlesea City Council area. In handing down its decision VCAT stated that, “In this case the negative social and economic disadvantages strongly outweigh the positive social and economic benefits of the proposal. In our opinion the social and economic impact of approval for the introduction of EGMs into the Laurimar community would have a significant detrimental effect on the wellbeing of a significant proportion of the local community”. The current Chair of the VLGA’s Local Government Working Group on Gambling (LGWGOG), Felicity Leahy, was involved with the campaign and hearing, and she notes that “this is a very significant decision and one which the Laurimar community have cause to be proud of. This is a great outcome for the Laurimar community and for all communities who wish to have a positive influence on their community”. A full copy of the VCAT decision can be found on our website.
I’d love to hear your views on these ‘wins’, so feel free to call me on 0407 364 509 or drop me an email. I look forward to seeing you around the traps. Cheers.
Cr Samantha Dunn, President
Keeping you up to date
VLGA Life Membership awarded to Tom Moloney
VLGA President, Cr Samantha Dunn, had great pleasure in awarding Life Membership to Tom Moloney – a founding member of the VLGA who has held continuous committee or board membership positions until earlier this year. To see a live copy of the presentation, view last Thursday’s Leading Edge Forum. Tom continues to be a member on several VLGA advisory groups. As a non-councillor, he has always brought to the VLGA a strong community perspective on our policy and advocacy work. For almost thirty years Tom has worked with residents on local community planning and human rights issues and groups. Since 1992 he has been the spokesperson of the Prahran Residents' Association. Tom also continues to actively pursue issues through community groups such as the Prahran Neighbourhood House (Committee of Management), Save Our Suburbs (local area representative), Stonnington Citizens for Reconciliation, as well as residents groups concerned with easing traffic through local streets. Tom is well known as an avid recreational cyclist, and he has also participated at competition level in Europe. He is also well known as a keen advocate for cycling, walking and other sustainable transport modes. On a personal level, Tom’s unflinching loyalty to the VLGA, along with his calm, supportive manner have endeared him to many of the VLGA’s friends for many years. Congratulations Tom!
Productivity Commission draft report into Caring for Older Australians
VLGA members have been in contact with us to see what our position is on the above draft report. We note the good work that the MAV has been doing in this area and endorse their submission which has been circulated throughout the sector. In particular we note the MAV’s observation that “Councils are currently the largest public sector provider of community care for elderly Victorians and people with a disability. Far from operating for profit, local government has voluntarily contributed 33 per cent or over $100 million a year to the overall cost of Commonwealth-State aged care programs delivered by councils.”
We also share Cr McArthur’s concern that “overlooking Victoria’s successful State-local government aged care partnership model could threaten service quality and care levels provided to elderly people”. For a full copy of MAV President Bill McArthur’s media release, go here.
Helping local governments build community resilience to climate-related challenges
During May and June, the VLGA, supported by mecu Ltd, is conducting a series of five rural and regional Liveable and Just Workshops, each hosted by a VLGA member local government. Sponsorship by mecu Ltd has kept the cost for the full-day workshop to $180 and numbers are limited. Join us for an entertaining and practical event, and learn how our Liveable and Just Toolkit can help you build community resilience in the face of complex climate-related challenges. The toolkit responds to the social and equity impacts of climate change, addressing a range of vulnerabilities. These include not just the potential for more frequent natural disasters, but also a greater exposure to food insecurity, rising household energy and transport costs, and community health challenges.
Dates and locations (all sessions run 9.30am-4pm)
Bendigo: Thursday 12 May Capital Theatre, View St
Ballarat: Thursday 19 May Town Hall, Sturt St
Wodonga: Thursday 26 May Wodonga TAFE, 87 McKoy St, West Wodonga
Mildura: Friday 3 June Alfred Deakin Centre, 180 Deakin Ave (cnr 12th St)
Latrobe: Friday 17 June Quality Inn Latrobe Convention Centre, Princes Hwy, Traralgon
Download the flyer and registration form. For more information contact Cr Philip Schier, VLGA Policy & Project Officer, via email or telephone (03) 9349 7999.
Funding available for National Reconciliation Week 2011 events from 27 May – 3 June
Reconciliation Week is fast approaching....is your organisation planning an event or project to celebrate the week? If so, Reconciliation Victoria is offering small grants to support community events that raise awareness and promote dialogue on the theme of 'Let's Talk Recognition'. Reconciliation Victoria can also promote your events through our online National Reconciliation Week Calendar. For links to the National Reconciliation Week media release, list of event ideas, small grant request form and event registration form, go here.Victorian local governments are great communicators
Victorian local governments dominated the Inaugural Government Communications Australia Communication Awards last week with the Best Communication Award going to Knox City Council for their ‘Get on Board public transport campaign’; Best Internal Communications Award to Whittlesea City Council for their ‘Find your balance campaign’; Best Marketing Award to Wodonga City Council for their ‘Revitalising the Bonegilla Migrant Experience campaign’; and the Best Tourism and Events Award to Corangamite Shire Council for their ‘Craters to Coast Discovery campaign’. Find full details of this year's winners and their amazing communications achievements here.
Update on local governments preventing violence against women
In November 2010, the VLGA Board sent a communiqué to members informing them of the Board’s resolution about the roles of local governments in preventing violence against women and participation in the White Ribbon campaign. The communiqué encouraged members to commence or continue the good work in this area and expand local government initiatives where possible. Congratulations to Rural City of Ararat and Manningham City Council for already responding to this communiqué. Ararat will join the White Ribbon Campaign as a supporter. Manningham resolved to receive an annual report to Council outlining actions taken to date and an action plan for the ensuing 12 months. Both are great examples of how local governments are taking practical actions at the local level which send positive messages to community about preventing violence against women. There are more examples on the website of the Local government leaders preventing violence against women Project (funded by VicHealth and hosted at Darebin City Council). The website is user friendly, and relevant initiatives can be uploaded to the website library.
Your feedback still needed!
Don’t forget to get any specific comments on the revised Conflict of Interest Guide for Councillors to us by the end of April by contacting Barbara Bennett via email. We would also be happy to take your verbal feedback which you can provide by calling our policy and governance staff on (03) 9349 7999. If you have not yet seen the revised guide draft, you can find it here.
Events for your diary
VLGA Events
‘Micro Finance in Timor-Leste’ Workshop
6-8pm, Wednesday 13 April
Brunswick Town Hall, 233 Sydney Road, Brunswick
The VLGA Timor-Leste Advisory Group invites you to an important forum about micro finance in Timor-Leste. The keynote speaker will be Guy Winship, CEO of Good Return, an innovative social enterprise established by World Education Australia to address poverty issues in the Asia Pacific region. Guy has international experience in the field of micro-finance. For more information about Guy and Good Return see the Good Return website.
The forum will be webcast live on the evening from 6pm at http://timorlive.vlga.org.au. You can also view the webcast any time after the forum at the same link. Download the flyer here. For more information contact Gary Jungwirth, the VLGA’s Timor-Leste Project Officer, via email or telephone (03) 9349 7986.
“Being Deputy Mayor”
Wednesday 4 May, 6-9pm
VLGA, 60 Leicester St, Carlton
The VLGA is offering a new development session for those serving as Deputy Mayor in 2011. There is no uniform role for Deputy Mayors. The role can vary from simply deputising for the Mayor when they are unavailable, to sharing some of the team-building, strategy and other responsibilities with the Mayor. This session will include ample time to explore your individual needs and circumstances and those of your council. It is a unique opportunity to learn from others performing the same role, share and reflect on your own experiences, hear about strategies from others, and plan for the rest of your term. For further information please contact Cr Philip Schier via email or via telephone (03) 9349 7999, or register here.
Other events
2nd National Affordable Housing Exchange
Thursday 14 April 2011, Sydney
In 2010 the CHFA (Community Housing Federation of Australia) hosted the inaugural National Affordable Housing Exchange. In 2011 the CHFA will proudly host the 2nd National Affordable Housing Exchange to be held at the Australian Technology Park in Sydney. The CHFA National Affordable Housing Exchange aims to respond to the current policy and funding backdrop by providing delegates with an opportunity to network with housing professionals, gain news skills and directly meet potential partners and suppliers from industry, government, and the community sector. For further information on the 2011 National Affordable Housing Exchange please visit the event website.
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