BULLETIN

• The Local Government Amendment (Fair Go Rates) Bill 2015 has been debated and voted on in Parliament’s lower house. It received support from the Labor Government, and the Liberal opposition, but was opposed by the Greens. It has been introduced into the upper house and debate will continue on 19 November. Our Rate Capping Forum is locked in for 26 November and registrations can be made online.

• The State Government has released its Regional Statement to give regional communities a stronger voice in government decision-making. The centrepiece of the Statement is the establishment of nine new regional partnerships across the state, with representatives from community, business and all three levels of government.

• The Australian Local Government Association (ALGA) has released its 2015 National State of the Assets: Roads and Community Infrastructure report at the National Local Roads and Transport Congress this week. The report summarises the outcomes of data provided by 396 councils across Australia on roads and bridges. They have also launched a proposal for a new Commonwealth Local Government Community Infrastructure Program of $300 million a year for five years.

A preliminary submission is being prepared based on feedback at the roundtable session.

We intend to circulate the proposed submission to MAV members on 27 November with comments due by 14 December. This will enable our submission to meet the 18 December deadline.

In addition to informing the sector submission, councils and councillors are encouraged to make their own submissions direct to the Minister on all, or any part of the discussion paper.

During the 16 Days, from 25 November to 10 December, the whole Victorian community is encouraged to ‘go ORANGE’ and join the Unite and Change movement to end family and gender violence.

Resources for councils to use during the campaign have been emailed to council communications staff.

Councils can also access a new 1800RESPECT online toolkit which will launch on 25 November. It has been developed with experts to educate frontline workers, help them to better identify signs of domestic and family violence and equip them with the skills to safely refer to specialist services. Council frontline workers could include MCH staff, youth workers, HACC workers, child care staff, local laws officers, library staff or customer service centre workers.

Councils are encouraged to promote the toolkit to staff, networks and colleagues using the materials in the campaign kit.

The Bill proposes a number of reforms, including giving greater certainty for Victoria’s land use and development industries, establishing a clear traditional owner consultation process where there is no Registered Aboriginal Party, and introducing evaluation timeframes for cultural heritage permit applications.

It will also create an Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Fund, introduce a process for dealing with Aboriginal Ancestral Remains, and establishes the role of Aboriginal Heritage Officers. This Bill has been developed as a result of a number of consultation reviews about the Aboriginal Heritage Act held over the last few years to which MAV has contributed input and submissions.

To help metropolitan Melbourne become more resilient to the physical, social and economic challenges of the 21st century, the project team is working with 32 metropolitan councils, government, the MAV and other stakeholders to develop a framework for community, business and government to adapt, thrive and survive at times of unprecedented change and great uncertainty.

All council staff and elected representatives are invited to attend a project update and hear about how they can be more involved.

Dates are as follows:

• 25 November: 5-6pm at the MAV office
• 10 December: 9.15am-10.30am at Casey City Council
• 10 December: 4.30pm-5.30pm at Darebin City Council

Please register online using the links provided for each session. For further information, contact Nicholas Barda.

• Grants of up to $40,000 will be available for 10 councils in the most drought affected areas in Victoria's north-west. This will assist councils to implement localised drought support programs

• The State Government is fast tracking the consideration of regional development projects in identified drought-impacted areas which meet Regional Development Victoria funding guidelines

• Applications for the first round of the Community Shade Grants Program close on 13 December, with grants to be awarded from later that month. Funding rounds will be conducted every year for the next three years.

• An inaugural National Research Conference will be held at the Grand Hyatt Melbourne on 23-25 February 2016. The event is run by ANROWS - a federal, state and territory initiative under the National Plan to Reduce Violence Against Women and their Children 2010-2022.

• Join Clearwater and the City of Kingston on a Sensitive Urban Design tour to view a variety of established rain gardens as well as an award-winning innovative stormwater harvesting system retrofitted in an old industrial estate on 11 December.

• The Victorian Government has established the new Young Farmers Ministerial Advisory Council to advise the government about practical actions and opportunities to attract and retain young people in agriculture.

• Councils who actively participate in the ‘Get to kNOw Asbestos this November’ Campaign will be eligible to enter the 2015 Betty Awards. To be eligible for the awards, entrants must register their intended participation in Asbestos Awareness Month before the end of November.

• Councils and communities can help plan metro Melbourne's waste and recycling future.