MAVBULLETIN
Rail Crossing Safety
The Premier this week announced that every rail crossing on a highway in regional Victoria will have flashing early warning signs as part of a comprehensive $33.2 million package to improve safety at level crossings across the state. The MAV has arranged a series of briefing sessions to ensure councils have the opportunity to hear about the latest developments in rail crossing safety. The one-hour briefings will be held at Camperdown Golf Club (3/7 at 1.30pm); Yarriambiack Shire Council Offices (5/7 at 11am); Latrobe City Council (10/7 at 1.30pm); and Benalla Performing Arts and Convention Centre (17/7 at 11am). This briefing will be useful for all local government officers who work in road management or engineering. For further information or to register for the sessions contact Eleanor Williams, 9667 5533, ewilliams@mav.asn.au.
MUNICIPAL ASSOCIATION OF VICTORIA • TOPICAL ISSUES, INITIATIVES AND EVENTS FOR THE SECTOR
1 July Smoking Ban
The Department of Human Services (DHS) has written to councils offering funding for after hours’ activities that may be required to enforce the new reforms coming into effect on 1 July to ban smoking in enclosed licensed premises. If councils elect not to conduct out-of-hours enforcement, DHS will take on this responsibility. DHS is also seeking council interest in undertaking proactive enforcement activities it is planning. Councils play a vital role in the enforcing the provisions of the Tobacco Act, and the service agreements providing funding for these activities continues to be a hallmark of the way state and local governments can work effectively together. Councils seeking the additional funding need to forward their expressions of interest by Friday, 6 July. Contact Jessica Farmer, 9096 0469, tobacco.policy@dhs.vic.gov.au or Simon Morgan. 9667 5538, smorgan@mav.asn.au
Future of Rail Freight
The MAV CEO has been appointed to the Committee of Review - Future of Rail Freight in Victoria. The Review, from 1 July - 30 November 2007 will assist the Government to consider options and recommendations for the future development of the rail freight network following the recent buy-back of the lease from Pacific National. It will be highly consultative with meetings across Victoria, submissions and a Stakeholders’ Reference Group. Other Committee members are the Hon. Tim Fischer, Peter Wilson, Kerry Murphy, Bruce McGowan, and John McQuilten. The MAV Transport and Infrastructure Advisory Group welcomes this appointment and has been promoting the need for local government representation on freight at the state level.
Small Towns
Derek Kemp, employment and economic development specialist is running a workshop called ‘Local Approaches to Economic and Employment Development’ on Wednesday 25 July from 10am – 3.30pm at Sofitel Melbourne. The workshop is being offered through the Small Towns Victoria Project and is open to councillors, CEOs, economic and community development officers and land-use planners from the 38 member councils of Rural Councils Victoria (RCV). Contact Taegen Edwards, 9667 5545, tedwards@mav.asn.au. On another note, the date for the Small Towns Summit has now been confirmed. It isThursday 23 – Saturday 25 August at Birchip Community Leisure Centre. Further details will be available in the coming weeks.
Disabled Parking
The MAV, in partnership with VicRoads and the Office for Disability, has engaged a consultant to undertake a project to further develop the principles and model for a revised disabled persons parking scheme in Victoria. This will build upon previous research which identified problems with the current scheme, including perceived abuse of the permit system, and inconsistency of application between municipalities. Further information will be provided soon. Contact Eleanor Williams, 9667 5533, ewilliams@mav.asn.au
Being Mayor
The MAV will convene a forum for councillors to understand more about the role of mayor, the context, the relationships and challenges. It will examine how relationships with community, councillors and staff may change on becoming mayor. It will explore how being both mayor and local representative creates challenges and explores what it means to become a public figure. This is a must attend for councillors considering running for mayor one day, or those wanting to better understand and support the role. The forum will be held on Friday 10 August from 10am – 4pm at MAV. Contact Andrew Rowe, 9667 5549, arowe@mav.asn.au
Annual Report Workshop
The Annual Report Workshop for Local Government will be held on Friday 27 July from 9.30am – 12.30pm at the MAV. It will cover how to produce an effective annual report and ways to make the process easier. The workshop aims to assist councils to significantly improve their Annual Reports. Further information is available at www.mav.asn.au/eventscalendar. Contact Simon Morgan, 9667 5538, smorgan@mav.asn.au
Transport Forum
The final in a series of four Community-Based Transport Forums has been announced for 17 July from 12.30 - 3pm in Benalla. Go to www.mav.asn.au/eventscalendar for further information.
ISSUE 640, week ending 29 June 2007
Diary
29 JUNE
Safe Domestic Removal of Asbestos Forum MAV, 10am - 12pm Sustaining and Supporting MCH Services Workforce Forum Treasury Theatre, 9.30am - 1pm
Gaming Consultation Extended
The Minister for Gaming has announced further consultation will be undertaken on Community Benefit Statements following pressure from stakeholders including the MAV. An information paper, Community Benefit Statements: A new direction was released in early June with a two-week consultation period. The MAV submission argued for thorough debate and consultation of Community Benefit Statement guidelines to ensure true community benefit is achieved. A new ministerial order will be made by 31 August 2007, and will come into effect on 1 July 2008. Contact Eleanor Williams, 9667 5533, ewilliams@mav.asn.au.
13 JULY
Councillor Development - Advanced Land Use Planning, Rural MAV, 9am - 5pm
Working with Children Check
Councils are reminded of legislative obligations under the Working with Children Act 2005, to ensure that employees or volunteers who are required to apply for a Working with Children (WWC) Check during Year 1, have done so by 30 June 2007. After this date, criminal sanctions apply to employers who engage staff or volunteers who work in connection with any of the Year 1 occupational fields, if they have not applied for a WWC Check by the due date. It will also be an offence for these staff or volunteers to undertake this work without first submitting an application (unless an exemption applies). For further information, go to www.justice.vic.gov.au/ workingwithchildren or call the Information Line on 1300 652 879.
14 JULY
Councillor Development - Advanced Land Use Planning, Urban MAV, 9am - 5pm
20 - 22 JULY
MAV Councillor Development Weekend Cumberland Resort, Lorne
Presentation on Parking Policy
Larry Schneider, Strategic Adviser on Parking with ARRB Group will be making a free presentation on local parking management on Thursday 19 July from 2.30 - 3.30pm at MAV. Larry is ARRB’s key expert on parking and is only in Melbourne for a short time. The presentation will focus on the potential to improve local parking management, including technological innovations, management approaches and the potential to increase net revenue and will be of interest to local government officers involved in the development and implementation of local parking strategies. To register, contact Eleanor Williams, 9667 5533, ewilliams@mav.asn.au.
25 JULY
Foundation Workshop - Conflict Management MAV, 9am - 5pm
27 JULY
Annual Report Workshop for LG MAV, 9.30am - 12.30pm
Human Services Directors’ Forum
The next MAV Human Services Directors’ Forum will be held on Friday 20 July from 10am – 1pm at Darebin Arts and Entertainment Centre. For a copy of the agenda and registration form, go to www.mav.asn.au/ eventscalendar. Contact Ann Tok, 9667 5557, atok@mav.asn.au
31 JULY
Councillor Development - Advanced Financial Sustainability Shepparton City Council, 9am – 5pm
MAV Waste Reference Group
The MAV Waste Reference Group, formed to inform MAV’s policy responses to waste management and resource recovery, met last week. The group, a mix of councillors and senior officers from across the state, decided upon the top two priority issues of extended producer responsibility and advanced waste technology, with other issues such as Towards Zero Waste targets and landfills to be worked on to a lesser extent. The Group will shortly define how it wishes to approach these issues and ways the MAV can assist to progress them. Contact Cr. Rob Wilson, 0409 979 065, rwilson@casey.vic.gov.au, or Ben Morris, 9667 5580, bmorris@mav.asn.au
8 AUGUST
Domestic Wastewater Management Training Eltham Community and Reception Centre, 10am - 4pm
9 - 10 AUGUST
Local Government Technology Solutions Conference Sofitel Melbourne, 9.30am - 7.30pm (Day One) 8.30am - 3.30pm (Day Two) Further details of these and other events are available on www.mav.asn.au/events/calendar
National Timber Council Taskforce
The National Timber Councils Taskforce will hold its inaugural meeting on Sunday 8 July at Newcastle City Hall. Councils with an interest in plantation and native forestry are encouraged to attend. The Taskforce aims to provide local government with a voice at the national level about opportunities and challenges that plantation and native forestry bring to the sector. Contact Simone Stuckey, 9667 5582, sstuckey@mav.asn.au