It was wonderful to be in the Wimmera last Wednesday on such a delightful day, when our CEO Maree McPherson and I visited our member councillors and senior executive at the Horsham Rural City Council. We discussed a range of issues including the region’s need for more accurate and timely weather information and native vegetation issues. Last Thursday I enjoyed speaking at the Capire (Space) x (People) forum, and you can download a copy of Capire’s community engagement toolkit in an article below. On Thursday the VLGA hosted our April Leading Edge Forum a week early due to the pending Easter break, on the topic of ‘Waste: emerging issues and collaborations’. We were grateful to hear from the CEO of Sustainability Victoria, Stan Krpan about future directions for SV. On the topic of waste, major television and computer brands have combined their efforts to deliver a free national recycling program commencing in July 2012, aimed at cutting e-waste across Australia. The companies have committed to fund and operate a national e-waste recycling service that will cover metropolitan, regional and remote areas of Australia under the umbrella the Australia and New Zealand Recycling Platform Limited. To find out more about this initiative go here. It’s worth noting, too, that residents can now recycle their unwanted expanded polystyrene (EPS) for free at the Monash Waste Transfer Station. An estimated seven million wheelie bins worth of polystyrene packaging is thrown out in Australia each year and it is hoped the new program will help reduce the amount sent to landfill. I look forward to seeing you about the place at various events and on my visits. In the meantime please don’t hesitate to give me a call on 0407 364 509, or drop me a line via email. Cheers.
Cr Samantha Dunn, President
Keeping you up to date
Can’t state governments still have worthwhile climate action targets?
Last Tuesday, Minister for Environment and Climate Change Ryan Smith released the findings of the independent Review of the Climate Change Act 2010 which was triggered by the introduction of legislation for the Federal Government's emissions trading scheme. Minister Smith said the review “found no compelling case to maintain the (Victorian) target” when a national scheme was in place. The VLGA notes with some dismay that both the Victorian and Queensland state governments’ moves away from state-based climate action schemes and their views that these become redundant under the Australian Government’s carbon pricing legislation. In this article from The Conversation, Martin C Jones, a researcher in Environmental Economics at the University of New South Wales, argues that state climate schemes are still worthwhile under a federal carbon price.
Funding support for Heritage Advisory services
The VLGA welcomes last Friday's announcement from Minister for Planning Matthew Guy that 36 local governments across Victoria will receive funding towards the provision of Heritage Advisory Services for 2011-12. We note in the Minister's media release that the funds are designed to provide Heritage Advisory Services through the appointment of an experienced professional to provide free advice to owners of heritage places, assist councils with the management of heritage assets, and promote heritage conservation in municipalities.
VLGA Submission to the Waste Policy Review – feedback wanted
The Minister for Environment and Climate Change, the Hon Ryan Smith MP has announced a review on waste policy in Victoria. The review will examine the strategic, legislative, institutional and investment settings that influence the nature and performance of waste management in Victoria. Given the VLGA’s strong advocacy position on waste management, we will be drafting a submission to the review and would like to invite contributions from members and stakeholders. To submit comments and feedback, contact Jieh-Yung Lo on 9349 7980 or via email. Responses to the discussion paper will be accepted until 3 May 2012.
Grattan Institute releases Social Cities report
Last week, the Grattan Institute released its latest report entitled Social Cities. The report examines ways to make cities better places to live by increasing opportunities to connect with other people. It further examines how the design and functioning of a city, from transport networks to the availability of parks and sporting grounds to the architecture of public spaces and buildings, can help bring people together or keep them apart. The VLGA believes that thorough community engagement is critical, especially in developing strategic plans for local communities.
How full is full?
Australia’s future population is again under the spotlight. The Committee for Economic Development of Australia (CEDA) has released a new report on Australian population futures. And, just like in Melbourne, focus has sharpened on Sydney’s future population. In this article from The Conversation by Anthony Capon, Professor of Public Health at the University of Canberra, attention is given to how to plan effectively for a big, sustainable and healthy city.
Cultural Diversity Strategy launched in Shepparton
As part of Cultural Diversity Week last week, the City of Greater Shepparton launched its first Cultural Diversity and Inclusion Strategy. The strategy, adopted by Council and launched by the Minister for Local Government Jeanette Powell, outlines how the City will address issues important to people from culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) backgrounds. The 2006 census recorded 6,198 people born overseas in the Greater Shepparton local government area.
Wyndham City challenges local governments to make the ‘Fatality Free Friday’ pledge
Last week, Wyndham City Council became the first Australian local government to ‘take the pledge’ of the national 2012 Fatality Free Friday campaign. The Fatality Free Friday Road Safety pledge is a promise to ‘drive to stay alive’ and to help achieve the overall aim of Fatality Free Friday: not a single road death in Australia for just one day – Friday 25 May 2012. Wyndham Mayor Cr Kim McAliney officially committed the Council’s support of the 2012 Fatality Free Friday (FFF) program by signing the Road Safety Pledge. Fatality Free Friday, Australia’s only national community based road safety program, has grown since its inception in 2007 and on Friday 25 May events are being staged simultaneously in Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne, and Canberra. To find out more see the media release online.Entries open for Heart Foundation Healthy Community Awards 2012
Is your council working to create a healthy community? These awards recognise local governments for their contribution to improving heart health, and aim to encourage their ongoing commitment to creating healthy communities.
Award recipients have the opportunity to:
* Receive monetary prizes and a framed award
* Be recognised as an innovative leader in local government
* Be featured in promotional material
* Be recognised for improving the health and wellbeing of the local community
* Promote the benefits of residing or working in their local government area
Entries close 25 May 2012. For more information visit the Heart Foundation website.
Survey now open: Who’s Carrying the Can? Services for young people – what’s available and what are the gaps?
Do you provide services to young people in Victoria? VCOSS and the Youth Affairs Council of Victoria (YACVic) want to hear from you about what’s available and how the service system can better respond to young people’s needs. This project builds on the work undertaken by YACVic and VCOSS in 2006 which led to the Who’s Carrying the Can? A report into youth services gaps in Victoria report. You can access the survey online to complete it by 27 April 2012.
VLGA Events
Campaign Training: Essential campaigning for local government elections
Saturday 21 OR Saturday 28 April, 9am-5pm
60L meeting rooms, 60 Leicester St, Carlton
This full-day training program has been specifically designed for anybody considering standing for election in October 2012. Everything you need to know about successful campaigning, including:
* Communications basics and beyond – strategies to assert your points of difference
* Media basics and beyond – what the media and voters want to know
* Preferences and voting
* Tips for 150-word candidate statements
* Street stalls and doorknocking
* What you need to do between now and Election Day
There will be two opportunities to attend this training program (please choose one) – either Saturday 21 April or Saturday 28 April at the VLGA. Note that the program is identical for both days.
Pokies Assessments: a ‘how to’ short course
Monday 30 April or Thursday 3 May
VLGA, 60 Leicester St, Carlton
Everything you ever wanted to know about assessing the social and other impacts of pokies, and the context and history of pokies. This is the most comprehensive training program ever put together in Victoria and includes:
* Practical case studies, tools and guides
* Local Government Initiatives Marketplace – talk to people who’ve achieved results
* Gaming and planning processes
* Understanding community wellbeing
Designed for statutory and strategic planners, social and community planners, social researchers, health professionals and consultants, as well as councillors, this short course includes a comprehensive 120-page ‘step by step’ Training Manual. There will be two opportunities to attend this full-day training program (please choose one) – either Monday 30 April or Thursday 3 May at the VLGA. Cost is $245 VLGA Members and project contributors, $275 for non-members. Download the flyer, program and registration form from the VLGA website.
Other Events
‘Making Culture Count’ Conference
2-4 May 2012
Melbourne
The Cultural Development Network hosts the Making Culture Count: Rethinking Measures of Cultural Vitality, Well-being and Citizenship Conference, at the Woodward Conference Centre, University of Melbourne. The conference will feature 62 presenters from six Australian states and territories and eight other countries across Europe, Asia- Pacific and the Americas. Speakers will represent universities, government departments from four different countries, local governments, foundations, arts and community organisations as well as several independent artists and researchers. There is also a Pre-Conference Local Government Workshop: Measuring Cultural Vitality, and a Pre-Conference Postgraduate Masterclass.
Nonprofit Masterclass in Advanced Strategy, Risk and Governance – in the South-West
Monday 14 May
Lady Bay Resort, 2 Pertobe Rd, Warrnambool
Leading-edge strategies and tactics for nonprofit executives and Board members.
Do you have new Board members who would benefit from the latest in strategic thinking and governance practices? Would your Board benefit from renewal of energy to facilitate them to be even more strategic? Would you like the latest and most powerful strategies to get your Board truly engaged and making the decisions that create the future for the community you serve?
Steven Bowman, a leading international adviser in corporate and nonprofit conscious leadership, is presenting an intensive one-day Masterclass that will shake long-held beliefs about strategy, risk and governance. CEOs, senior executives, Chairs and Board members should not miss this event. Registrants will receive a free copy of the nonprofit e-book, The Conscious Chief Executive. Enquiries to Allan Bassett or Richard Zerbe at Community Southwest on (03) 5559 1032 or by email.
Alternative Futures Conference
21-24 May
Newcastle, NSW
Convened over three days in Newcastle City Precinct, NSW, the conference will deliver an exciting multidisciplinary event addressing climate and risk, land use planning, biodiversity conservation, liveable communities and urban design, and feature some of the leading thinkers and innovators from across Australia and overseas addressing many of the challenges facing regional Australia’s future planning and development. For more information contact Steve Wilson via email.
4th Annual Victorian Transport Infrastructure Conference
28-29 May
Melbourne Convention Exhibition Centre
Victoria is experiencing an infrastructure backlog to meet growing economic and community needs. The State Government has begun planning and investment to address the backlog and realise Victoria's potential. This conference will discuss the prioritisation, planning and delivery of critical transport infrastructure in Victoria.
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