I feel proud. Today we commemorate the fourth anniversary of the National Apology to the Stolen Generations. This morning, the Melbourne community gathered at Birrarung Marr in commemoration of this significant day in our nation’s history. Our partners, Reconciliation Victoria, co-hosted the event with a number of other organisations. Can you recall where you were and what you were doing when you watched the apology? If you wish to view the broadcast of the apology again you can see it here. We also note that in his time as Opposition spokesman for Indigenous Affairs, in 2009 current Opposition Leader Tony Abbott admitted publicly that the Coalition made a mistake by refusing to apologise to Australia's Indigenous population. Knowing that there is bipartisan support for this special day gives us hope and heart as we move further in the discussions about Constitutional recognition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples. In last week’s online edition of The Conversation, Prof Cheryl Saunders from the University of Melbourne discusses Indigenous recognition: we can’t afford to water down constitutional reform.
I look forward to seeing you out 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
Ministerial meetings … the year ahead
The VLGA has commenced our round of meetings with ministers, shadow ministers, advisors and various agencies for 2012, including with the Minister for Local Government and the Local Government Inspectorate. If members have matters that you would like us to raise, or to consider for our agendas for these meetings, please let us know by contacting our CEO, Maree McPherson via email.
Stonnington rules on 'air rights' case
Members may have seen media coverage concerning ‘air rights’ late last week. Stonnington City Council has sensibly ruled that a developer's unsuccessful attempts to buy ‘air rights’ over a neighbouring building to secure river views was not a planning, but rather a commercial matter. After the decision, experts such as Melbourne University planning expert Dr Alan March said the use of air rights was likely to become more common as Melbourne grows upwards. The question of whether local governments and planners need to consider the implications and regulation of ‘air rights’ will no doubt be tested at VCAT and in other places. In the meantime, the VLGA is keen to hear member views on the topic, and whether you think we should be facilitating discussions about these issues. To let us know your views and for more information, contact Darren Ray, Director Policy & Public Affairs on (03) 9349 7902 or via email.
Support for local government bushfire planning controls
Additional introductory bushfire planning training sessions have been scheduled for March 2012: Monday 5 March (Melbourne), Thursday 8 March (Ballarat) and Thursday 22 March (Mildura). A new session that focuses on preparing and assessing applications under the Bushfire Management Overlay will be scheduled for May in Melbourne. Details and bookings for all sessions are to be confirmed. The Victorian Bushfires Royal Commission highlighted the importance of ongoing compliance with bushfire related planning permit conditions.
Energy efficiency money for local government and communities and upgrades to buildings
Information sessions for the Federal Government’s Community Energy Efficiency Program and the Low Income Energy Efficiency Program will be held in Melbourne on Friday 24 February. Dates for the webinar live webcast and other locations are also on the Federal Government’s website. With many local governments concerned about the cost of the carbon tax, it is good to see more detail about the $100 million Low Income Energy Efficiency Program (LIEEP) which will support consortia of community organisations, local governments and energy service companies to trial energy efficiency approaches in low income households, as well as the $200 million Community Energy Efficiency Program (CEEP), which will support energy efficiency upgrades to local government and community-use buildings, facilities and lighting. Last week the program guidelines for the Community Energy Efficiency Program (CEEP) and the Low Income Energy Efficiency Program (LIEEP) were released. The programs open for applications today, Monday 13 February. Application guidance and information on how to apply will be available on the Department’s website. Applications for CEEP funding close on 23 March 2012; and Expressions of Interest for LIEEP must be submitted by 16 March 2012. Program guidelines and information has also been released for the Energy Efficiency Information Grants Program. Register online to attend an information session. If you are interested in receiving further information, contact the Department on 1800 779 638 or via email.Need more data on how many people ride bikes in your municipality?
The Australian Local Government Cycling Participation Survey 2012 will provide robust quantitative data about cycling in your municipality. This is an Australian Bicycle Council initiative, implemented with support from CDM Research and Bicycle Network. Participating municipalities will be provided with information about:
* % of residents that ride a bike in a typical week, month and year
* Bicycle riding participation by gender
* Bicycle riding participation by age
* The purpose of bicycle riding
* The number of bicycle trips and time spent riding, and
* The number of bicycles in households
You can see an example of the information you will get by looking at the Cairns Regional Council example. The interview fieldwork will be conducted by a specialist market research consultancy. There is a survey fee involved of $9,000 per municipality, which will provide for 100 interview hours, allowing for around 400 households to be interviewed. The data will allow you to set benchmarks for bicycle strategies, understand how residents use bicycles, and identify opportunities for behaviour change and promotions. For more information, please contact the Australian Bicycle Council via email.
Walking Maps – what's new?
If you haven’t seen them, Victoria Walks Walking Maps now have new functions and make it easier for you to map your favourite walks! Now you can extend your walk route, add and delete photos, and save and finish mapping your walk later. Victoria Walks have a whole lot more planned for the Walking Maps website so please stay tuned for the next exciting development. While you're at it, why not check out these fantastic walks?
* Aireys Inlet Cliff Top Walk
* Keelbundoora Scarred Trees and Heritage Trails
* Teen walkabout: From Preston to Fitzroy
Do you know an inspirational Melburnian?
The Melbourne Awards recognise and reward those who dedicate their time and energy to the City. Now in its tenth year, the awards are a chance to celebrate those who so often don’t seek recognition in their day-to-day life, but who inspire and challenge us all to help create a better Melbourne. The awards are free to enter and acknowledge those who make a significant contribution to either Melbourne’s sustainability, the health of the community or the City’s profile, and Melburnian of the year is also announced. There are many inspirational Melburnians who work hard all year round to create a better city. If you know someone deserving of recognition for their contribution to Melbourne life, please consider nominating them for a Melbourne Award. The Awards are the City’s highest accolades for individuals and organisations that selflessly forge the well-being and unique identity of Melbourne. For more information about the Awards and to nominate, please visit the Melbourne Awards website. Nominations close 28 March 2012.
Melbourne Civil and Infrastructure Design Seminar
Don't miss this opportunity to learn more about the latest best practices in civil and infrastructure design. Learn how to be more effective and efficient in your design work for 2012. The afternoon seminar on Friday 17 February at the Parkview Hotel on St Kilda Road will focus on how civil and infrastructure design teams can utilise a range of tools. To see more information about the program, go here.
VLGA Events
March Leading Edge Forum: Local governments and alcohol in the community
Thursday 1 March, from 6pm
Hosted by the City of Greater Geelong, City Hall, entry via Little Malop Street
Managing alcohol is a key responsibility for local governments. As community harms and costs resulting from alcohol harm become more widely understood there is increasing pressure for all levels of government to act and develop strategies that reduce alcohol related harm. Hosted by the City of Greater Geelong, this Leading Edge Forum will focus on the policy implications of packaged liquor, venue management and community health impacts. Join us in Geelong to hear a range of speakers presenting academic research and practical insights from councils on this important topic. Download the flyer, and register online or telephone (03) 9349 7999 to RSVP.
Other Events
‘Seek an answer’ Forum – Your Faith, Your Human Rights
Wednesday 22 February, 5.30-8.30pm
Hume Global Learning Centre, 1093 Pascoe Vale Rd, Broadmeadows
The Northern Interfaith Intercultural Network (NIIN) invites you to attend a community Question and Answer Forum to inform members of the Hume community, and Melbourne's northern region, of the role of the Victorian Charter of Human Rights and Responsibilities Act 2006 and provide them with an opportunity to ask questions regarding their human rights. This event will also provide participants with an opportunity to discuss the role of interfaith in our society. Panellists include: Reverend Mary Dight (Sunbury Christian Church), Jeanette Hourani (Victorian Immigrant and Refugee Women's Coalition), Gary Jungwirth (VLGA), Larry Marshall (Centre for Dialogue, La Trobe University) and Inspector Tony Ryan (Victoria Police). The MC for the evening will be Reverend Cynthia Page from the Hume Interfaith Network. RSVP by COB Monday 20 February to Melinda Allender via email.
Saving lives...reframing climate change around health and livelihoods
Monday 20 February, 5.30-6.45pm
Ground floor meeting room, 60 Leicester Street, Carlton
Environment Victoria, Doctors for the Environment Australia and Psychology for a Safe Climate invite you to join them for an evening forum to explore the communication of climate change as a health and human impacts issue. Keynote presentation by Daniel Voronoff, who works in the health and climate field and was previously an environmental campaigner for a Victorian NGO. This will be followed by a short panel discussion. Those working in the field of climate change policy, advocacy, campaigning and communications are encouraged to attend. See the flyer for more information and RSVP by emailing Victoria McKenzie-McHarg via email by Friday 17 February.
CEDA Conference: Enhancing Mobility – managing transport and road congestion
Wednesday 22 February
Hilton on The Park, Melbourne
It is estimated that by 2020, road congestion will cost the economy $20 billion in lost productivity. Road congestion frustrates businesses and consumers alike, and is a costly component of transport and logistics around Australia, an industry accounting for 14.5% of GDP and employing one tenth of Australia’s workforce. Clearly, increased congestion on road and transport infrastructure will necessitate increased capacity, accessibility and enhanced network planning. Managing congestion, both road and transport, has substantial benefits for business and the community. So, what steps are involved in reducing congestion?
* Aside from modifying existing or building additional infrastructure, how can we maximise infrastructure we already have?
* Can we better utilise technology and monitoring to alleviate congestion?
* Should we be looking for demand or supply side solutions?
For more information and to register go here.
‘Are Melbourne’s Growth Areas Sustainable?’
Wednesday 22 February, 4-6pm
Melbourne Town Hall, Swanston St, City
The Metropolitan Transport Forum (MTF) invites you to their February forum with MC Terry Laidler, and speakers including Bill Forrest, Meredith Sussex, Griff Davis, Janet Rice, Paul Hamilton, Peter Seamer and Prof Michael Buxton. MTF is hosting this event as part of the Sustainable Living Festival series of events during February 2012. There is no entry charge or booking required. For further details email MTF or go to http://festival.slf.org.au or www.thatsmelbourne.com.au.
2nd National Sustainable Food Summit
2-4 April
Dockside Sydney
This summit is a must-attend event for practitioners with an interest in how Australia's food system will transform to meet the challenge of feeding more people with less over the next century. The inaugural Summit held in April 2011, and attended by over 340 participants from diverse sectors and backgrounds, generated extraordinary consensus for the need to collaborate and continue the conversations necessary to generate change. 2012 may be pivotal for Australian food policy with the National Food Plan due for release. It is also appropriately the Australian Year of the Farmer and United Nations International Year of the Cooperative. The 2nd Annual National Sustainable Food Summit begins in Sydney on 3 April. A series of pre-conference workshops on 2 April 2012 have also been designed to bring people up to speed on the current issues and discussion from the 2011 summit. Anyone who is interested in this area can join the Sustainable Food System Conversation. This conversation is designed to feed into discussions at the Summit so will be particularly useful to attendees. For more information about the program and workshops, please email Cheryl phone 02 9555 2358.
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