Issue 6, September 2011
Local government vision: New Generation Planning System
The MAV has finalised our submission to the Ministerial Advisory Committee on Planning Reform (Underwood) Review. An extensive engagement process with members has informed the submission including an MAV discussion paper, six regional meetings with members attended by more than 50 councils, and circulation of a draft submission for feedback.
Our submission argues the need for a ‘new generation planning system’ that improves governance, accountability and the operational framework. Among the recommendations proposed are the need for a joint State/local government standing committee to prioritise and deliver ongoing improvements; a reform fund; and a monitoring framework that includes appropriate incentives for compliance and performance.
The MAV has also called for stronger articulation of State Policy through spatially resolved maps and instructions for Planning Authorities that sits outside planning schemes to resolve the growing number of competing policy objectives that adds time and complexity to planning permit decision-making. Other proposals include the removal of the State Planning Policy Framework from planning schemes; and streaming of planning scheme amendments according to complexity.
The approach proposed by the MAV has been designed to provide benefits for all parties in the planning system – communities, developers and industry, councils and the State Government.
Communities will benefit from protection of third party rights, more logical and targeted planning provisions, and improved communication with councils
Developers and industry will benefit from improved, simpler processes resulting in reduced delays and cost savings, as well as a more policy certainty that allows for financial commitments to be made in a stable policy environment
Councils will benefit from clearer, up-to-date State Policy and provisions that will help guide their decision-making, plus simpler processes that will allow them to focus on improving their planning scheme and development outcomes.
State Government will benefit from clear protection of matters of State interest and improved resolution of policy conflicts to help to remove some of the obstacles that hamper large government projects.
The Ministerial Advisory Committee is expected to provide a preliminary report to the Minister by 30 November. We hope the views of local government, as a critical partner in both strategic and statutory land use planning, will be reflected in the report to ensure the prioritisation of relevant reforms that result in a simpler, more efficient and effective planning system for all Victorians.
Restricted breed dogs: law reforms
Following the tragic death of a child attacked by an unregistered pit bull dog in August, the Government has moved quickly to toughen up restricted breed dog laws. Last week reforms were introduced and passed in Parliament, as announced by Minister Walsh. The MAV supports the need for tougher laws to ensure the community is protected from potential dog attacks, including restricted dogs being bred out of existence in Victoria.
Government changes introduced last week include ending the amnesty for registering restricted breeds in Victoria – it will cease on 29 September this year; establishing a ‘Dangerous Dogs’ hotline; promising more resources to help councils find unregistered dogs; and release of a Standard (Gazetted on 1 September) to assist in identifying restricted breeds. In coming weeks criminal penalties will also be toughened to make owners more responsible if their dog attacks.
The identification of restricted breed dogs has been an ongoing challenge facing councils, given that many cross breeds look similar in physical appearance. This has led to a low success rate at Panel hearings for having dogs declared as restricted breeds. We will be monitoring councils’ use of the new Standard to determine whether further support measures are needed to assist councils with the complex, and sometimes costly, declaration process.
The MAV is also in discussions with the Government about the additional resources needed by councils as a result of changes to legislation and referrals from the new hotline. In the first two days of operation, the hotline attracted 203 calls, with 70 passed on to councils for further investigation. If you have any feedback, please send it through to cdunn@mav.asn.au at the MAV.
Public libraries campaign achieves funding & review
Since my last update in July, the Government responded quickly and positively to the Save Our Libraries – Fairer Funding campaign.
The MAV welcomed Minister Powell’s announcement in early August of $6.5 million in additional funding to ensure no council or regional library corporation would receive less recurrent funding than their 2010-11 allocation. Next year the additional recurrent funding for libraries will reverse two years of funding cuts and include indexation, as well as being delivered in a single lump sum at the start of the financial year. This outcome provides councils with an additional $2.8 million over the current funding agreement when compared to State contributions remaining at status quo levels (before the funding cut and including indexation levels anticipated by the sector).
A second significant outcome was the Minister’s promise of a bipartisan Libraries Ministerial Advisory Committee (MAC) to review the role, services and funding for public libraries and report in advance of the 2013-14 State Budget. The MAV will have a representative on the MAC, together with council library and regional library service representatives.
This is an important review and a big step in the right direction towards achieving sustainable operational library funding that properly supports libraries and grows in line with population and core costs such as wages, books and technology; as well as indexation that maintains the State’s contribution in real terms.
It was great to see such a dedicated and united effort from councils and the passionate outpouring of support from the community. Congratulations to all who supported the campaign.
New community preventative health initiative launched
I attended the launch of an innovative new preventative health initiative with Minister Davis last month. This is an exciting model that encourages government partnerships to tackle rising chronic diseases in the community.
The community model is being seen as a key way to deliver innovative place-based strategies that respond to local challenges to reduce preventable diseases such as diabetes and obesity.
An initial 14 councils have been invited to participate in the joint initiative over four years to help tailor health promoting environments in schools, workplaces and where people live. It is the largest and most rigorously planned population health intervention at a community level in Australia.
In other health news, I recently sent letters to the Premier and Minister Davis congratulating the Government on its commitment to retain Victoria’s unique home and community care (HACC) system delivered through a strong state and local government partnership approach. Advocacy by the Premier and Minister Davis resulted in the recently signed National Health Reform Agreement excluding Victoria’s HACC services from transfer to the Australian Government as part of the aged care reforms.
Federal road funding: support the campaign
The Australian Government’s Roads to Recovery program has been a great success story in Federal-local partnerships, but the current funding is due to end in 2013-14. Commencing in 2001, the program will have provided $4.12 billion to councils nationally, including $918.5 million to local government in Victoria.
This year's National Local Roads and Transport Congress will be held in Mount Gambier, South Australia, from 16 to 18 November, with a focus on road safety. The Congress will be sending the message that "Better Roads are Safer Roads" and will include the launch of ALGA's campaign to renew the Roads to Recovery program, the primary source of federal funding for local roads.
The MAV supports the ALGA’s Communiqué, (released following the 2010 National Roads Congress) which calls for Roads to Recovery funding to become a permanent program at a rate of $1.2 billion per year, and indexed in line with cost increases, until the backlog is removed.
Councils are reminded to pass a formal resolution to support the extension of the Roads to Recovery program. Council resolutions will form part of the campaign launch at the Congress. For more information on the program for this year, or to register visit the ALGA website.
Stand up against violence against women: become a white ribbon campaign ambassador
In June this year, the MAV began a project to support prevention of violence against women initiatives in Victoria. The project looks at assisting councils in implementing projects to prevent violence before it occurs.
In Australia, one in three women will be assaulted or abused during her lifetime, and close to half of all women have experienced violence since the age of 15. In Victoria, violence against women accounts for the greatest risk to ill health and death for women between the ages of 15-44 - greater than cancer, heart disease and diabetes. Reported incidents of violence against women also cost the Australian economy approximately $13.6 billion in 2009. Inactivity in response to this issue is simply not an option.
Local government plays an extensive role in creating healthy, safe and engaged communities and it’s important that we unite to support this worthy cause.
As MAV President, I have made a commitment to becoming a White Ribbon Day Ambassador, to promote the message I will never commit, condone or be silent about violence against women. There are already many councillors and senior council officers who have become White Ribbon Day Ambassadors, in fact Nick Mazzarella (Darebin City Council) was awarded White Ribbon Ambassador of the Year in 2010. I strongly urge my fellow male councillors to join me in making this public commitment and playing an essential role in the prevention of violence against women. Nominate to become a White Ribbon Day Ambassador today.
For more information about the MAV’s Preventing Violence Against Women Program, please email sgale@mav.asn.au at the MAV on 0437 198 403.
Kind regards
BILL