VLGA President’s Message
I hope to see you at our Leading Edge Forum kindly hosted by the City of Ballarat from 6pm this Thursday 1 September, entitled Securing local business and jobs: exploring the barriers and opportunities. This issue may be a bit of a sleeper for local governments. Yet as more governments at other levels and community members talk about securing local jobs as a response to economic and resource challenges facing the globe, it is timely for local governments, businesses and the community to hear how they can step up their efforts to prefer local jobs without breaking any competition or other laws. Download the flyer, and register online or send an email. If you need to stay overnight, you can find local accommodation here. In other Ballarat news, members may have seen the widespread media coverage as a result of Ballarat passing a motion last Thursday night calling on the State Government to reduce Ballarat’s current regional cap of 663 pokies to the Victorian average of 6.4 machines per 1000 adults, or 454 EGMs. The council officer’s report at last Thursday’s meeting said the request to the State Government would “send a strong message that the City of Ballarat is concerned with the prevalence and accessibility of EGMs in Ballarat and the associated harms to the community”. The report also includes a very detailed Ballarat Gaming Machine Community Policy, which, following council’s endorsement, will now be put out for community consultation for a month. This issue certainly raises a lot of controversy in the community and handling curly media questions can therefore be a challenge, so I would also like to congratulate Cr Des Hudson for his very effective media interviews conducted over the past few days. I look forward to seeing you around and about, and 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
Staffing position at VLGA: Local Government Gaming Policy Officer
The VLGA is employing a part-time (0.4EFT) Local Government Gaming Policy Officer, which will be funded until the end of June 2012. This position has been made possible due to the generous contributions to the University of Ballarat Research into the Social and Economic Impacts of Pokies from local governments from around the state. The Local Government Gaming Policy Officer will assist the VLGA to increase the capacity of local governments to address electronic gaming machines (EGMs) related issues in a changing social and regulatory environment, leading to greater certainty for industry, local governments and the community. As this is a temporary position, it could be an excellent opportunity for a secondment from your usual position. Likewise, the part-time nature of the position will also be attractive to people who appreciate more flexibility in their working arrangements. Applications for this position close on Friday 9 September. If you are interested or know of someone else who may be suitable, we have also loaded this information, including a link to the position description, on our website.
Review of Victoria’s Planning System
Another theme the VLGA will be pursuing in our submissions to the Underwood Inquiry is the critical issue of transport. A case can be made that strategic land use planning has generally become more integrated over time, and the hope is that transport planning will become more integrated with the implementation of the Transport Integration Act. However, the planning system is yet to integrate land use planning with transport planning and still seems a considerable way from becoming fully integrated so that significantly-sized greenfield sites and brownfield redevelopment come complete with transport provision, access to employment and community services, high quality urban design, affordable and social housing, and the energy efficiency and environmental protection expected of contemporary development. While this may keep initial housing purchase costs low, it is artificial affordability in that it merely defers future costs or translates them into social costs by creating unsustainable communities. Appropriate mechanisms need to be built into the land use planning system so that such provision is mandatory, in order to prevent false economies leaving a legacy of significant burdens on state and local governments into the future. The VLGA believes that governments and developers must improve the integration of land use and transport planning and infrastructure. If you have views you would like to share with us as we finalise our submission, contact Philip Schier, the VLGA’s Senior Policy Officer, via email or on (03) 9349 7999.
Sustainable and Resilient Communities Advisory Group
Speaking of land use issues, last Wednesday saw the first meeting of SaRCAG – our Sustainable and Resilient Communities Advisory Group. This group has replaced the former Climate Change Working Group, with a remit to inform the VLGA’s policy and advocacy work on the complex, overlapping issues of climate change adaptation, land use planning, food security, population growth and what these challenges represent for ‘liveable’ communities of the future. The first meeting covered the VLGA’s submissions to State Government reviews of Sustainability Victoria and the Sustainability Fund Priority Statement, the state planning system, and Environmental Design and Public Health, as well as future directions of the Liveable and Just toolkit and the One Million Homes Alliance. We are interested to hear from councillors and officers concerned with these issues who would like to join the group. For more information on this Advisory Group, contact Philip Schier, the VLGA’s Senior Policy Officer, via email or on (03) 9349 7999.
VLGA supports Thriving Neighbourhoods
Thriving Neighbourhoods (TN) is a conference series that explores the impact of the built and natural environments on communities’ health, wellbeing and productivity. The 2011 conference at the St Kilda Town Hall, 25-26 October focuses on the role of local governments in creating liveable, sustainable and healthy communities: how they engage stakeholders including the property, planning, parks and recreation, health, and other government sectors. The conference will take these diverse groups out of their silos and work collaboratively to create a living environment where residents are healthy and productive. Paul Hawken, renowned author whose works have transformed businesses’ thinking about their impact on the environment, will be in Melbourne to address the conference. In The Ecology of Commerce, he argues for ‘full-cost accounting’: taking account of social, environmental and economic costs to truly gauge the impact of a business decision. The VLGA is a major conference supporter and as such, VLGA members are entitled to a $100-discount off the registration fees. An early bird registration also applies and closes this Wednesday 31 August. For the full program and to register go to http://thrivingneighbourhoods2011.org. TN is hosted by ICLEI – Local governments for Sustainability, a non-profit movement of local governments aimed at building capacity of councils to implement long-term local actions to achieve sustainable development. The City of Port Phillip is ICLEI’s principal partner.
Rules of Engagement: a handy resource about community engagement
Keen to learn more about community engagement? Look no further than this handy guide. In dispatches from the International Association of Public Participation (IAP2) comes the news that the Institute for Sustainable Futures (UTS) has put together a 16-page list of free resources for community engagement practitioners and policy makers from across Australia and beyond. All the resources listed in Local Government and Community Engagement: Annotated Bibliography can be downloaded free of charge, and web links are provided. Commissioned by the Australian Centre of Excellence for Local Governance, the document includes research papers, literature reviews, how-to guides, journal articles, local government policies, case studies, wikis and some of IAP2’s own key publications.
Making human rights real – next workshops in Springvale and Melton
Learn more about human rights and how to translate them into the work of your organisation. The Australian Centre for Human Rights Education at RMIT, the VLGA and VCOSS are hosting a series of free participatory workshops across Victoria to facilitate people's understanding of human rights and to develop a human rights approach to service delivery and policy development in locally based organisations. The next workshops will be held in Springvale on Tuesday 6 September, 9.30am-12.30pm; at Springvale Meeting Rooms 1 & 2, Greater Dandenong City Council Offices, 397-405 Springvale Road, Springvale. Another will be held in Melton on Wednesday 7 September, 1-4pm; at Meeting Room 4, Community Hall, Melton Civic Centre, 232 High Street, Melton. You can download the Springvale flyer and registration or the Melton flyer and registration from our website.
50% discount for 9th Annual Victorian Transport Infrastructure Conference
As an endorsing partner, the VLGA has secured a massive 50% discount for our members to this well-attended conference on 15-16 November in Melbourne. With a strong focus on issues relevant to local governments, guest presenters include Ballarat and Melbourne CEOs Anthony Schinck and Dr Kathy Alexander. Case studies include the Regional Rail Link Project; Melbourne Airport’s international terminal development; Wimmera Regional Intermodal Freight Hub; the City of Ballarat Road Transport Plan; and Electric vehicle trials. There are three easy ways for VLGA members to register: on the internet; by telephone (02) 9080 4307; or via email. Make sure you quote the following exclusive VLGA event code: P11M41 with your booking. For more information and to see the program, go here. To stay connected to this conference, follow it on LinkedIn, Twitter (#victransport), the Informa blog, or Youtube.
Council of Australian Governments progresses national reforms
In dispatches from the Australian Local Government Association (ALGA) comes the news that the Council of Australian Governments (COAG) met in Canberra on 19 August 2011, attended by ALGA President, Genia McCaffery. Of particular interest to local government, COAG discussed regulatory reform; environmental reform; sustainability and congestion; and the Productivity Commission's Report on Disability Care and Support. The outcomes of these discussions, including links to the COAG Communique and other papers are included in the regular editions of ALGA News.
Early bird discount and offer for Creative Innovation 2011 Conference
VLGA members are advised that the early bird registration date has been extended until 16 September, and you can save over $500, plus receive a free subscription to BRW magazine. To receive a further 10% discount on tickets for your staff, members and associates the special discount code/password is CONNECT. This is a two-day conference with the theme ‘The challenges and opportunities of a super-connected world’ to be held from 16-18 November. Find out more here.
Street by Street: recovering the practice, and art, of neighbourliness
Street by Street is a national neighbourhood support program that links people who live in the same street or nearby. The focus is on practical helping tasks such as taking the bin in and out, hanging washing, getting a few items from the shops, or getting mail from the letter box. Civil Society would like to hear from individuals and organisations around the country interested in participating in rolling out Street by Street on a national scale. Community centres, service clubs, neighbourhood houses, community health centres, scout and guide groups, and voluntary associations are some of the organisations participating in auspicing a local Street by Street initiative. More information is available, including an ‘Information for Participants Kit’, on the Street by Street website. This is a very simple program that aims to re-kindle links between neighbours that might once have formed spontaneously but which, in our day and age, require a little facilitation.
Multilingual sustainability advice
VLGA member Moreland Energy Foundation Ltd (MEFL) is now delivering sustainability advice in Arabic, Greek, Vietnamese, Turkish, Italian, Mandarin and Urdu via a new range of posters and videos. Visit the Sustainability Advice page of the MEFL website to check out the new materials and share them with your networks. These materials have been produced through the In Common Language projects supported by Sustainability Victoria, through their Climate Communities initiative. This news story comes from MEFL’s Community Action on Climate Change eBulletin and you are welcome to subscribe to the eBulletin.
Events for your diary
VLGA events
September LEF – Securing local business and jobs: exploring the barriers and opportunities
Thursday 1 September, 6-9pm
Ballarat City Council
Local governments in rural and regional areas are significant drivers of local economies. As well as directly employing a significant proportion of the local workforce, they procure goods and services which often support local businesses. However sometimes there is a difficult balance to maintain between getting best value in pure price terms, and giving best value to the local economy by procuring locally whenever possible. Come along to the joint Ballarat City Council and VLGA Leading Edge Forum to hear the myth dispelled that “local governments cannot be active in this space”. Download the flyer, and register online or via email by Monday 29 August.
VLGA Training: New Councillors Workshop
Saturday 24 September, 9am-2pm
Carlton
The VLGA is holding its next New Councillors Workshop on Saturday 24 September, 9am-2pm at 60 Leicester St in Carlton. This workshop is for councillors who have come into office in the last 12 months or so, and also features a follow-up segment for councillors who attended our previous workshop in March. See our website for the program and to register. Please contact Sarah Colgan, Member Resources Officer, for further information, via email or telephone (03) 9349 7983.
Other events
Social Traders’ Breakfast Connect Series
Tuesday 30 August, 7.15-9am
RACV Club, 501 Bourke Street, Melbourne
Social Traders' Breakfast Connect Series will launch on 30 August bringing together socially responsible businesses with renowned speakers. The first session on Business Innovation: Step by Step will be presented by Jason Clarke – one of the most sought-after creative minds in the country. RSVP via email. Cost is $40 per head.
2011 Government Sustainability Conference
31 August – 1 September
The Sebel Albert Park, Melbourne
The 2011 Government Sustainability Conference will provide local and state government professionals and representatives of government agencies with comprehensive analysis and advice about how to ingrain environmentally sustainable policies and practices within their organisations and the communities they serve.
Australian Constitution recognition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders
Thursday 1 September, 1.15-3.30pm
Aboriginal Advancement League, 2 Watt Street, Thornbury
VCOSS, Reconciliation Victoria and ANTaR invite you to participate in a workshop to discuss community sector organisations’ engagement in supporting positive change in the Australian Constitution to recognise Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders. The workshop will look at the Constitutional reform process and how organisations can have their say before the proposed referendum in 2013. They are fortunate to have Dr Alf Bamblett from VACSAL and Richard Franklin MA from VACCA to address the forum. Participation in the forum is free – please register here. The VLGA and VCOSS encourage community sector organisations to attend this forum, and to make a submission to the process. Also of interest is the fact that a panel has been appointed by the Federal Government to consult with Australians and lead a nationwide discussion on the issue of Constitutional recognition. The panel has set-up the You Me Unity website as the central point of information for this process – it provides all the information to enable everyone to be a part of this once-in-a-generation opportunity to help shape the future of Australia.
Bus Access Forum: How accessible are our buses?
Thursday 1 September, 11am-2pm (registration from 10am)
Endeavour Room, Etihad Stadium, 740 Bourke Street, Docklands (enter Gate 4)
COTA and VCOSS are working with the Department of Transport to seek the community’s views on buses and bus services. In recent years, there have been significant investments in bus services. The Department of Transport is interested in better understanding the impact of these changes, particularly for senior Victorians, people with a disability, and those travelling with small children. The following topics will be explored:
* The design of buses
* Bus stops
* Bus routes
* How buses do or don’t work for you
Strictly limited places: early registration essential! To register online, visit http://busforum.eventbrite.com. If you have difficulties registering online, email Michelle Lane or call (03) 9654 5050.
University of Melbourne Social Justice Initiative – Lunchtime seminar
Tuesday 6 September, 1-2pm
University of Melbourne Carlton Campus
The Social Justice Initiative is pleased to invite you to the upcoming Social Justice seminar. Professor Deborah Cobb-Clark will be presenting a lunchtime seminar entitled ‘That Pesky Problem of Gender Bias’. The seminar will be held in Theatrette 1 of the Economics and Commerce Building (also known as ‘Arts West’ building) at the University of Melbourne. For further information on this event, go to the Social Justice Initiative website.
National Sustainable Procurement Forum
Wednesday-Thursday 7-8 September
Etihad Stadium, Melbourne
ECO-Buy, in partnership with the Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply, is hosting a National Sustainable Procurement Forum. The Forum is for sustainability and procurement professionals in local governments and elsewhere. Sustainable procurement is fast developing as the next big revolution in procurement and provides opportunities for improved efficiency, reduced resource use, cost savings and of course reducing an organisation’s impact. Whether your organisation is well under way with integrating sustainability into your purchasing, or just wondering about how to get started, this forum offers a range of interesting outcome based solutions. Go to the forum website for more information and to register.
Culture: A New Way of Thinking for Local Government
Tuesday 4 October, 9am-5pm
Melbourne Town Hall
How the inclusion of culture with social, environmental and economic policies strengthens local governance. This conference will include diverse perspectives on cultural policy from across the Asia-Pacific region. Conference topics will include:
* Can positive change be expected as a result of the Declaration?
* How can the Declaration assist councils to achieve best outcomes for their communities?
* What are the different ways 'culture' is interpreted and how do these influence local government policies in relation to the arts?
More information at www.culturaldevelopment.net.au.
6th Annual Community Newspapers Association of Victoria Conference
Friday-Saturday, 7-8 October
Geelong Conference Centre, Adams Court, Eastern Park Gardens
The Community Newspapers Association of Victoria (CNAV) is the peak body representing community newspapers in the state, with a current membership of around 60 members. CNAV defines a community newspaper as a newspaper or newsletter that is owned by the community. This could mean a newsletter produced by a community house or a newspaper that is produced by a group of volunteers for a town or community group. CNAV actively works with its members to enhance the capacity and standing of community newspapers, to enable them to fully realise their vital role in communities. To join CNAV at their 6th Annual Conference in Geelong, visit http://cnav.org.au/.
Climate Change Adaptation Congress
Thursday-Friday 13-14 October
Melbourne Town Hall
3 Pillars Network presents the Climate Change Adaptation National Congress in partnership with NCCARF & CSIRO Climate Adaptation Flagship & Net Balance. Early bird registration rates are available until 22 September for this two-day interactive forum exploring the policy, strategies and business models needed to enable a climate resilient future for Australia. Keynote speakers include Rear Admiral D. Titley, Oceanographer and Navigator of the US Navy, and Dr Graeme Pearman, Monash University. The Congress is intended for organisations at all stages of adaptation planning. Using a participative process, sessions are designed to engage the collective expertise of all attendees – drawing on Australian and International experts across a range of disciplines to help bridge ‘knowledge gaps’ and inform new ideas. Visit www.climateadaptation.com.au for more details.
“Excite, Engage, Evolve” Australasian Conference for Public Participation
Thursday-Friday 20-21 October
Sydney Masonic Centre
Whether you’re new to the field, a seasoned practitioner, a councillor, or a senior executive keen to learn more, these popular events are a valuable chance to gain cutting-edge knowledge and skills. Aimed at communities, governments and the private sector, this year’s dynamic, interactive program is packed with opportunities to:
* hear from inspiring leaders in the field
* learn the latest techniques from the world’s leading thinkers
* join practicing peers to share ideas and creative approaches
* celebrate and recognise some shining examples of best practice
* share the secrets of quality community engagement outcomes
Speakers include some of the world’s recognised trailblazers in public participation, including internationally renowned social researcher Mark McCrindle, ABC broadcaster and facilitator Julie McCrossin, and highly regarded researchers and thinkers, Professors Lyn Carson (University of Western Sydney) and John Gastil (University of Washington). The winners of the IAP2’s Core Values Awards (both Australasian and International) will be presented at a special Gala Dinner on 20 October. Building on IAP2’s leading-edge reputation, this event promises to:
* Excite – learn why and how to motivate, mobilise and inspire communities to reach solid and sustained results
* Engage – discover how current practice can help communities make better decisions
* Evolve – hear how to meet the challenges of a fast-changing landscape:
o how to use technology effectively to reach different audiences
o how to leave a legacy of strong, resilient communities after natural disasters and other hardships
o how to revitalise and nurture ourselves in the face of sustained community outrage.
For more information and to register, go here.
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