I will resist the temptation to feature planning issues in my message this week. However a brief side-note that at a conference held in the Melton Shire last Friday (see eNews story below), and attended by the VLGA, the conference MC and former veteran ABC journalist Peter Couchman referred on several occasions to the Centre for Independent Studies’ (CIS) research featured in last week’s eNews asking Mayors about their experiences of population growth. Up to a third were concerned that the ‘price’ of population growth policies was being picked up by already cash-strapped local governments. If you don’t have the time to read the research, it’s worth hearing the authors speak about it.
Thank you to all those who attended our Leading Edge Forum on directly elected Mayors and Deputy Mayors, which was webcast live. We were delighted to welcome guests including Parliamentary Secretary David Morris. What interested me were the many models used throughout Australia and the pros and cons that come with each of them. It seems to me one of the keys to making it work is the capacity and commitment of the leadership team to foster good working relationships with their colleagues as well as letting the voters decide whether they want to directly elect their Mayor, as is the case in New South Wales.
Good news that has swept the sector and been embraced by local communities is the breakthrough concerning library funding. I’d like to join with you in thanking the MAV and local governments for pushing for better funding, as the VLGA did in a united voice to the Minister. The challenge will now come in negotiations for future funding rounds, and I am pleased to see the State Government has appointed a bipartisan Libraries Ministerial Advisory Committee (MAC) to help guide these discussions over the next few years. For more information, including the MAC’s Terms of Reference, go here. 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
Economic development meets planning conference
Last Friday, local government economic development and planning staff, commentators, super funds and developers were among others attending the joint Planning Institute of Australia (PIA) and Economic Development Australia (EDA) conference in Caroline Springs – Economic Development and Planning, with a focus on population growth. Co-sponsored by new VLGA member Melton Shire, the day’s presentations and discussions were fascinating and informative. While most of the speakers concentrated on metropolitan Melbourne, some did highlight the need for strategic planning in regional and rural Victoria to receive a significant boost by the State Government. Others, such as the Weekly Times, also commented late last week on the need for government to send stronger messages to the market about food processing, wind farms and other industries. Of further note was a panel discussion at the conference concerning the current review of Victoria’s planning system, and the strong panel view that it required ‘significant deregulation’. This view was at odds with those of a diverse range of speakers who felt that previous attempts at significant deregulation in the 1990s had not delivered integrated economic development and planning outcomes. Moreover, many felt that what was needed was much clearer direction from all governments to address the living pressures experienced across Victoria. Finally, it was refreshing to see the looming ‘health and ageing economic crisis’ get some airing at the conference. Our good friends the Heart Foundation and others highlighted the fact that no planning system in Australia currently contemplates solutions to the health and ageing changes we are about to see in communities. Those of us who’ve been highlighting this critical challenge were pleased to see others support our previous calls for action, which we will again highlight in our submission to the review of Victoria’s planning system. When the presentations are loaded on the conference website, we will provide the link to members. In the meantime, you may want to look at similar PIA (Vic) and EDA events.
Smoking trial in Baw Baw draws mixed early reactions
Only a week into their trial of smoking bans in public places, Baw Baw Shire has received mixed reactions from traders. Despite a number of other local governments now trialling education and awareness strategies across Victoria, the State Government has not yet revealed its hand on a uniform approach to this issue across Victoria. As has been seen in other municipalities such as Monash and Frankston, to name just two, the trials take some time to settle and ongoing education is important, as is consistent signage. Baw Baw Shire Deputy Mayor Tony Wolfe says the trial ban will be evaluated with feedback sought from residents and businesses, "It's a trial period and we certainly welcome all that feedback and we'll take that on board. We are taking an education approach to it. We don't want to slap fines on people and things like that.” If you would like to know more about what other local governments are doing in this space, you can read the Heart Foundation fact-sheet and the Quit fact-sheet.
2011 Australian Local Government Women’s Association Study Bursary
The ALGWA Victorian Branch is pleased to advise that applications are now open for the 2011 Study Award. The Victorian Branch of the Australian Local Government Women’s Association has established an Annual Study Award to encourage and assist women in the local government sector in furthering their education. The Award is given in memory of past State and National President of ALGWA, Marie Wallace OAM JP. Marie devoted many years of service to the Association and was an advocate for women’s participation in local government, not only as elected members, but in the many career opportunities presented. The application is open to permanent members of staff of a Victorian shire or city. The applicant must be currently studying at a Diploma level or higher, at a recognised tertiary institution, on a part time or external basis, and must demonstrate an ability to make a positive contribution to their area of employment and to their employer through further tertiary study. The studies undertaken must be directly related to the applicant’s field of employment.
NBN brings multicultural Moreland up to speed
Last Thursday, Prime Minister Julia Gillard, Communications Minister Stephen Conroy and Moreland Mayor Cr Oscar Yildiz switched on the first inner city broadband for local residents who wish to sign up for the super-fast network. Brunswick is among the first areas on the Australian mainland to be linked up to the Federal Government's new National Broadband Network. You can read the Mayor’s speech welcoming the local investment in high-speed broadband to improve services at all levels of government, as well as for the private sector, particularly education, health and social support. In true Moreland style, and with the roll-out of modern high-speed broadband in Brunswick, they have developed a traditional communication tool aimed at bridging the digital divide for people from culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) backgrounds: the CALDCOM storyboard aims to get the message across to Moreland's diverse cultural communities about the benefits of the digital age. It also assists them to understand how it can be used in their daily lives. Moreland will be working to make sure the NBN roll-out really makes its impact where it counts most – by making sure no one gets left behind because they don’t understand how the internet works in everyday life. Watch the CALDCOM 'Connecting people' video on Youtube.
Food sensitive planning in urban design (FSPUD) workshops
Dates have now been set for six workshops to be conducted by the VLGA with the Heart Foundation, funded by VicHealth. What is FSPUD, you might ask? FSPUD is an approach to planning and urban design that addresses the critical intersects between public health nutrition; planning and urban design; and environmental sustainability. FSPUD builds on the healthy built environment focus pioneered by State and local government and the Heart Foundation over the past 15 years. Through FSPUD, professionals, policy makers, communities and councillors can develop a shared understanding of how the urban environment can incorporate planning and design elements that support a resilient, healthy and sustainable food system. A summary of the FSPUD resource is available on our website. Five workshops will be held in Bass Coast, Mount Alexander, Frankston, Maribyrnong and Whittlesea. We are also planning a Professionals Forum for 6 October, which will be an open invitation, with the venue to be advised shortly. It will include an introduction to the FSPUD framework and a panel discussion with three experts about food resilience and planning. The purposes of all workshops include:
* Raise awareness of the FSPUD Conceptual Framework including the principles and approach, the FSPUD Matrix and a range of local and international case studies
* Provide preliminary (conceptual) information to local governments on ways to build a local, resilient, healthy and sustainable food system through the delivery of targeted cross-department workshops
* Consult with municipalities on how the FSPUD framework could be developed to inform policy development, planning and programs. This will include discussion around the current and future needs of the subject municipality, recommendations for future use and application, and barriers to be overcome
Further information and invitations for the workshops will be circulated shortly. For more information contact the VLGA’s Food Security Officer, Leah Galvin, via email or phone (03) 9349 7999.
Creative Innovation 2011
Don’t forget to register early (by 31 August), so you can save over $500, and receive a free subscription to BRW magazine. To receive a further 10% discount on tickets for your staff, members and associates wishing to purchase tickets for the event the special discount code is "CONNECT". This two-day Conference includes Deep Conversations, ten Master Classes, Gala Dinner and outstanding Australian performers and artists. It’s a place to learn techniques and strategies, share ideas and gain empowering experiences. The conference will bring together delegates from all sectors to discuss the challenges that impact global business and society, growth and sustainability issues facing the business environments of Asia Pacific, learning institutions and workplaces of the future and best practice for leaders and organisations in a super-connected world. To be held 16-18 November at the Sofitel Melbourne On Collins, you can find out more here.
Human rights workshops coming to Victoria
The Australian Centre for Human Rights Education at RMIT, the VLGA and VCOSS are hosting a series of 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 workshops are funded by the Commonwealth Attorney-General’s Department as part of a project identifying the importance of human rights education. The workshops will use case studies to highlight human rights and how to support human rights for people in local communities. The workshops are designed for both the community and local government sectors – for management, service delivery workers, board members, councillors, advocates and members of vulnerable groups. The first workshop will be held in Geelong on 17 August from 11.30am-3.30pm at the Grovedale Community Centre, 45 Heyers Road, Grovedale. A second workshop will be held in Bairnsdale on 30 August from 10am-2pm at the Forge Performing Arts Centre, 80 McKean Street, Bairnsdale. To register please phone Claire Bauska on (03) 9654 5050 or via email and state which workshop you would like to attend. Further workshops will be held in the next few months in Ballarat, Bendigo, Broadmeadows, Dandenong, Melbourne, Melton, Mildura, Traralgon, Wangaratta and Warrnambool, with further details to be announced shortly. Please forward this information to anyone you believe will be interested. All workshops will be free of charge. For more information contact the VLGA’s Human Rights Project Officer, Gary Jungwirth, via email or phone (03) 9349 7999.
Poor housing and illness intrinsically linked, Hanover and VicHealth reports show
The Victorian Health Promotion Foundation (VicHealth) and Hanover Welfare Services have put the spotlight on links between housing and health in Australia, with the launch of two new reports last week. Precarious housing and health inequalities: what are the links? and Precarious housing and health: research synthesis show a clear link between inadequate and unstable housing and poor health. The VLGA attended the launch, along with 60 guests from government and the housing, health and community sectors. You can see interviews with researchers Shelley Mallet and Rebecca Bentley and VicHealth’s Kellie Horton which will be loaded on Youtube in the next week.Findings in the reports include:
* 10 per cent of Australian households live in unaffordable housing
* Around 12 per cent of people reported difficulties paying their mortgage/bills
* One in four people aged 18 to 24 and half of people older than 64 in private rental experience housing stress
* Unemployed people are 15 times more likely to live in unaffordable housing than full-time employed people
* Women, Indigenous people and people born in non-English speaking countries are more likely to experience housing affordability stress
* People with poor physical and mental health are more likely to experience forced moves from rental properties
* Around 4 per cent of the Australian population live in unsuitable housing
Nominations now open for the Waste Management Association of Australia (WMAA) 2011 Pam Keating Award
Each year this Award provides $1,500 to a woman who has made an outstanding contribution to the environment industry in Victoria. The Award recognises the work of the late Pam Keating (1954-2009) who held a number of key roles in the waste, water and sustainability fields and was an inspiration to many in those fields. Download the Terms of Reference and Nomination Form.Events for your diary
The Yarra Settlement Forum invites workers to attend a Housing Forum
Tuesday 9 August, 9.30am-12.30pm
Reading Room, Fitzroy Town Hall, Napier Street, Fitzroy
Do you work with refugees with housing issues? Are you confused about the various housing options available? Do you want up to date information about housing in Yarra?
Come along and hear presentations by:
* Peer Education & Support Program speaker
* Housing Minister representative
* Housing Association and Service Providers
* Tenants Union of Victoria
Please RSVP by email to Katherine Vrettas at the City of Yarra via email.
Culture and Community Researchers’ Network
Thursday 11 August, 2.00pm-5.00pm
Graduate Centre, 1888 Grattan Street, University of Melbourne (between Swanston and Bouverie St)
Towards a Conceptual Handshake: bringing together theory, policy and practice of cultural indicators. Chaired by Dr Lachlan MacDowall, Research Coordinator, Centre for Cultural Partnerships, VCAM. Join us for a roundtable presentation of three unique perspectives from the burgeoning field of cultural indicators. From UNESCO’s benchmarks for cultural freedoms, comparison of LGA cultural provision, to community arts evaluation - diverse approaches to quantifying cultural value exist. Responding to Colin Mercer’s (2002) call for conceptual and policy ‘handshakes’, our speakers draw on their doctoral research to progress the dialogue about cultural measurement, aiming to enhance the knowledge base for cultural policy, planning and development. We invite researchers and workers in community cultural development, arts evaluation, and local government to participate in the roundtable discussion. Topics and speakers include: The political context of cultural indicators: evidence and values in democratic governance, Emma Blomkamp; Understanding outcomes of participatory arts: a framework for evaluation, Kim Dunphy; and ‘Naming the World’ as representation: a relational approach in socially-engaged arts and cultural indicators, Marnie Badham. For more information go here, and RSVP (for afternoon tea) by email or phone (03) 9685 9067 before COB on 8 August.
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