* the roles and responsibilities of all levels of government
* how local impacts of change can be better planned for
* regulatory burdens facing local governments, and
* barriers and opportunities to better involve and consult local communities in planning and other important issues that have a large affect on them.
If you’ve not read the State Election Bulletin you can find it here. On another note, I hope to see you this Thursday at our Special General Meeting (SGM) at 7.30pm to consider changes to our Constitution, following our special forum on smoking in public places which starts at 5.30pm. Register online for the SGM here, and register for the Smoking in Public Places forum here or call the VLGA office on (03) 9349 7999.
State Election Updates
Planning
As I have said before, the VLGA is actively supporting the MAV’s Call to Parties, and in particular their planning and decision-making recommendations. These are shared by the VLGA as discussed in our Planning Local Communities Together Kit sent to members. As noted by the MAV, the Victorian Greens have prioritised the restoration of planning decision making to local governments and communities. They also support a reduction in local government regulation through a whole-of-government review, as well as mandatory Regulatory Impact Statements. View the full Greens response, and see their Urban and Land Use Planning policy. The sector is now looking to all major parties for their responses to our shared concerns over the next two weeks. In the meantime you can see the Labor Party's policies here, the Liberal Party’s policies here, and the National Party’s policies here.
Today I would like to concentrate on two policy areas where we believe the major parties need to go that step further in the next two weeks to benefit local communities and local governments. These include making pokies and online gambling safe, as well as affordable housing.
Making pokies and online gambling safe
Our Local Government Working Group on Gambling (LGWGOG) today launched our 2010 State Election Platform: addressing the local impacts of gambling and supporting communities to have their say. We are calling on major parties to make pokies and online gambling safe, and to return decision-making on pokies applications to local communities.
Local governments and communities experience the impacts of homelessness, debt, bankruptcy, poverty, cost-of-living pressures, family breakdown and violence, mental illness, and crime every day. Yet debates about pokies and online gambling losses are stuck in a time-warp. Industry strenuously defends free markets, arguing that the impacts of gambling are individual rather than community problems. If we look objectively at the impacts of problem gambling, it is impossible to separate the individual costs from family and community impacts. To see the 18 recommendations included in the Platform, the Launch Speech by LGWGOG Chair Felicity Leahy, and the full Media Release go here.
Affordable Housing
I was pleased to see Housing Minister Richard Wynne announce plans for a $475 million stock transfer of 1,500 properties to Victoria’s Housing Associations. As the VLGA’s Diverse and Affordable Housing Advisory Group member, the Community Housing Federation of Victoria, observed late last week, this sends the strongest possible signal to the community housing sector that it has an integral role to play in beating the housing affordability crisis. Labor and the Greens are clearly articulating policies the VLGA and our members have been calling for. I hope the Liberal and National Parties make further announcements to grow the supply of all forms of affordable housing, which is more than a simple market response. In early December our Diverse and Affordable Housing Advisory Group will launch a plan for State and local government collaboration to address the housing affordability crisis.
New ALGA President – Cr Genia McCaffery
For only the second time in its history (the first being former VLGA CEO, Rae Perry), the Australian Local Government Association (ALGA) elected a woman President, Cr Genia McCaffery, at its annual general meeting held in Canberra last week. The Mayor of North Sydney, Cr Genia McCaffery was previously President of the Local Government Association of New South Wales for six years and has been a Director of ALGA since June 2006. Cr McCaffery said that it was an exciting time to be heading the national body which represents Australia's 565 councils. Along with the ongoing work on constitutional recognition and infrastructure funding, Cr McCaffery said that she hoped to address planning and natural resources management during her time as President. Cr McCaffery also paid tribute to her predecessor as ALGA President, Cr Geoff Lake – he has been an energetic and hard-working advocate for local government, and in his two years as President achieved much for Australia's communities. On behalf of members, I would also like to acknowledge Cr Lake’s efforts, and congratulate Cr McCaffery and others elected to the ALGA executive. We look forward to working with ALGA in the future. To see more information, including ALGA’s priorities over the next year, go here.
VLGA advocacy on the Transport Integration Act
As members may be aware, the new Transport Integration Act commenced on 1 July 2010. The new Act brings together the transport portfolio – including ports and marine – under the one statute for the first time in Victoria’s history and replaces the Transport Act 1983 as Victoria’s primary transport legislation. The Act makes it clear that the transport system needs to be sustainable – in economic terms, in environmental terms and in social terms – establishing transport as a ‘triple bottom line’ issue. The new Act requires all transport agencies – including DOT, Director of Public Transport, VicRoads, VicTrack, V/Line, the Port of Melbourne Corporation, the Victorian Regional Channels Authority and the Linking Melbourne Authority – to work together toward the common goal of an integrated and sustainable transport system. The new Act also focuses on linkage to integrated transport outcomes. Accordingly the legislation recognises the critical role land-use agencies play in securing triple bottom line outcomes for transport across Victoria. It also means that land-use agencies that make transport-related decisions need to take account of the policy framework in the new Act when making decisions that impact on the transport system. These agencies include the Department of Planning and Community Development, local governments, the Growth Areas Authority and Parks Victoria.
The VLGA is represented on the Interface Bodies Working Group. This group represents primary interface bodies and provides a forum for discussion and open exchange of expertise and information to address and resolve matters arising from the implementation of the new framework. The TIA Significant Impact Final Working Draft is currently with the Interface Bodies to trial, prior to the Working Group reconvening in February 2011 to present further comment. In the interim comment on the Significant Impact Final Working Draft is sought from the Working Group. If you have a specific interest in this area and wish to provide comment please contact our CEO, Maree McPherson via email or on (03) 9349 7901.
White Ribbon Day – eliminating violence against women
Thank you to members for bringing their White Ribbon Day (25 November) events to our attention as a result of last week’s eNews. It is great to see local government and community momentum build over the last few years. Both Greater Geelong and Strathbogie are supporting regional events which use imagination and creativity to highlight action on this very serious community issue. The Geelong event on 23 November will see participants form a large human white ribbon on the oval at Skilled Stadium. Guest speakers, entertainment and a sausage sizzle will also form part of the event. For more information on the Geelong event, go here.
Strathbogie will host a White Ribbon event in Euroa as part of the Great Victorian Bike Ride with over 5000 riders and support teams. They will also participate in a concert in Nagambie with Shannon Noll at Mitchelton Wines on 1 December. For more information about Strathbogie events email Cr Colleen Furlanetto or phone 0427 537 522. For more information on events taking place in your community go here, or let us know about your event by emailing the details to the VLGA.
VLGA events for your diary
Special Forum: Local Government Smoke-Free Policies in Outdoor Areas
Thursday 18 November, 5.30pm
VLGA Carlton
More information and register here.
VLGA Special General Meeting (Constitution)
Thursday 18 November, 7.30pm
VLGA Carlton
Draft Constitution here.
CASPN Conference: After Sorry, What Next? Local government connecting with Aboriginal communities
Wednesday 24 November, 9.00am-5.00pm
Northcote Town Hall
More information and register here.
Other events
Providing Bus Priority - Dr Nick Hounsell (UK)
Thursday 25 November, 1-3pm
Department of Transport Theatrette, 5th Floor, 121 Exhibition Street, Melbourne
Dr Nick Hounsell (University of Southampton) and Professor Graham Currie (Monash University) will present this workshop on Optimisation of Public Transport Priority Initiatives, using Bus Priority in London as a case study. Further information, including an agenda, is available on the VLGA's Thinking Transport website.Thursday 25 November, 1-3pm
Department of Transport Theatrette, 5th Floor, 121 Exhibition Street, Melbourne
ALGWA National Conference
Thursday 25 – Saturday 27 November
North Ryde, NSW
More information and register here.
Cr Heinz Kreutz
President
0438 006 656 or heinz@vlga.org.au
