VLGA eNews: November 2011

28 November 2011

VLGA President’s Message
As members know, the VLGA has provided a good deal of comment on the issue of a directly elected mayor for Geelong. A week or so ago, the Victorian Government announced the details of the legislation, which includes specific powers that the directly elected mayor will have in Geelong, in particular the right to appoint Special Committee Chairs and Council representatives on other bodies. We have continued to emphasise in our media comments and our representations to the Minister that there needs to be research into the governance and other implications of a directly elected mayor model in a regional city, particularly when that mayor will have new and additional powers to other mayors. This is important so that the issue can be informed on a broader scale. The VLGA notes that the State Government will review the directly elected mayoral systems of Geelong and Melbourne after the Geelong model has been in operation for two years. We stated in our submission to the consultation that it would have been preferable for a proper inquiry to take place before the process for electing the mayor was changed, and we still hold this position. We also advocated that any decision-making process around direct election needed to include consideration of the powers of the mayor and deputy mayor, as there is no clear role statement for deputy mayors in the Local Government Act 1989. There are issues to be considered with the model of a mayor being directly elected by the public, when the deputy mayor, if council chooses to have one, is elected by their fellow councillors. A directly elected mayor will rely heavily on their fellow councillors and a deputy mayor to be able to achieve what s/he sees as their mandate. Good working relationships will be crucial. It will be instructive to learn how the directly elected mayor’s powers of appointment in Geelong will contribute or otherwise to these good relationships and good governance in general. Our primary interest is in a participatory system that will deliver good outcomes for council and the communities of Greater Geelong. We will continue to monitor the developments with interest.

That’s it from me this week. 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 an email. Cheers.

Cr Samantha Dunn, President

Keeping you up to date

Green Wedge – Review of urban growth boundary anomalies outside of Growth Areas

The VLGA is aware that a number of our member local governments have requested that Planning Minister Matthew Guy provides them with an extension to the review to allow time to consult about their specific needs in Green Wedge areas. Other member councils have rejected any changes, and some have put forward what they see as ‘anomalies’. The review has been controversial and ever since the Government announced their intention to re-look at Green Wedge zones, developer interest has sparked and communities have become alarmed. With a review now pending bi-annually, there is a level of concern for VLGA members, particularly in food production areas and where land values are escalating thus potentially impacting the viability of agriculture. The uncertainty created by the review and the public debate that has ensued has been unfortunate and we are keen to discuss this with Minister Guy when we next meet with him.

John Jago Award 2011
We have a very high-standard field of entries for the 2011 John Jago Award. A short list of four entries is now being assessed to determine the 2011 winner. The short listed entries are from the Indigo Shire Council (Indigo 2030 – long term strategic vision), Alpine Shire Council (Harrietville Community Building Initiative), Baw Baw Shire Council (Baw Baw 2050 project) and Maribyrnong City Council (David House redevelopment). We face a very challenging task to pick a winner from these excellent projects. We look forward to seeing as many of you as possible at our end of year function on 1 December where the winner will be announced.

Local government inspectorate improves information flow
The VLGA has been conveying the need to the State Government and the Municipal Inspector for more case studies and information to be provided to the sector about the rights of councillors. We are pleased to see that this is now occurring. Go online for recently updated Frequently Asked Questions; if you need to know more about your rights; and if you would like to know more about the investigation process. We still believe there is room for sharing with councillors the issues and outcomes of particular investigations and that this would support good governance and transparency. While we congratulate the Inspectorate for improving information flow, we will continue to lobby the State Government for more training and other support to councillors.

Local government first: Frankston City Council measures community greenhouse gas emissions

Local governments, as opposed to other levels of government, are at the forefront of taking mitigation and adaptation measures in response to climate change. The VLGA often highlights good practice by our local government members, and the work that Frankston has done is one such example. The purpose of this project was to establish a methodology for measuring annual community greenhouse gas emissions based on localised data at the city-wide and suburb level. Frankston has been involved in an innovative project to measure Frankston City's community greenhouse gas emissions – as they accept that they can't manage what they don't measure. Whilst emissions are measured at national and state levels, there has been no reliable way to measure emissions on a local level. Frankston, with consultant Renewable Future, has successfully developed 'Measure it, Manage it' – a new methodology that has tracked Frankston City's community greenhouse gas emissions for 2005 and 2009. In demonstrating the feasibility of measuring greenhouse gases on a local level, this project will be used to build Council support for tailored localised behaviour change programs. Click here to view the Report, which is a first for local government.

Annual Reporting – the new (Knox) way
In another achievement for a VLGA member local government, we extend our hearty congratulations to the City of Knox for their innovative new Annual Report. It’s worth noting that the video format Annual Report was produced entirely in-house using Council staff, and Knox councillors are very proud of the innovation and expertise of the staff team in conceiving and producing the report. In our view, the Knox Annual Report is contemporary, accessible, and really well put together. It’s as easy as clicking here! There are even handy transcripts right throughout for anyone having trouble viewing the video links. Or check out the videos directly on Youtube and ‘like’ what you see.

White Ribbon Day
Last Friday saw the celebration of White Ribbon Day, held to promote the campaign to prevent violence against women. It also marked the beginning of the VLGA’s ‘16 Days of Action’ on our website at www.vlga.org.au, which will run until International Human Rights Day on 10 December. If you’d like to join us for our International Human Rights Day Morning Tea on 8 December with a focus on women, see the details in VLGA events below. We encourage you to have a look at the simple actions you can take as part of our ‘16 Days of Action’, with new actions loaded each day.

Implications of Carbon Pricing for Waste Management in Metropolitan Melbourne

Waste management has both negative and positive greenhouse impacts. The Federal Government’s moves to put a dollar price on some of these carbon impacts will affect the costs of waste management. The Metropolitan Waste Management Group has developed a simple information sheet that summarises the ways that carbon pricing are likely to affect waste management in metropolitan Melbourne. It addresses the carbon pricing mechanism, the carbon farming initiative, materials and energy recovery, and what local government waste managers can do.

Green Wedge paper open for discussion
The Westernport Green Wedge Discussion Paper public exhibition period is open for submissions until 5pm on 2 December. The paper outlines the management plan of the Victorian State Government in partnership with City of Casey and Cardinia Shire Council. The plan aims to deliver a long-term vision for land use in the green wedge. Visit http://caseyconversations.com.au or Cardinia www.cardinia.vic.gov.au/greenwedges.
For more information contact Lisa Brassington (Cardinia) 1300 787 624 or email Cardinia, or Paul Laughton (Casey) 9705 5200 or email Casey.

Media coverage for ‘Think women for local government 2012’
The VLGA’s Think women for local government 2012 project continues to receive local media coverage in the Hobsons Bay Leader, as well as the Bendigo Advertiser. It is wonderful to see local governments taking up the challenge to promote the project, and if you need more information to do this, download a sample media release, or visit the Think women website or the Facebook page for plenty of resources, including the update of A Gender Agenda which contains lots of tips about campaigning. This resource is also highly relevant to men.

Have your say: new research to look at the experiences of students with disability in Victorian schools

For the first time in many decades, this issue received a great deal of attention in the lead up to the last State Election. The Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission (VEOHRC) is conducting research into the experiences of students with disability in Victorian schools. This follows an increase in complaints to the Commission relating to disability discrimination in education, and concerns raised by parents of children with disability, disability advocacy groups and members of the Commission’s Disability Reference Group about the provision of education services to students with disability. The purpose of the Commission’s research is to gather information about the issues and challenges experienced by students with disability in the Victorian school system and to identify potential solutions, consistent with Victoria’s equal opportunity and human rights framework, to improve access to education for students with disability. VEOHRC is keen to hear from students, parents and educators about what works and what could be improved when it comes to the education of students with disability in Victoria. There are several ways you can have your say. You can complete a confidential survey if you are a student with a disability, a parent of a student with a disability, or a principal, teacher or you work in a Victorian school. The survey is anonymous – and VEOHRC does not ask for any personal or identifying information. If you work in a community organisation or otherwise provide support to families, children and young people with disability, you can tell VEOHRC your views by sending an email to research@veohrc.vic.gov.au. VEOHRC will treat this as a written submission to our research. You can also ring VEOHRC’s state-wide telephone call-in on Saturday 3 December 2011 – call 1300 292 153 or (03) 9032 3583 from 10am to 4pm. If you need an interpreter, you can call the Commission using the interpreter service on 1300 152 494 or TTY at 1300 289 621. Further information about ‘have a say’ days in regional Victoria in February 2012 will be available soon. If these options are not convenient, please feel free to tell VEOHRC your story by sending them an email to research@veohrc.vic.gov.au.

Events for your diary

VLGA events

Making human rights real – Bairnsdale
Tuesday 29 November
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 workshops are funded by the Commonwealth Attorney-General's Department as part of a project to identify the importance of human rights education. 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 – and use case studies to highlight human rights and how to support human rights for people in local communities. The next workshop will be held in Bairnsdale on Tuesday 29 November, 10am-2pm, at the Mercure Hotel, 355 Main St.

To register for the workshop, please phone Michelle at VCOSS on (03) 9654 5050 or register online. To see the workshop flyers, click on our VLGA Events Calendar. For further information, contact the VLGA’s Human Rights Policy & Project Officer, Gary Jungwirth, via email or phone (03) 9349 7999.

VLGA End-of-Year Members’ Function
Thursday 1 December, 6-8.30pm
Carlton
Members are invited to join the VLGA Board and Staff to celebrate our successes at our end-of-year drinks with local government, community and State Government colleagues. Come and hear the announcement of the winner of the 2011 John Jago Good Governance Award. Please RSVP by either registering online or phoning (03) 9349 7999.

International Human Rights Day Morning Tea
Thursday 8 December, 10-11.30am
VLGA, 60 Leicester Street, Carlton
The VLGA invites you to celebrate International Human Rights Day. The theme for the 2011 International Human Rights Day is ‘promoting human dignity' and 2011 also marks the 100th Anniversary of International Women’s Day. The VLGA Board therefore has pleasure in inviting you to mark these occasions at an informal morning tea. Our focus for this year will be on the progress and future of local government and community actions in:
* Preventing Violence Against Women
* Promoting participation of women in next year’s Local Government Elections, and
* The uptake of the Victorian Local Government Women’s Charter.

Come along and network with colleagues, and do your bit for International Human Rights Day. Numbers are limited, so please RSVP via email or phone (03) 9349 7999.

Other events

5th ‘State of Australian Cities’ National Conference
Tuesday 29 November – Friday 2 December
University of Melbourne, Parkville
Australia’s society and economy are dominated by its cities and regions, and the future of Australia’s environment is also linked to urban sustainability. The State of Australian Cities is a national forum, held biennially, to share scholarship directed at the complex and multidimensional issues facing us as an urban nation. Australian cities are highly ranked internationally for their liveability, and have continued to grow strongly through a global financial crisis. Yet we are confronted with significant challenges. These challenges should not blind us to opportunities. For the first time in two decades, the Federal Government is talking about the need to address the infrastructure gap in cities. A growing body of urban researchers is interested in the policy implications of their work, while policy-makers are increasingly turning to the developing evidence base. Unlikely coalitions are springing up to address intertwined social, economic, environmental, governance, and infrastructure issues.

Local Government Promising Practice Forum on the Prevention of Violence Against Women
Wednesday 14 December, 12.30-5.30pm
Department of Human Services - Level 1, 50 Lonsdale St, Melbourne
Speaking of preventing violence against women, and acknowledging the wonderful leadership that local governments in particular have demonstrated, the MAV is holding a Local Government Promising Practice Forum on the Prevention of Violence Against Women on 14 December in Melbourne. The audience is primarily local government people (both elected representatives and officers), key community partners and government representatives. This half-day event (including lunch) is offered by the MAV at no charge. Registrations are required by 5 December, and you can find more information and register online here.

21 November 2011

VLGA President’s Message
I was delighted to see so many of you at the VLGA’s inaugural Essential Councillor Retreat at Torquay. The retreat attracted a lot of interest from councillor colleagues and I know a number of you arrived the night before to have some time in each other’s company. On behalf of the VLGA Board, I thank Cr Dean Webster, Mayor of Surf Coast Shire, for the welcome to his ‘patch’ and to all of you for your participation and engagement throughout the two days. We benefitted from getting to know each other better, and from Master Classes with Joel Levin, Ed Cornelissen, and our panellists Tony De Fazio, Liana Thompson, Bill Forrest and Tony Douglas. Sessions ranged from managing community outrage, using social media more effectively, and getting your message out in a meaningful way in the last year of the council term. You also provided us with useful input for our future activities with elected representatives. With the Essential Mayors Weekend coming up in January, this has been a busy time for the VLGA team and we have enjoyed the interactions with you all.

Our other major event this past week has been the launch of the Social and Economic Impact Assessment (SEIA) Framework for EGMs last Monday. There is more news on the SEIA Framework and the launch below in this bulletin. I want to make space here to thank everyone who attended the launch and to acknowledge the work of Emma Shepherdson on this project, which has been developed by a partnership between inner and northern local governments and other stakeholder organisations with the VLGA.

In our roles as President and CEO in representing member and sectoral issues to the Government, Maree McPherson and I have been out and about in various meetings recently. These have included meetings with Minister Powell, with another in the next fortnight; Richard Wynne, Shadow Minister for Local Government; advisers to Ministers Smith and McIntosh; and meetings coming up with Minister Guy and with his Shadow, Brian Tee. If you have items you would like us to include on our agendas for these discussions please let me know. 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

IBAC & Municipal Inspectorate
The VLGA has been watching with interest the progress towards an Independent Broad-based Anti-corruption Commission (IBAC). We have recently received correspondence from the Minister responsible for the establishment of the Commission, The Hon Andrew McIntosh MP, advising that legislation for the IBAC and an independent Victorian Inspectorate has been introduced to the Victorian Parliament. The Independent Board-based Anti-corruption Commission Bill 2011 (the IBAC Bill) establishes the Commission and the position of the Commissioner as an independent officer of Parliament. The IBAC Bill also outlines the education and prevention functions to be undertaken by the IBAC, establishes the parliamentary committee overseeing the IBAC’s role and functions, and sets the reporting mechanism to Parliament. $170 million over four years has been allocated for the establishment of the IBAC. Most importantly from the VLGA’s perspective, the Victorian Inspectorate Bill 2011 establishes the body that will oversee the IBAC, monitor its compliance with relevant laws and deal with complaints against the IBAC and its personnel in exercising their powers and duties, to ensure they are used responsibly and proportionately. We have raised several key items with the Minister’s office namely:
* the definition of corruption and whether the IBAC will share similar definitions to anti-corruption bodies in other states;
* whether the Commission’s investigations will be retrospective or prospective; and
* the relationship of the Local Government Inspectorate to the IBAC and the referral mechanisms that will exist between the two bodies.

It is understood the Local Government Inspectorate will continue to have a role in dealing with reported breaches under the Local Government Act and the IBAC will deal with issues of corruption. We are keen to continue our advocacy for clarity, transparency and fairness in all processes, including about the legal supports, resources and advice available to councillors. We will continue to monitor this development and report back to you.

Launch of ‘Social Impacts of Pokies.org.au’
On Monday 14 November, socialimpactsofpokies.org.au was officially launched by VLGA President, Cr Samantha Dunn. This Social and Economic Impact Assessment Framework for EGMs is an online evidence base and data book for Victorian local government staff, community members and applicants to build their own social impact assessments. The launch was used as a professional development session for local government and community staff. Presentations from John Rantino, Partner at Maddocks; and Felicity Leahy, Manager Social Development at Hume, discussed the role of social impact assessments in gaming cases, with case studies. Emma Shepherdson and Susan Rennie presented on the use of the Framework on behalf of the Inner Northern Working Group on Gambling. The Framework was developed by the Inner Northern Working Group on Gambling, a partnership including representatives from the local governments of Darebin, Hume, Melbourne, Moreland, Whittlesea and Yarra; the PCPs of North East, Inner North West and Hume Whittlesea; and the Responsible Gambling Advocacy Centre. You can watch the podcast of the presentations on the website.

End-of-Year Function & 2012 John Jago Good Governance Award
Don’t forget to RSVP for our end-of-year function taking place on Thursday 1 December from 6pm. We hope you can join the Board and Staff to celebrate our successes at our end-of-year drinks with local government, community and State Government colleagues. Come and hear the announcement of the winner of the 2011 John Jago Good Governance Award. Please RSVP by Monday 28 November online or phone (03) 9349 7999.

Grants available for National Youth Week 2012 events
The Victorian Government has opened the doors for young people to apply for grants to help celebrate next year’s National Youth Week, held from 13-22 April 2012. Minister for Youth Affairs Ryan Smith said the National Youth Week 2012 grants, available for young people aged 12-25 years old, would help young people plan and stage workshops, events or local projects for youth. “Young people make significant contributions to their communities each day and we support their efforts to create opportunities for other young people to enjoy National Youth Week,” Mr Smith said. Mr Smith added that the $155,000 grants program has been made available through a partnership between the Victorian Government, Commonwealth Government and Youthbeyondblue. Mr Smith said grants of up to $2,000 were available in two categories:
* Grants for young people working with an organisation to deliver a local community-based event, and
* Grants for young people working with an organisation to deliver an event that raises awareness of depression and anxiety

Applications for National Youth Week 2012 grants close on Friday 9 December 2011. For further information on the grants program visit www.youthcentral.vic.gov.au/nyw.

Local Government Promising Practice Forum on the Prevention of Violence Against Women

The MAV is holding a Local Government Promising Practice Forum on the Prevention of Violence Against Women on 14 December in Melbourne. The audience is primarily local government people (both elected representatives and officers), key community partners and government representatives. This half-day event (including lunch) is offered by the MAV at no charge. Registrations are required by 5 December, and you can find more information and register online here.

A plan for a revitalised Broadmeadows
Residents, community groups, businesses and other stakeholders are invited to have their say on the future of Broadmeadows. Broadmeadows is set to become Melbourne’s capital of the north. It will accommodate new housing, transport and a mix of retail, leisure and learning facilities. It will become a vibrant hub attracting people, businesses and employment. The Victorian Government and Hume City Council have a 20-year plan to sustainably manage growth and change in Broadmeadows Activities Area. The draft Structure Plan sets out the long-term vision for Broadmeadows. It identifies potential land uses, building size and design, and defines precincts for particular use and development. For more information and to find out about the ways you can get involved, go to the Broadmeadows Structure Plan Website.

Events for your diary

VLGA events

Making human rights real – Ballarat & Bairnsdale workshops
Ballarat – Tuesday 22 November
Bairnsdale – Tuesday 29 November

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 workshops are funded by the Commonwealth Attorney-General's Department as part of a project to identify the importance of human rights education. 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 – and use case studies to highlight human rights and how to support human rights for people in local communities. The next workshops will be held in:
• Ballarat on Tuesday 22 November, 10am-2pm, in the Trench Room at the Ballarat Town Hall in Sturt St
• Bairnsdale on Tuesday 29 November, 10am-2pm, at the Mercure Hotel, 355 Main St

To register for the workshops, please phone Michelle at VCOSS on (03) 9654 5050 or register online and select the workshop nearest to you. To see the workshop flyers, click on our VLGA Events Calendar. For further information, contact the VLGA’s Human Rights Policy & Project Officer, Gary Jungwirth, via email or phone (03) 9349 7999.

Climate Justice Roundtable – What does the ‘climate-just’ Australian city look like?

* Michael Williamson, Sustainability Victoria: Distributed generation – the next frontier for energy
* John Edgoose, Sustainability Victoria: Distributed Generation Connection Guide – Sustainability Victoria's new guide for linking into the electricity network
* Joe Thomas, Powercor Australia: How the distribution business looks at distributed energy
* Rick Kwasek, Boroondara City Council: Ashburton Smart Energy Zone – implementing a shared cogen energy system

RSVP by 5pm Tuesday 22 November by email to Nick Bailey or phone (03) 8626 8824.

5th ‘State of Australian Cities’ National Conference
Tuesday 29 November – Friday 2 December
University of Melbourne, Parkville
Australia’s society and economy are dominated by its cities and regions, and the future of Australia’s environment is also linked to urban sustainability. The State of Australian Cities is a national forum, held biennially, to share scholarship directed at the complex and multidimensional issues facing us as an urban nation. Australian cities are highly ranked internationally for their liveability, and have continued to grow strongly through a global financial crisis. Yet we are confronted with significant challenges. These challenges should not blind us to opportunities. For the first time in two decades, the Federal Government is talking about the need to address the infrastructure gap in cities. A growing body of urban researchers is interested in the policy implications of their work, while policy-makers are increasingly turning to the developing evidence base. Unlikely coalitions are springing up to address intertwined social, economic, environmental, governance, and infrastructure issues.

14 November 2011

VLGA President’s Message
What a wonderful time we all enjoyed last Wednesday night, at the ‘Celebrate and Challenge’ event, hosted by the Deputy Lord Mayor of Melbourne, Susan Riley at the Melbourne Town Hall. Mayors, councillors, partners in the Women’s Participation in Local Government Coalition, representatives of government agencies and community groups, and citizens from across Victoria celebrated the endorsement by over 60 Victorian councils of the Local Government Women’s Charter and its principles of gender equity, diversity and active citizenship. Attended by more than 100 guests we also launched successful council models for implementing the Charter’s principles; the fourth edition of the highly successful candidate’s kit, A Gender Agenda, and a new campaign to boost women candidates in the 2012 elections – the VLGA’s ‘Think women for local government 2012’ project. It was wonderful to hear messages of support from Ministers Powell and Wooldridge on the night. Thanks also to Crs Cathy Oke, Jennifer Kanis, Jackie Watts and Brian Shanahan for their involvement in the event and special thanks to Lord Mayor Robert Doyle for dropping in to make us so welcome. I am especially pleased that everyone made it home safely afterwards, given the flood alerts and storm damage, including those of you who had travelled far to be there.

As part of the ‘Think women’ project, on Saturday just gone, Minister Powell opened a forum for the ALGWA Vic North East branch, encouraging women candidates for the local government elections in 2012. I acknowledge the support of ALGWA Vic, and the North East branch, in particular Strathbogie Shire Council, for driving this initiative – the first of our regional forums for the project.

I very much look forward to seeing many of you later this week at the VLGA’s inaugural Essential Councillor Retreat at Torquay. 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

Draft plans for Melbourne’s growth unveiled
The Growth Areas Authority has released the draft Growth Corridor Plans and is inviting public comment until Tuesday 20 December. New housing, town centres, rail stations and jobs have been unveiled in a draft plan for Melbourne's growth suburbs over the next 30 years. The plan, released by the Victorian Government last Wednesday, guides growth in urban areas as Melbourne copes with an anticipated increase of two million people over the next 30 to 40 years. According to an article in the Sydney Morning Herald, Planning Minister Matthew Guy says the growth corridors and the development within them represent the largest current construction project in Australia. Fifty-thousand new housing lots will be released by March 2012, and jobs and activity centres will also be created in outer urban areas along with investigations into new rail lines to Avalon and Melbourne airports. At first glance, this looks like a refreshingly different approach on the surface to getting infrastructure developed early. However, we remain concerned that the required planning, investment and government funding need to be aligned to achieve this outcome. The VLGA is very keen to hear members’ views so please let us know your thoughts on the draft.

Exciting first year for Responsible Gambling Advocacy Centre (RGAC)
The VLGA encourages members and colleagues to take a look at the RGAC’s first Annual Report. We agree with RGAC Chair Fiona McLeod that it has been an outstanding first year, and that, as Fiona says in the Annual Report, “The organisation has met its mandate of adding value to existing knowledge for all stakeholders in the gambling sector, providing a consumer voice, engaging with local government and the community at large, and keeping the Minister informed in relation to gambling issues.” Highlights include the launch of RGAC’s website (which the VLGA regularly refers local government staff and community members to for up-to-date resources and links), formal participation in the 2011 Responsible Gambling Awareness Week, the production of a variety of publications that have attracted high levels of use, and the development of RGAC’s ongoing discussion series program. We congratulate the RGAC Board, CEO Penny Wilson and staff for their work.

Human Rights Oration 2011 – The Big Picture
The Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission is pleased to invite you to this year’s Human Rights Oration. Keynote speaker Bernard Salt is best known for his media commentary on the business implications of demographic and social change. He will blend humour and substance to paint the big picture: How will demographic change shape our community, and what has human rights got to do with it? The oration will be held on Tuesday 13 December, 12.30-1.30pm, at Zinc in Federation Square. This is a free and accessible public event, but registrations are required. RSVP by Wednesday 7 December to (03) 9032 3448 or email. Visit the Human Rights Commission website for more details and to register.

Thriving Neighbourhoods conference papers now available – Capturing the returns from liveable, sustainable communities

Thriving Neighbourhoods showed how emerging techniques for the planning, design and management of communities could radically improve health, social engagement, environmental conservation and productivity in communities. Go online to see the conference report and conference papers.

IAP2 Australasia News
This week IAP2 Australasia has published its training calendar for 2012. This year IAP2 has added two new courses to their training calendar: Building an Engaging Organisation focuses on how to build an organisation with engagement at the heart of how it does business. The course is designed specifically for senior practitioners and managers responsible for the community engagement/public participation function in an organisation; Cred! is a new active, practical professional development program that develops your confidence to build strong relationships and personal and professional credibility in your organisation. It is designed for engagement practitioners who want to build respected, influential, credible and valued relationships with key decision makers and leaders in their organisation.

Baillieu Government supports schools to teach second languages
Last week the Victorian Government announced that state schools that do not currently teach a second language will be eligible for $1 million in grants next year to implement second language programs. Wesa Chau, the 2010 Young Victorian of the Year and Deputy President for the Chinese Community Council of Australia (Victoria Chapter), has welcomed the news that the Government will make learning a second language compulsory in prep from 2015.

Statistics from the Victorian Government have revealed there has been a 30 per cent drop in the number of state primary schools teaching a second language over the past decade. The Government has yet to deliver on an election commitment to providing stronger support to community language schools by increasing per student funding from $120 to $190 per year in the Government’s first term.

Yarra Ranges supports the East Africa Appeal – will you?
At its meeting on 8 November, Yarra Ranges resolved to make a donation of $10,000 to the East Africa Appeal and to contact as a matter of urgency all other 78 local government municipalities in Victoria to challenge them to match or improve on this contribution. The crisis unfolding for millions of children and their families in East Africa is the result of years of drought, impacts of climate change and the high price of food and fuel, compounded by exclusion and poverty. Across Somalia, Ethiopia, Kenya and Djibouti 13.3 million people, equivalent to two-thirds of the population of Australia, are affected by this devastating crisis, including over 4.14 million children, 1.6 million of whom are under 5 years old. This humanitarian crisis is the result of ongoing conflict and the worst drought in 60 years across the East and Horn of Africa. The UN declared famine in parts of Somalia in September. Hundreds of thousands of starving and malnourished refugees are seeking assistance in aid camps and an estimated 30,000 children have died in Somalia this year from malnutrition. The Australian Federal Government has announced it will match all donations made to the East Africa Appeal by 30 November 2011, on a dollar for dollar basis. Examples of the impact that a donation can have are outlined below:
* $20 will provide a clean water kit – soap, bucket, and water purification tablets for a family of five for one month
* $40 will provide clean water for 175 people for a day
* $75 will feed a family of six for two weeks
* $150 will provide high calorie food for 300 children suffering from severe malnutrition
* $250 will provide a health kit for a clinic to support 150 people for three months
Donations can be made here.

National Rural Women’s Coalition (NRWC) Survey
The NRWC, in conjunction with the Australian Women Against Violence Alliance (AWAVA) and the Queensland Centre for Domestic and Family Violence Research (CDFVR) at CQ University, is developing a toolkit of materials to support women in their local communities in implementing the Council of Australian Governments’ (COAG) National Plan to Reduce Violence Against Women and their Children. They require accurate input from those who already work in the field to ensure that the toolkit developed is complementary to existing resources and that there is no unnecessary duplication. If you have been using a wonderful resource, the NRWC would like to hear about it. If you think there is a gap in resources, let them know, and they can include it in their planning for the toolkit. Click here to take the survey. If you would like to receive ongoing updates on the progress of this project, please contact Sandra Stoddart, Executive Officer, National Rural Women's Coalition and Network via email.

Events for your diary

VLGA events

Making human rights real – Melbourne, Ballarat & Hume workshops
Wednesday 16 November (Melbourne CBD)
Friday 18 November (Hume)
Tuesday 22 November (Ballarat)
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 workshops are funded by the Commonwealth Attorney-General's Department as part of a project to identify the importance of human rights education. 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 – and use case studies to highlight human rights and how to support human rights for people in local communities. The next workshops will be held in:
Melbourne CBD: Wednesday 16 November, 10am-2pm; RMIT University, Melbourne (corner Russell & Victoria Streets, Building 13, Level 3, Room 07)
Hume: Friday 18 November, 10am-1pm; Hume Global Learning Centre Council Chamber, 1093 Pascoe Vale Road, Broadmeadows
Ballarat: Tuesday 22 November, 10am-1pm; Ballarat Town Hall – Trench Room, Sturt St, Ballarat

To register for the workshops, please phone Michelle at VCOSS on (03) 9654 5050 or register online for the workshop closest to you. To see the workshop flyers, click on our VLGA Events Calendar. For further information, contact the VLGA’s Human Rights Policy & Project Officer, Gary Jungwirth, via email or phone (03) 9349 7999.

Climate Justice Roundtable – What does the ‘climate-just’ Australian city look like?

Tuesday 29 November, 9am-12.30pm
RMIT Storey Hall, Building 16, Level 7 Conference Rms 1 & 2
*Limited places*
The aim of this roundtable is to bring together a caucus of diverse members of our community to identify and advance climate justice imperatives and opportunities within the Australian city context. The emphasis is on collaborative engagement, deliberation and dialogue focused around key questions such as: What is the climate-just city? How do the practices and stories of climate justice connect people with other elements of the natural world? How does the notion of a ‘climate just’ city challenge, complement, or replace current rights and privileges? Who dominates, who benefits and who gets left behind? Please join us for this inaugural event of the Australian climate justice research network (ACJRN) jointly hosted by the VLGA, Griffith University, Curtin University, Macquarie University, Monash University and RMIT. See our website for the registration flyer.

Other events

Better Roads, Better Buses, Better Trains
Wednesday 16 November, 8.45am-1pm
Monash University Berwick Campus, Lecture Theatre G121 Building 903
100 Clyde Rd, Berwick, Melways ref. 111 C10
This forum has been organised by City of Casey on the state of the Monash Freeway and public transport in Melbourne’s south-east. For more details and to register see the Casey City Council website.

Sustainability Victoria quarterly forum – Distributed Generation
Friday 25 November, 9.30-11.30am
Sustainability Victoria
Level 28, 50 Lonsdale St, Melbourne (also via web cast)
Sustainability Victoria invites you to the latest of its quarterly forums for local government officers and managers. Distributed generation of electricity can play a key role in energy management in Victoria and provides great opportunities for local governments. Navigating the process can be difficult but there is help at hand. This forum looks at the benefits of distributed generation and will launch Sustainability Victoria's guide to getting grid connected. You will also hear how distribution businesses view distributed generation and from the project manager of a successful installation.
Presentations will include:
* Michael Williamson, Sustainability Victoria: Distributed generation – the next frontier for energy
* John Edgoose, Sustainability Victoria: Distributed Generation Connection Guide – Sustainability Victoria's new guide for linking into the electricity network
* Joe Thomas, Powercor Australia: How the distribution business looks at distributed energy
* Rick Kwasek, Boroondara City Council: Ashburton Smart Energy Zone – implementing a shared cogen energy system
RSVP by 5pm Tuesday 22 November to email Nick Bailey or phone (03) 8626 8824.

5th ‘State of Australian Cities’ National Conference
Tuesday 29 November – Friday 2 December
University of Melbourne, Parkville
Australia’s society and economy are dominated by its cities and regions, and the future of Australia’s environment is also linked to urban sustainability. The State of Australian Cities is a national forum, held biennially, to share scholarship directed at the complex and multidimensional issues facing us as an urban nation. Australian cities are highly ranked internationally for their liveability, and have continued to grow strongly through a global financial crisis. Yet we are confronted with significant challenges. These challenges should not blind us to opportunities. For the first time in two decades, the Federal Government is talking about the need to address the infrastructure gap in cities. A growing body of urban researchers is interested in the policy implications of their work, while policy-makers are increasingly turning to the developing evidence base. Unlikely coalitions are springing up to address intertwined social, economic, environmental, governance, and infrastructure issues.

7 November 2011

VLGA President’s Message
Last Thursday night’s Annual General Meeting was one of the most enjoyable in recent years. As well as dealing with the usual AGM business, including the receipt of our Treasurer’s Report with a modest surplus of $72,626, and other highlights included in our 2010-2011 Annual Report, I also had the great pleasure on behalf of the Board to confer Life Membership status on Liana Thompson. VLGA Life Memberships celebrate a continuous and outstanding commitment to the VLGA, the Victorian community and local government sector. I had the opportunity to reflect on some of the historical accounts of the VLGA’s journey, including those of our Governance Patron Hayden Raysmith – ‘Remembering the past’, and Life Member Mike Hill – ‘Making the future’. When you read these historical accounts, it’s easy to be proud of all those involved with the VLGA, and to understand that the future of the VLGA is strongly shaped by values. We are a very committed bunch, and it makes me very proud to be your President. Many laughs were had and wonderful speeches of thanks were made, acknowledging Liana’s incredible commitment to the sector. Yes Liana, you may indeed be a self-described ‘local government tragic’, but we love you for it! Our guest speaker was Child Safety Commissioner Bernie Geary OAM, who reminded us that communities and local governments can ‘get involved’ with solutions to the dreadful abuse many young people experience. Bernie’s frank delivery is refreshing, and his messages to local governments and communities simple. We should not see vulnerable young people as a problem. Rather, we should invest in truly inclusive ways to support them. And this does not mean imposing ‘top-down’ solutions but ‘fair dinkum involvement’ with vulnerable young people. A truly challenging yet inspiring speech, and I encourage you to view the webcast. I hope to see many of you at our end of year function on Thursday 1 December – invites will be sent to you shortly. I look forward to seeing you around and about. 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

ALGA finalises position on Constitutional Recognition
As previously discussed in this eNews, the campaign for constitutional recognition is being led by the Australian Local Government Association (ALGA), including their Victorian constituent, the Municipal Association of Victoria (MAV). The VLGA has determined not to duplicate this approach, but to make submissions on the basis of our knowledge of our members’ overall views and our approach to the key issues which support and build capacity for local government. Our Board has resolved to support the ALGA campaign for constitutional recognition. Key issues made by the VLGA in our submission to the Expert Panel include:
* Democratic local government should be recognised in the Australian Constitution as the third level of government in Australia; and
* This recognition should be in a way which guarantees, constitutionally, the capacity of the Australian Government to fund local governments directly when this is appropriate. We note that ALGA has now finalised its position which is stated in its submission to the Expert Panel on Constitutional Recognition of Local Government. Notwithstanding the difficulty of achieving any change to Australia’s constitution, ALGA has based its position on extensive polling and member consultation, establishing that the majority of Australians support recognition, and figures rise significantly in relation to ALGA’s preferred position of financial recognition. The VLGA encourages all members to be aware of ALGA’s position, as we will all need to work hard to convince our communities that this change is worth supporting.

Smoke-free policies in outdoor areas: A 2011 survey of Victorian local governments
On 3 November 2011 the Heart Foundation and Quit Victoria released a report – 2011 survey of Victorian local governments following a survey undertaken earlier this year. The survey found that as of May 2011, 32 local governments (41 per cent) had smoke-free policies in some outdoor areas. Of the 79 local governments in Victoria:
* Nineteen local governments (24 per cent) had policies that cover entrances of council owned buildings
* Seventeen local governments (22 per cent) had smoke-free swimming pools * Six local governments (8 per cent) had smoke-free playgrounds.
* Two local governments had smoke-free beaches.
The Heart Foundation and Quit Victoria have developed a resource kit to assist local governments adopt smoke-free policies in outdoor areas. You can download the resource kit here. For more information on smoke-free outdoor areas please contact Kate Bolaffi, Policy and Project Officer at the Heart Foundation on (03) 9321 1508 or via email.

Participation: The Happiness Connection
IAP2 have alerted us to the release of the online Journal of Public Deliberation which is hot off the press. The journal contains an article by Brian Martin and Chris Barker called Participation: The Happiness Connection which you can access here. Here’s an excerpt of the article which is definitely worth a read: ‘participation in decision-making has the potential to contribute to greater happiness. To explore this connection, we examine three areas: the family, the workplace and politics. In each of these areas, happiness research suggests that greater participation should increase happiness, most directly via the channels of personal relationships and helping others. There is some empirical research suggesting that participation contributes to happiness. It is useful to consider the connections between the three areas. In particular, examination of participation-happiness connections within families and workplaces can provide some insights for promoting a stronger connection at the level of politics’.

Exclusive Urban Climate Justice Research Network (UCJRN) Roundtable
What does the ‘climate-just’ Australian city look like? Please join us in Melbourne for this inaugural and exclusive event of the Urban climate justice research network (UCJRN) jointly hosted by the VLGA, Griffith University, Curtin University, Macquarie University, Monash University and RMIT. The roundtable will be held on Tuesday November 29 from 9am-12.30pm and will be held at RMIT Storey Hall, Building 16, Level 7 Conference Rooms 1 & 2 (342 Swanston Street, Melbourne). Numbers are limited to 60, so to register your interest in being part of the network and/or to RSVP attendance to the Melbourne roundtable please email the VLGA via email or call (03) 9349 7999 by close of business Thursday November 24, 2011. The aim of this roundtable is to bring together a caucus of diverse members of our community to identify and advance climate justice imperatives and opportunities within the Australian city context. The emphasis is on collaborative engagement, deliberation and dialogue focused around key questions such as - what is the climate-just city? How do the practices and stories of climate justice connect people with other elements of the natural world? How does the notion of a ‘climate just’ city challenge, complement, or replace current rights and privileges? Who dominates, who benefits and who gets left behind? The key objectives of the roundtable are to:
* Identify key issues and opportunities for achieving the climate-just Australian city
* Better understand how different groups (e.g. policy and decision makers, advocacy and service practitioners, and communities) imagine, conceptualise and practice climate justice at various scales; and
* Advance (with a view to applying) innovative/creative methods for putting climate justice issues into urban policy practice within the context of Australian cities

Exciting new training opportunity from ECO-Buy in partnership with Social Traders - Social Procurement masterclass
Social procurement is key in the development of social enterprise as it recognises and places value on the benefits that social enterprises provide. In so doing it increases the amount of work available to social enterprises. This masterclass on Monday 17 November 2011, 9am-4pm will be presented by Mark Daniels of Social Traders. For more details and to register your place, please use this link. Members of ECO-Buy are entitled to a discount on this full day course. Details are on the registration form. Prompt registration will be appreciated on behalf of the facilitators.

On the edge: peri-urban food production
It’s not often we publish poems in this eNews but we thought we would make an exception for a very important topic – the survival (or otherwise) of peri-urban farming land to ensure that Victoria’s food supply is protected. These issues (including food security) were recently discussed at a forum run by Village Well, called ‘On The Edge: a forum on sustainability around Australian Cities’. You can view the presentations here. The following poem was read out by Gillian Stewart, the Mornington Peninsula Shire’s Rural Business Officer.

A Peri-Urban Space – for all and one to grace!!
On the edge of the big cities but before the bush does start
Lies a very important region that separates the two apart
It is known as peri urban, where a lot is going on
More than most imagine in this divide amongst the throng
Peri urban must you ask, what on earth does all that mean?
Well if you’ve got some interest I can set for you the scene
It takes no time to travel down the freeway with much ease
To open, green, wide paddocks scattered all amongst the trees
To look a little closer though one clearly can observe
Paddocks full of ripening produce up against a road reserve
For the space is quite restricted, with high demand to fill the gaps
With houses, sheds and buildings and put new suburbs on the maps
A peri-urban paradise that is what you all can see
The ocean, hills and shopping all in close proximity
There’s food ‘n’ fun and fabulous adventures near and far
All within a driving distance from the city in a car
They come in droves; they move their gear a tree change does belie
Whilst working up the city on the freeway they do fly
And others are so lucky for they live and work and play
Each day in peri urban mode, there is no other way
But we cannot take for granted that all will be OK
For life is ever changing much to ones dismay
Demand for land so precious it is a matter of such course
And we need to make so sure we protect our main resource
So bear a thought please can you so for the soils and the water
For we need to value what we have we really really oughta
The birds, the trees, the landscape are the assets to behold
We sit on what could be so termed our rich but natural gold
For these regions they are fragile and we must take the best of care
To ensure they are protected and enhance their natural flair
They are deemed for all and sundry, the landscape and the hedges
Known so far and wide as the city’s critical green wedges
So pause a moment, take a breath and scan the view around
And help your peri-urban region stand its fragile ground

National Food Plan Update and Perth Declaration on Food Security
Speaking of food security, on Thursday 27 October, Senator Joe Ludwig, the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, announced the next steps in developing the National Food Plan at a Rural Press Club event in Melbourne. As outlined by the Heart Foundation in a bulletin sent out late last week, the key announcements were:
* There will be a 2-stage process for development of the National Food Plan. A green paper will be released for public consultation, outlining the objectives for the National Food Plan and potential policy changes (no indication yet of when the green paper will be released). Following consultation, the National Food Plan will be released as a white paper
* The objectives for the National Food Plan have been finalised and are documented in the Minister’s media release:
o Identifying and mitigating potential risks to Australia’s food security
o Contributing to global food security
o Reducing barriers to a safe and nutritious food supply that responds to the evolving preferences and needs of all Australians and supports population health
o Supporting the long-term economic, environmental and social sustainability of Australia’s food supply chain
o Supporting the global competitiveness and productivity growth of the food supply chain, including through research, science and innovation
o Reducing barriers faced by food businesses to access international; and domestic markets
o Contributing to economic prosperity, employment and community wellbeing in regional Australia

The Minister’s speech at the Rural Press Club picked up on a number of points raised in submissions to the National Food Plan issues paper. Most submissions to the National Food Plan including the VLGA National Food Plan Submission are now available on the website. Information is now also available on the National Food Plan website about the Roundtables that were held in August and September. Also, over the weekend, the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in Perth agreed a set of principles for addressing food security, known as the Perth Declaration on Food Security. This is what Julia Gillard had to say about the Declaration at her press conference:
“We also recognised that food security is one of the most difficult and pressing challenges facing the world. Half the world's one billion hungry are in the Commonwealth and we've all seen incredibly distressing humanitarian situations in the Horn of Africa and that crisis in the Horn of Africa highlights the challenge. Leaders noted that population growth and scarce land and water are intensifying pressures on food security. The challenge is simply huge. Global production will need to increase by 70 per cent by 2050 to feed an expected global population of 9.3 billion people. Leaders agreed to the Perth Declaration on food security, setting out principles that should guide us as we grapple with this challenge. The declaration commits us to the importance of reducing barriers to trade in agriculture, improving agricultural productivity and making it easier for farmers in developing countries to grow food and to get it to markets. That is, it addressed food security both in the sense of immediate issues of aid, but also in the sense of improving capacity for food security through agricultural research, lifting productivity and through the better functioning of markets”

Social connection program for problem gamblers: can you help?
Contemporary research is showing that problem gamblers are more likely to be isolated from family, friends and other social and support networks. Some local governments are already acting on this research by running ‘social connection projects’. Moreland’s ‘MoreConnect Project’ builds on the (Re)Making Meaning Project model, which was a highly successful and well-evaluated pilot project funded by the Department of Justice last year, and run as a partnership project by Chrysalis Insight Inc, Gamblers Help Eastern & the VLGA. ‘MoreConnect’ builds the social confidence of former problem gamblers to use alternative entertainment in and around Moreland. It is the first of its kind being run at a local government level, made possible by the revenue raised by a differential rate on gaming venues. This project does not focus on gambling problems, but rather on re-finding meaning and joy in life after gambling. It links people in with activities, non-gaming entertainment and programs already running in Moreland at low or no cost (many of them local government programs). It promotes local non-gaming businesses in Moreland. The active part of the project starts next weekend, with a weekend 'join-up' experience for all participants and volunteers. The subsequent 7 months will see participants and the support volunteers take part in regular get-togethers which will be a mixture of educational, mentoring and social opportunities. If you know of participants who could benefit from this program, or you would like to volunteer, there are still 7 participant places and 4 volunteer places to fill. If you can help in anyway please call Gabriela Byrne on 0408 707 871.

Events for your diary

VLGA events Essential Councillor Retreat: making the 4th year count!
Friday 18 – Saturday 19 November
Peppers The Sands Resort Torquay
It’s not too late to register for the Essential Councillor Retreat will feature a number of expert-led practical workshops and networking opportunities pertinent to how councillors approach the 4th year of the council term. There will be a focus on: identifying and addressing public emotion and outrage; engaging effectively with local communities; taking stock and leaving a legacy; governing in the final year of council’s term; and ‘beyond Facebook and Twitter: communicating in ways that suit community needs’. You can download the program and registration form from our website.

Making human rights real – Warrnambool, Melbourne and Ballarat workshops
Tuesday 8 November (Warrnambool)
Wednesday 16 November (Melbourne CBD)
Friday 18 November (Broadmeadows) Tuesday 22 November (Ballarat)
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 workshops are funded by the Commonwealth Attorney-General's Department as part of a project to identify the importance of human rights education. 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 – and use case studies to highlight human rights and how to support human rights for people in local communities. The next workshops will be held in:
* Warrnambool: Tuesday 8 November, 10am-1pm; South West TAFE, Timor St, Warrnambool (OEA Conference and Events Centre Building B, Level 3, WB3.28)
* Melbourne CBD: Wednesday 16 November, 10am-2pm; RMI T University, Melbourne (corner Russell & Victoria Streets, Building 13, Level 3, Room 07)
* Broadmeadows: Friday 18 November, 10am-1pm; Hume Global Learning Centre Council Chamber, 1093 Pascoe Vale Road, Broadmeadows
* Ballarat: Tuesday 22 November, 10am-1pm; Ballarat Town Hall – Trench Room, Sturt St, Ballarat

To register for the workshops, please phone Michelle at VCOSS on (03) 9654 5050 or register online for the workshop closest to you. To see the workshop flyers, click on our VLGA Events Calendar. For further information, contact the VLGA’s Human Rights Policy & Project Officer, Gary Jungwirth, via email or phone (03) 9349 7999.

Other events

North East Branch ALGWA ‘Think women for local government 2012’ Forum
Saturday 12 November, 1-4pm
Strathbogie Shire Civic Centre, Bury Street, Euroa
To be opened by Hon Jeanette Powell MP, this forum will share information and support the North East Local Government Women’s Association in encouraging women candidates for the local government elections in 2012. Enquiries and RSVP to Cr Marg Attley, North East ALGWA President, on 0400 256 035 or via email; or to Cr Colleen Furlanetto, North East ALGWA (Interim) Secretary, on 0427 537 522 or via email.

Community power conference: Australian communities taking charge of their energy use
Monday 14 – Tuesday 15 November
Capital Theatre, View Street, Bendigo
Are you looking for practical, achievable ways to reduce the impact of electricity price rises in your community? This conference aims to showcase how regional Australian communities are developing innovative energy projects; helping to reduce local economic shocks; and can take practical action to hedge against rising energy prices. The Centre for Sustainable Regional Communities, in its third biennial conference on renewable energy, is partnering with the Central Victoria Solar City project, part of the Australian Government’s Solar Cities program, and the City of Greater Bendigo, to deliver an exciting exploration of current energy efficiency and renewable energy strategies and actions being taken by Australian communities. For more information and to register, go here.

9th Annual Victorian Transport Infrastructure Conference
Tuesday 15 – Wednesday 16 November
Melbourne
As an endorsing partner, the VLGA has secured a massive 50% discount for our members to this conference. With a strong focus on issues relevant to local governments, guest presenters include Ballarat and Melbourne CEOs Anthony Schinck and Dr Kathy Alexander. 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.

Deadly In Gippsland Conference
Thursday 17 – Friday 18 November
Sale
Brought to you by the Sale Local Indigenous Network and Wellington Shire, the program has a mix of whole of conference and breakout sessions. You will be able to choose from an excellent range of speakers, primarily showcasing Gippsland initiatives and partnerships, for the conference topic areas of:
* Sustainable Futures: learning and employment (including training, mentoring initiatives)
* Walking Together: promoting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture and strengthening Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities
* Health and Well-being

The conference aims to:
* Strengthen partnerships between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal people, organisations and communities
* Promote Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander talent and showcase regional initiatives
* Highlight the ‘deadly’ work being done by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in their communities

The Conference registration deadline has been extended to Monday 7 November. Go here to register your place at Deadly in Gippsland, and see the Program here.

5th ‘State of Australian Cities’ National Conference
Tuesday 29 November – Friday 2 December
University of Melbourne, Parkville
Australia’s society and economy are dominated by its cities and regions, and the future of Australia’s environment is also linked to urban sustainability. The State of Australian Cities Conference is a national forum, held biennially, to share scholarship directed at the complex and multidimensional issues facing us as an urban nation. Australian cities are highly ranked internationally for their liveability, and have continued to grow strongly through a global financial crisis. Yet we are confronted with significant challenges. These challenges should not blind us to opportunities. For the first time in two decades, the Federal Government is talking about the need to address the infrastructure gap in cities. A growing body of urban researchers is interested in the policy implications of their work, while policy-makers are increasingly turning to the developing evidence base. Unlikely coalitions are springing up to address intertwined social, economic, environmental, governance, and infrastructure issues.

Local government promising practice forum – preventing violence against women
Wednesday 14 December, 12.30-5.00pm
Department of Human Services, 1st Floor, 50 Lonsdale Street, Melbourne
The MAV’s Local Government and Community Partnerships Program – preventing Violence Against Women will hold this forum as part of their process of developing a PVAW Leadership Statement. For more information and to register, contact Project Coordinator Sophie Gale via email or (03) 9667 5555.