VLGA President’s Message
It’s nice to be with you again after a short break from my eNews messages. On behalf of the VLGA Board, I sincerely welcome all councillors to the start of the term. Congratulations to all of you on being elected for the first time, or on your re-election. I am at the end of the phone if you have questions, and I look forward to meeting many of you in the next few weeks. On Thursday evening, in place of our usual Leading Edge Forum model, the VLGA welcomed The Hon Jeanette Powell, Minister for Local Government to meet with new councillors. Minister Powell congratulated councillors on their election and talked about the challenges and issues they will face in the four-year term ahead. This included setting rates at a level that enable services and infrastructure needs to be met, working co-operatively in the chamber, and managing the time commitments that come with the role. The Minister delivered an inspiring speech, and then joined me in a facilitated ‘Q and A’ event. Participants questioned the Minister on her views about voter turn-out figures, uncontested wards, the election campaign, attendance versus postal voting, the setting of differential rates (and how the recent legislation passed by the Parliament will affect this), rating strategies generally, and the direct election of the Mayor of Geelong. It was a terrific night and we continued to network after the formalities. I sincerely thank the Minister for her generous commitment of time and for spending so much of her evening mingling with and meeting new councillors. The Minister also strongly encouraged new councillors to take up as much training and development as they can. On that note, a number of you have expressed interest in the VLGA’s Essential Councillor Weekend. Please hurry to register as bookings are coming in quickly and we may reach capacity at the venue very soon. I hope to see you there. Please don’t hesitate to email or give me a call on 0407 364 509 if there’s anything you wish to discuss. Cheers.
Cr Samantha Dunn
President
Keeping you up to date
Staffing position at the VLGA
The VLGA is currently seeking applications for the position of Member Relations Officer, to commence in 2013. The role is responsible for VLGA membership and communications-related activity and requires flexibility, initiative and the ability to work within competing demands in a complex political environment. For application details, and to download a position description visit our website.
Celebrating young councillors
The VLGA is pleased to see a number of young people nominating and giving local government a go. Earlier this year, with the Youth Affairs Council of Victoria (YACVic) we hosted two interactive forums (in Melbourne and Bendigo) encouraging young people to get involved with their local councils. The VLGA has also supported a network of young councillors during the last term. While a number of young councillors across the State have been re-elected, there have also been positive results for municipalities where a youth perspective will be added to the mix for the first time, including at Ballarat, Boroondara, Kingston, and Wodonga.
ALGA welcomes Parliamentary Committee
President of the Australian Local Government Association (ALGA), Felicity-ann Lewis has welcomed Parliament's decision to support local government's call to establish a Parliamentary Committee as the next step towards a referendum on the constitutional recognition of local government. A motion to establish a 12 member Joint Select Committee to consider constitutional recognition of local government was carried in the House of Representatives last week. In a media release issued this week, the Municipal Association of Victoria (MAV) supported the national local government position for an amendment to section 96 of the Constitution. The MAV also noted that it is important for the referendum to be held at a time when it has the best possible chance of succeeding.
Energy Efficiency Programs – Grants Rounds recommence
The Australian Government has released the Guidelines for the next round of three energy efficiency programs under its Clean Energy Future initiative.
* Community Energy Efficiency Program – Round Two
Round Two of the Community Energy Efficiency Program (CEEP) Guidelines are available on the Department of Climate Change and Energy Efficiency website. Applications close at 5pm 7 February 2013. For further information phone 1800 830 922 or email.
* Low Income Energy Efficiency Program – Round Two
Round Two of the Low Income Energy Efficiency Program (LIEEP) Guidelines are available on the Department of Climate Change and Energy Efficiency website. The LIEEP Round Two EOIs will close at 5pm 13 December 2012. For further information phone 1800 609 507 or email.
* Energy Efficiency Information Grants Program - Round Two
Round Two Guidelines for the EEIG are available on the Department of Climate Change and Energy Efficiency website. Applications close 20 December 2012.
One Planet Living – Australian Tour comes to Melbourne on 16 November
This November, Pooran Desai the Co-Founder of BioRegional and One Planet Living, will be touring Australia to launch a new One Planet Living initiative that will make addressing sustainability issues easy, affordable and attractive for everyone. As part of this new initiative, BioRegional Australia will make the 'One Planet Framework' and 'Assessment Process' widely available (under an 'open source' structure) for use by corporate organisations, local governments and development projects. You are warmly invited to attend a series of public lectures and training courses that will be run during Pooran’s visit to Australia.
The 2016 Census – opportunity to have your say
Planning for the 2016 Census is underway and the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) is releasing a publication on 6 November proposing directions for the nation’s 17th national census. To coincide with the release, local governments and community organisations may be interested in ABS forums to be held in Melbourne on 26 and 27 November.
Public Infrastructure Bulletin and Built Environment
Bond University presents the Public Infrastructure Bulletin and Built Environment (PIB), edition 8. The PIB is an annual collection of articles from experienced practitioners and researchers collated by the Institute of Sustainable Development & Architecture. The Bond University website has a link to the PIB, Working Paper Archive and also contains copies of earlier editions of the Bulletin.
Events for your diary
VLGA Events
2012 VLGA Essential Councillor Weekend – ‘Year one… here we go!’
23-24 November
The Wyndham Resort, Torquay
Numbers are limited – so get in quickly. You can download the program and registration form from our website. These two days will feature a number of expert-led practical workshops and networking opportunities relevant to how councillors approach the first year of the new council term. To find out more contact Barbara Bennett, Administration Manager via email or telephone (03) 9349 7901.
2012 VLGA Christmas ‘thank you and celebration’
Thursday 6 December, 6-8pm
60 Leicester St, Carlton
Our final VLGA gathering for 2012 will be held on Thursday 6 December. Join us for our end-of-year thank you and celebration with council, community and government colleagues. We will also present the 2012 John Jago Award for Good Governance. Register here.
Other Events
Australian National Telework Congress 2012
Monday 12 November, 8.30am-4.30pm
University of Melbourne Basement Theatre, 198 Berkeley St Carlton
The Australian National Telework Congress 2012 will be the opening event of Australian Telework Week which runs from 12-16 November 2012, and aims to highlight the benefits teleworking provides to employees, employers and the community. The event brings together leaders from across Australia to increase the awareness of telework across the economy.
Child Protection and Cultural Diversity – better care into the future
Thursday 29 November, 9.30am-2.30pm
Jasper Hotel, 489 Elizabeth St, Melbourne
VICSEG New Futures and partners present this important state-wide event to raise awareness of the Protecting Victoria’s Vulnerable Children Inquiry report within the migrant and refugee community and to inform the responses of the child and family welfare sector to its recommendations. RSVP essential. Register online or email for further information.
VEOHRC Local Government forums
November-December
Melbourne, Wangaratta, Ararat, Mildura
The Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission (VEOHRC) is holding a series of human rights forums for local government in November and December. Local governments have asked for more support, training and information to help in their efforts to implement the Charter so these forums are geared towards developing skills to put human rights into practice in governance and service delivery roles. The four forums will be held on:
* 23 November in Melbourne
* 28 November in Wangaratta
* 5 December in Ararat
* 12 December in Mildura
Sustainability Accord Showcase
30 November
The Department of Sustainability and Environment (DSE) is holding an event to showcase recently completed Victorian Local Sustainability Accord (Accord) funded projects, and provide an opportunity to build knowledge and foster connectivity across sustainability and climate change driven projects. The event will feature presentations and displays hosted by those directly involved with Accord projects. Local and State Government staff, and industry professionals from across Victoria are invited to attend. In addition, a live stream of presentations and Q&A sessions will be available. For more information about the live stream and to register for the event, go here.
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