ISSUE 4 SEPTEMBER 2013

Meet your hard working local representatives

The T4 and TD5 are packed with so many features they’ll get anyone’s vote. For starters, they have enough grunt to tackle any council job with ease. That’s because they both have powerful Tier III Emission engines that are turbocharged and intercooled to deliver maximum fuel effi ciency (which also means

they’re budget friendly, too). Add on a mechanical transmission that makes them easy to drive, spacious cabs, air seats for a more comfortable ride, and great visibility that allows you to view the loader bucket without leaning forward - and you’ve got yourself a candidate that will last for years to come.

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Cover photo: Families are travelling from near and far to see children of all abilities enjoy Brimbank’s new all-abilities playground in St Albans. This page: More than 80 per cent of Moira was flooded in 2012 after the region’s annual rainfall fell in just six days.

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Disclaimer Puffafish (“Publisher”) advises that the contents of this publication are at the sole discretion of the Municipal Association of Victoria and the publication is offered for background information purposes only. The publication has been formulated in good faith and the Publisher believes its contents to be accurate, however, the contents do not amount to a recommendation (either expressly or by implication) and should not be relied upon in lieu of specific professional advice. The Publisher disclaims all responsibility for any loss or damage which may be incurred by any reader relying upon the information contained in the publication whether that loss or damage is caused by any fault or negligence on the part of the Publisher, its directors and employees. Copyright All advertisements appearing in this publication are subject to copyright and may not be reproduced except with the consent of the owner of the copyright. Advertising Advertisements in this magazine are solicited from organisations and businesses on the understanding that no special considerations other than those normally accepted in respect of commercial dealings, will be given to any advertiser.

F E a T U R E SR E g U l a R S4 President’s Report

5 Editor’s Note

6Opinion by Boroondara Innovation Leader Rowena Morrow

7 Sector Connector by Verne Krastins

26 In Brief

27 Events

32 5 minutes with Cardinia Mayor Brett Owen

8 Council projects help improve liveability for older residents Gannawarra, South Gippsland and Pyrenees shire councils

12 Patchwork pilot projectWyndham, Melbourne and Brimbank city councils

14 The Future of Local Government programThe MAV and South Gippsland Shire Council

16 COVER STORY: A new all-abilities playground in BrimbankBrimbank City Council

18 LEAD project launches new artworkGreater Shepparton City Council

19 Is religion the new ‘R’ for local government?Report from MAV Fellowship Award winner 2012

20 Climate change, Part IColac Otway Shire Council

25 New assessment tool for planning enforcements Mount Alexander Shire Council

29 New Cultural and Civic Precinct announced Casey City Council

30 Western women unite Western Metro Mayors

c O N T E N T SISSUE 4 SEPTEMBER 2013

22 Moira reveals its secrets behind a successful, and quick, recovery from the 2012 floods.

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Bill McArthurMAV President

Welcome to the spring edition of CiVic.

It was disappointing that

the earlier federal election, held on 7 September, meant that the constitutional recognition referendum was unable to go ahead to achieve certainty about direct federal funding through constitutional recognition of local government.

I’d like to thank all the councils that got behind the campaign and really fought for your communities. The work undertaken on the ‘Yes’ campaign will hold us in good stead for the future, and a commitment for a new referendum date has been sought from all political parties.

Prior to election day we urged all parties and Victorian candidates to commit to retaining and building on the strengths of our home and

community care (HACC) system when it transfers to Commonwealth responsibility from 2015.

HACC is a key program providing 290,000 older Victorians with the support they need to remain healthy and living in the community as they age.

We will work with newly elected Prime Minister Tony Abbot and the Liberal Party to ensure local government’s role as a partner in planning services for older people is acknowledged. We are also seeking federal funding that meets the real cost of providing HACC services, and an assurance that a national competitive tendering process will not be applied in Victoria.

These outcomes are critical given that local government’s annual $115 million contribution to community aged care is neither compulsory nor guaranteed into the future. HACC

services must continue to meet the needs of Victorian communities during and beyond the transition to a national program administered from Canberra.

The much anticipated and eagerly awaited rural zone reforms were finalised by the Minister for Planning during August, and will be operational from September when they are introduced into planning schemes. Offering more varied uses and relaxed permit requirements in the rural zones, as well as the inclusion of additional rural-related uses to support agricultural production is a win for country Victoria.

At the time of writing, the draft metropolitan strategy was also close to release by the Government, with consultation to occur in the final quarter of 2013. In preparation for this, we provided a preferred model for the new Metropolitan Planning Authority to the Minister for his consideration.

Developed in consultation with councils, the model seeks to balance the need for greater Government leadership and coordination in delivering on a metropolitan-wide strategy, while also respecting councils’ role in neighbourhood planning with local communities and as a planning decision maker.

Finally, the MAV was pleased to release the Standing Up to Race-Based Discrimination publication. Further details can be found on page 24 of this edition of CiVic. I also encourage councils to get involved in the national ‘Racism. It Stops with Me’ campaign. Signing on to support this campaign sends a powerful message that racism will not be tolerated in your community. More information can be found at http://itstopswithme.humanrights.gov.au

President’s Report

I’d like to thank all the councils that got behind the ‘Yes’ campaign and really fought for your communities.

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I don’t often place too much emphasis on a whole-of-edition theme. Put simply, sometimes it just doesn’t

work out and you can find yourself pushing for an angle that just isn’t really there and the best council stories of the quarter don’t make it.

In preparing CiVic Issue 4 I had some loose ideas for themes, stories, angles that would gel the magazine together. But what we have published is far from what I had planned.

Sometimes, by letting things grow organically, a common theme simply emerges. In this issue, that theme was change.

Our regular columnist Verne Krastins speaks about councils’ need to move with technology and gives us a great

breakdown of the emergence of the internet and social media. Our opinion piece has been insightfully prepared by Boroondara’s Innovation Leader Rowena Morrow who has given specific examples of where, why and how the sector needs to plan for the future. One area she touches on is climate change, which was a perfect lead in to the first of a series of articles by guest feature writer Allison Harding on this issue. Allison will look at another three great examples of councils’ work in adapting to climate change over the coming issues. We also followed up on the Future of Local Government Summit that was held recently, which focuses entirely on planning for the future.

Councils, in particular CEOs and Senior Managers, are encouraged to join the group. And then there is religion, another emerging issue for councils. Read about MAV Fellowship award winner Charlotte Baines’ research into if and how local government is responding to faith groups on page 19.

This edition is rounded out by new developments and use of technology, successful techniques to recover from emergency events, great projects happening in rural Victoria around improving life for older residents and our fabulous cover story about Alice’s Playground, Victoria’s first Touched by Olivia accessible playground built in Brimbank.

I hope you enjoy it.

Editor’s Note

Sometimes, by letting things grow organically, a common theme simply emerges. In this issue, that theme was change.

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Editor Kristi High § 0407 366 466 § kristi@puffafish.com.auEditorial Deadline 15 November 2013 § editorial@puffafish.com.auAdvertising Tony Cornish § advertising@puffafish.com.auDesign & Layout Jason Jeffery & Kathryn Steel

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Kristi HighEditor

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Contributors:Justene Cowie, Allison Harding, Verne Krastins, Eliza Nolan.

Opinion

The future we will see as ‘normal’ in the next 10 years has already arrived in some places. Issues

like population, climate change, transparency, social media, ageing, isolation, and energy and food costs are driving change.

According to McCrindle Research, at the start of 2013 the cost of living was the number one concern for people looking to the year ahead. Sydney and Melbourne are now the third and fifth most expensive cities in the world respectively while 10 years ago, no Australian city was in the top 50.

Australians’ expectations of governments and the services and infrastructure they provide are growing, possibly because of the rising cost of living – ‘I pay more, so want more.’

Many older Australians are making sea or tree changes. But when they move to rural areas, they expect the same levels of service as in the cities. Victorian councils in growth areas are experiencing increased demand for infrastructure spending. Soon, these demands will be too high to rely on annual rates and charges for funding.

Australia is already feeling the effects of climate change, with more major weather events occurring. Many expect local government, as the authority closest to the community, to respond effectively to these natural disasters.

Meeting these expectations is expensive.

Council rate rises are now ahead of CPI increases and regularly in the news. The challenge for local government will be balancing community expectations with the need to spend. Organisations will continue to do more with less.

In the past, local government worked to meet its regulatory requirements. The next approach was to allow the market a say in how cities developed. Now, the demand for community involvement in city development is growing.

The next iteration will match innovation to context in a future of increasing resource scarcity.

In this future, councils become the stewards of the hidden wealth within their communities – things like trust, social capital and free time are as much assets as money.

Councils will act as brokers for their community, globally sourcing ideas and funding for local issues. Glocalism – looking globally and thinking locally – is already benefiting some local communities. One form, crowd funding, has paid for Wi-Fi installation in Mansfield in the UK and community projects in New York’s low income neighbourhoods.

New forms of currency are being used. One example is time banking, where people swap their time for someone else’s. You put the time in a bank and ‘withdraw’ and ‘deposit’ as you need, and as your time is required by others.

Previously overlooked resources such as landfills and storm water will be managed for revenue generation. Data held by councils will become more valuable for a variety of uses, and will drive service efficiency.

‘Big data’ is a collection of very large data sets. Big data initiatives such as Smart Grid, which can monitor individuals’ power use, could potentially predict how much, when and where power is needed. Fire services in the Netherlands have effectively used big data on buildings, roads, transport links and waterways, combined with fire service reports to calculate the fire risk of all buildings. It ensures the fire service responds fastest to places at highest risk and will hopefully save lives and cut costs.

But big data can under represent sectors of the community.

For example, a smart phone app tells council about potholes every time someone drives over one. But if this is the only method used to research potholes, areas where

fewer people own smart phones will get fewer potholes fixed. Typically, those places are where older people or those on lower incomes live. If other methods of collecting data aren’t used, existing social inequities could increase.

For a successful future, councils will benefit from working with one another and developing other partnerships. Context is key, as is risk management, diversifying funding sources, being open and participative, and working with communities to shape their own destinies.

Local government needs to negotiate a new relationship with society, developing stronger communities and helping them to realise the futures they aspire to. To successfully navigate this changing future, we must ask ourselves what level of participation we are willing to achieve; how much power we are willing to give away; and what level of risk we are willing to take.

(L-R) Rowena Morrow and Kelli Browne take part in a Lego building exercise used to workshop discussions about the future

At the end of 2012, Boroondara City Council created a new Innovation Leader role within its organisation and appointed Rowena Morrow to the exciting and challenging position to bring ideas to fruition. In this article, Ms Morrow shares her beliefs as to why local government will become a true force to be reckoned with in the next decade.

Rowena MorrowBoroondara City Council Innovation Leader

Navigating in a fast changing world

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Column

Verne Ivars KrastinsBSc (Hons), Fellow LGPro

Sector Connector

ConvergenceThe future of decision making

Devices and destinyThe tail end of this analogy is to herald a new generation internet, or at least a new era in how humans interact with it. The internet was waiting for the 21st century to happen, when technology caught up.

The new infants on the block are smartphones and computer tablets of course, both still in kindergarten, but they arguably represent a tipping point.

The internet is already at our fingertips (or wave of the hand) whenever and wherever. Coming soon, mobile enabled eyewear and wrist watches, flexible phones and large amounts of Bitcoins and other virtual money.

You can see where this is going. The evolution of computer technology has one aim – to make the interaction between persons, devices and locations as easy and seamless as possible.

W hether a social media user or not, you’ve got to admit that the internet

has established itself for dialogue, not just information.

Social media tools have significantly influenced society and how people influence each other. Of course, it hasn’t changed us as humans, but that may happen one day too.

There’s no point to communication if it’s not meant to influence, so in principle, this is a good thing. We communicate to impart knowledge, receive knowledge, explain opinions or have others’ opinions explained to us.

The more of this going on the better I say.

Local governments are getting a handle on the current internet environment. There’s still resistance in some quarters, but many councils have a social media presence, policies to protect the proverbial, and some use online consultation

tools for developing strategies, plans and even budgets.

We’re in a brave new world, heading toward a future where virtual governance will be as basic and obligatory as council meetings and elections.

An analogyWe should pinch ourselves though, and remember when all this came to be.

As I write in mid-2013, Twitter is barely nine years old, YouTube and Google Maps eight, Facebook only seven and Gmail recently turned six. In human terms, they are children.

There are some teenagers. Wikipedia turned 12 at the beginning of the year, and Google Search turns 16 in September. On the cusp of adulthood, Yahoo and Hotmail email systems are around 18 years old.

We’re hard pressed to find much older. Web browsers are 20 something, blogging is approaching 30, and in terms of the binary coded world that the wheels of society relies on, that’s it.

The quick and the nimbleOne take on this is that society is becoming evermore agile in how communication and engagement happens. Local government will have to follow suit, especially as decision makers.

Paradoxically, we can be one of the least agile and hamstrung sectors around, while also the closest and most connected to its people. So the potential is there, but by and large we play catch up.

I laboured the youthfulness of the mobile internet to sound a bell. We don’t know what’s around each innovation corner, but in the case of the internet and its devices, the corners are coming at us ever faster. Convergence, in its many forms, is on the way.

And one of these may be the convergence of constituents and decision makers, a levelling out of the roles, with different forums for different kinds of decisions, and even virtual governments.

• Political convergence- fi rst council to adoptvirtual governance

• PC for the masses- the Commodore PET

• First ever mobile callNew York USA

• First mobile call in Australiafrom the Sydney OperaHouse, NSW

• First live internet performanceby rock band Severe Tire Damage • Social media arrives

- Facebook launched

• Wearable devicesGoogle GlassSony SmartWatch

Illustration by Kathryn Steel.

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W ith $20,000 funded to each of the participating councils through

the state government’s Improving Liveability for Older People (ILOP) initiative for planning and consultation, and a further $80,000 to each implement their projects, the aim was to improve the quality of life, social participation, and health and wellbeing of older residents living in small towns.

One of Gannawarra Shire Council’s major ILOP projects was the installation of outdoor exercise equipment in Cohuna, after its active community took a liking to similar adult fitness stations along the bank of the Murray River.

Overlooking the local creek, the equipment is ideal for older people to exercise using equipment fit-for-purpose, and it’s free.

As part of ILOP, Gannawarra also trialled a community bus to collect residents living on the outskirts of the region to transport them into larger towns for appointments and social occasions or to use local facilities like the warm water pool in Kerang.

As an extension to the community bus project, meals on wheels clients will be invited to gather for a community meal to relieve some of the isolation that comes with being a meals on wheels recipient.

“We believe this will work really well and will be a good example of using what we had and expanding

it through the good will of our volunteers,” Gannawarra Executive Manager Community Mandy Hutchinson said. “We are hoping to continue this project when ILOP concludes.”

Gannawarra also contributed resources and funding through the ILOP initiative to council’s Community Safety Strategy to ensure older people were identified and considered as part of the strategy.

“We were able to include railway station lighting in the strategy, and advocate for better lighting generally throughout the shire in addition to improving connectivity across Kerang and Cohuna by installing two computers in each library with access to the internet,” Ms Hutchinson said.

South Gippsland Shire Council invested a large portion of its ILOP funding into improving connectivity, both across generations and in up skilling older residents with using technology effectively.

South Gippsland Project Officer Tania Ryan said during council’s consultation and planning phase a strong need to improve access to information and communication emerged, mostly driven by rising costs of phone calls and transport.

From this feedback, South Gippsland developed Tech Tasters, a one-on-one program delivered over nine weeks by secondary school students.

In each of the groups, around 20 older people were paired with a student who taught them a range of technology skills they wanted to learn, from activating a SIM card to setting up a Facebook page, using Skype, or storing photos.

“This was a great project that also helped break down stereotypes as students became mentors and many friendships emerged that extended beyond the class group,” Ms Ryan said.

At least three secondary schools in South Gippsland are now looking at embedding a Tech Tasters type model into the year 9 curriculum.

Lovers of the arts living in the Pyrenees were treated to a host of activities through council and the ILOP funding.

The Pyrenees Shire Council developed an entire program around the Art of Ageing after its community expressed a desire to participate more in photography, singing, writing, performances and other arts based activities.

Rural councils’ new ideas for older peopleOver the past two years, 17 rural and regional councils have been improving the lives of older people through a range of initiatives around exercise, transport, technology and the arts that have left legacies in many small towns.

Older Pyrenees residents are singing about council’s Art of Living project, funded by the Improving Liveability for Older People initiative.

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Pyrenees Shire Council Manager Community Wellbeing Sue O’Brien said the region had a strong arts community living in pockets around the shire.

“Our idea was to utilise the ILOP funding to allow more people in our community to participate and access the arts,” she said.

“It was not surprising that the arts were identified as the priority area for increased participation amongst our older residents because it fulfils a creative gap, there is a personal satisfaction to many of the activities, and it is a way to share and socialise among like-minded people.”

One of the major successes of the Pyrenees ILOP project was a senior’s singing group that started with two

or three people in each town and grew to a 32-person strong choir performing all over the region.

Live performances at local properties saw the dream of a group of locals become a reality through the ILOP funding and council support.

Pyrenees Presents is a group of residents that put on shows in the grounds of their private country properties.

“Council helped this group firstly to explore the idea of putting on a live show in their own garden and then worked with them to make it happen,” Ms O’Brien said.

“Council’s events coordinator assisted the group to put performances in place and meet permit requirements.

“Now, rather than drive to Melbourne or Bendigo, we have a group within our own community that has developed an annual calendar of events headlined mostly by locals who perform to very high standards.”

Through ILOP, Pyrenees Shire Council also facilitated the establishment of a writing group. A professional writer was engaged to facilitate the workshops and help participants write about their own lives.

The Art of Ageing project also uncovered two talented photographers living at opposite ends of the shire who are now entering, and winning, local exhibitions as well as working casually on a number of council projects.

“One of the great things about this project was uncovering people you didn’t know were living in your shire,” Ms O’Brien said.

“It was without doubt one of the most positive and rewarding funded initiatives our council has been through.

“It gave us the opportunity to involve our senior community positively and actively in a way we hadn’t done before and it was a joy and a delight.”

To ensure the full extent of the Art of Ageing’s achievements were showcased, council developed a video to document the projects. In the short-term, this video will be used to evaluate the program with a view to using it for promotion and community education.

The following councils were also funded to develop and roll-out projects to improve the lives of older people living in small towns through funding from the state government’s Improving Liveability for Older People initiative:

§ Alpine Shire Council § Buloke Shire Council § Central Goldfields

Shire Council § Colac Otway

Shire Council § Glenelg Shire Council § Hindmarsh Shire Council § Loddon Shire Council § Moira Shire Council § Strathbogie Shire Council § Southern Grampians

Shire Council § Surf Coast Shire Council § Towong Shire Council § West Wimmera

Shire Council § Yarriambiack

Shire Council.

(L-R) Gannawarra Shire Cr Brian Gibson, Cr Neil Gannon and Cr Keith Den Houting test out the new adult exercise equipment at Cohuna.

View the Pyrenees Shire Council Art of Ageing video on YouTube at http://youtu.be/QFVzAz9RhyE

Secondary school students in South Gippsland are teaming up with older residents to teach them how to improve their technology skills as part of South Gippsland Shire Council’s Tech Tasters project.

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Greater Dandenong City Council has introduced cultural tours in conjunction with local business owners

and community leaders.The tours represent three

of Greater Dandenong’s most predominate cultural precincts. Springvale, the oldest cultural precinct, has become home for many South East Asian, Vietnamese, Cambodian and Chinese traders over the past 30 years. Little India has a 20 year

Culturally diverse delights of Greater DandenongLeave your passport at home and experience some of the world’s great cultures, less than just a one hour drive from Melbourne’s CBD.

history of predominantly Indian, Pakistani and Sri Lankan businesses while Afghan Bazaar has emerged over the past decade.

The Food Lovers tour begins at a Sri Lankan grocery store and cafe, followed by a visit to an Afghan bakery. The next stop is an African food store and the tour ends with lunch at a Polish restaurant.

Greater Dandenong Retail Development Coordinator Leanne McCready said the tours

offered an introduction to the precincts and were designed for small groups to encourage a personal experience.

“The tour guides are generally leaders from within their own community who love sharing what’s special about their culture with others,” she said.

“This enables any cultural barriers to be broken down for the participants of the tours and also the tenants of the cultural precincts.”

Many of the traders are refugees, with some having experienced challenges such as language, education and employment barriers.

“By participating in the tours they are invited to share their stories and as a result their English is improving, their confidence is growing, and they too experience a cultural exchange,” Ms McCready said.

Greater Dandenong hosts four cultural tours each month.

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A web based tool designed in the UK to improve services for vulnerable families in maternal and child health,

and youth services, by connecting practitioners has been piloted in five Victorian municipalities.

“Finally, our research was matched with the best technology solutions to improve maternal and child health, and youth services.”

Around 140 clients and 30 practitioners from across the five pilot council areas signed up to be part of the Patchwork project.

eveloped by UK-based digital public service design company FutureGov and funded by the

MAV, Patchwork aims to connect government departments and agencies, along with community organisations and health services that work with common clients.

Patchwork pilot councils Brimbank, Wyndham, Melbourne, Yarra and Kingston have worked collaboratively with the MAV and FutureGov since March this year.

FutureGov Patchwork Program Manager Kirsty Elderton spent three months in Australia to work intensively with the pilot councils and program partners.

“In designing Patchwork for Victoria we worked closely with the five councils that gave in-principle support to the project,” Ms Elderton said.

“First we worked at getting the intent right with the people we’d be working with as part of the design team – maternal and child health nurses, managers and administrators.

“Next we embarked on a great deal of background research into the design along with analysing and synthesising our information that formed the basis of the workshops we held with the councils.

Wyndham City Council Mayor Heather Marcus said the project was an effective way to use simple technology solutions to connect staff from different agencies working with the same families.

“By connecting the team around a family, it leads to earlier

interventions and better outcomes,” Cr Marcus said.

“The information families provide is securely stored on the Patchwork application and it’s also important to remember that families must agree to take part in the program before they provide any details.”

Melbourne City Council also saw value in Patchwork’s ability to connect vulnerable families through its universal and enhanced maternal and child health services.

“Most councils are aware of the risks to young children,” Melbourne Family Health Coordinator Wendy Jones said.

“In the annual child death review report, it is often identified that professionals that have information about the child and the family had not been connected.

“There are a lot of people working in this field that are passionate about looking at ways to come up with better solutions.

“We saw Patchwork as a product that can meet this need, particularly when families move out of the municipality, to keep them connected.”

Brimbank City Council joined the pilot project to explore ways Patchwork could assist local youth service providers.

“We saw a number of benefits in Patchwork including improving

Patchwork is expected to help vulnerable families by connecting practitioners through councils’ maternal and child health, and youth services.

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Join the second stage of the Patchwork roll-out, starting in November.

Email Clare Hargreaves at chargreaves@mav.asn.au

for more information.

Improved use of datato inform decision

making for all people

Principals to guide decision-making

IMPROVED OUTCOMESFOR CHILDREN AND FAMILIES

Improve customerexperience/reduce

barrier to entry

Strengthencollaborative and

partnership working

collaboration between providers,” Director Community Wellbeing Neil Whiteside said.

“There are also potential benefits to young people who have workers with multiple service providers, and it will help workers identify who else is working with the young person while enabling access to other providers’ contact details.”

MAV President Bill McArthur said while the MAV’s initial focus had

been on maternal and child health, and youth services, Patchwork could be applied to a wide range of human service areas.

“We will explore the opportunity to roll it out to all Victorian councils, and to create links with other public sector and community agencies,” he said.

An evaluation report on the Patchwork project will be available late 2013.

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ommunities are demanding more meaningful consultation; the use of technology in determining priorities, and its application, is constantly evolving;

and funding opportunities and constraints, particularly around infrastructure renewal, is a continuous moving target.

With these changes comes a need for councils to start thinking about strategies, plans and actions that will help prepare for future challenges.

The Future of Local Government Program, led by the MAV, wants councils and the local government sector to lead these changes rather than ‘be changed’.

A recent Future of Local Government Summit attracted 160 participants that came together from around Australia to discuss the transformational change of local government and how it is impacting on society.

Former Central Goldfields Shire Mayor Chris Meddows-Taylor, now a consultant to the MAV on the Future of Local Government Program, played a pivotal role in the summit.

“Our ultimate aim was to encourage councils to be involved in sector-wide planning and collaboration for the future,” he said.

Following the summit, Mr Meddows-Taylor conducted a one-day workshop titled CEOs as Transforming Leaders, which focused on the key role of council CEOs in leading this transformation.

“We need councils to spend more time in strategic conversations rather than just signing off papers,” he said.

The trick for busy local government CEOs is to find time to gear up for future challenges and start working together on planning processes that will prepare for the long-term future of the sector.

In 2012, participants pledged to convert the two-day summit into an ongoing series of activities.

“This year’s leadership workshop for CEOs was an important feature of the Future of Local Government Program, which will evolve further,” Mr Meddows-Taylor said.

Over the next 12 months, the Future of Local Government Program will encourage and facilitate

regional collaborative ventures including the use of Cloud software and new technologies to build higher levels of engagement within the sector as well as providing councils with practical strategies to lead change and build change capability.

“We will also be looking for elected representatives, CEOs and directors to become Future of Local Government champions, to support new initiatives and lead this change,” Mr Meddows-Taylor said.

South Gippsland Chief Executive Officer Tim Tamlin participated in both the summit and CEOs leadership workshop. He believes local government cannot continue to stick with ‘business as usual’ and supports the Future of Local Government Program.

“This program helps discuss possible future scenarios; it is stimulating and thought provoking,” Mr Tamlin said.

Mr Tamlin is prepared to take risks and is planning to approach the future with innovation, flexibility and courage.

“We cannot be afraid to take risks by trying new things, and we must be ready to stop if it’s not going to plan,” he said.

Councils are encouraged to be part of the Future of Local Government Program and work together to solve issues that are common across the sector.

“At first I was curious about the Future of Local Government Program as I have a very clear understanding of the difficult issues the sector faces relating to cost pressures, increased responsibility and greater level of community expectation,” Mr Tamlin said.

“I became involved to see what streams of thinking were coming from the program and what this could mean for the South Gippsland Shire Council and local government in general.

“I believe it is important to be involved in these types of programs so you can discuss possible futures and share ideas with colleagues; this helps us all to be riding on the change wave or at least be aware of the wave and ready for its possible impacts!”

Feedback from Local Government Summit

participants

The three top priorities for the Future of Local Government Program are:

1. Building change capacity and readiness 36%

2. Preparing strategies for the future 25%

3. Developing leaders and potential leaders 20%

It is looking likely that the future of local government will be quite different to what we’re seeing now.

believe the world is in a period of fundamental change

believe local government will need to transform itself to be relevant in the future

agree local government can do more to be in control of its own destiny

agree local government will be stronger if it forms a closer partnership with the community

agree that the council plan currently demonstrates how the council will transform itself in the future

agree the local government sector is in control of its own destiny

agree to transform itself effectively, local government will need an agreed sectorwide game plan

believe councils are well set-up to address the challenges of the future

agree local government needs to improve its leadership capacity to cope with the challenges of the future

agree funding for local government is likely to reduce (in real terms) in the future

1 4 c I vI c

The Community Leadership Action Network (CLAN) is a group of 10 emerging leaders from the Mansfield

region who are being mentored by 13 established leaders to build self-understanding and confidence in an effort to be more involved in the community.

Through the CLAN program, participants take part in activities to help them understand more about their temperament, learning and leadership styles, and group dynamics. These activities aim to inspire change, build project planning skills, lead teams and manage conflict.

During the leadership program, participants develop a relationship with their mentor who assists them in developing skills, tackle problems and find their right direction.

Mansfield Shire Council Mayor Russell Bate said the whole community benefits from the CLAN program, as a new generation of leaders get ready to step up and take part in making Mansfield tick.

“Too often it is the same people that are involved in everything and it is great that the CLAN will not only bring up more leaders, but create a

supportive leadership network across Mansfield,” Cr Bate said.

“Council is committed to partnering with communities through our community development program, and supporting the development of new leaders will assist communities to become more able to achieve their own goals.”

The CLAN program ran over two full days and two evening sessions. At the end of the program, participants had developed a project plan and set of tools to help their plans become a reality.

The leadership development program was facilitated by external community engagement professional, Susan Benedyka, who has an extensive background in capacity building and a passion for rural community development.

“This is only a short leadership program … but it is packed with insight, learnings, inspiration and challenges,” Ms Benedyka said.

“At the end, the participants will feel quite different about themselves and their capabilities.

“I saw some ‘light-bulb’ moments … as people began to understand more about how and why they react in certain situations.”

Mansfield’s first CLAN has met, with the small group of emerging leaders taking the first steps to a challenging and inspiring journey.

making Mansfield tick

CLAN group leaders deep in conversation about life’s turning points.

CLANThe

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St Albans’ Errington Reserve has become a destination landmark after Brimbank City Council opened the state’s first all

abilities, Touched by Olivia, playground.

Brimbank’s new

1 6 c I vI c

John and Justine Perkins established Touched by Olivia in 2006 in memory of their eight month old daughter Olivia who died in that same year from a rare illness.While, importantly, establishing the foundation was a step towards building a legacy for Olivia, its work around giving children a healthier and happier life is being achieved through two key initiatives – vascular birthmarks research and support, and by working with councils, communities and corporations to upgrade or build inclusive playspaces.www.touchedbyolivia.com.au

The all-inclusive playground is an exciting addition to the 100-plus year old public reserve, allowing children of

all abilities and ages to play together.Named Alice’s Playground

in honour of Alice Errington who donated the land to the St Albans community in 1910, development of the new space was done in partnership with council, Touched by Olivia and corporate partners including the Commonwealth Bank and Leighton’s Contractors.

Chair of Brimbank Administrators John Watson said it was the first time this type of partnership had occurred in Victoria and described the play space a ‘true wonderland’.

“This is an amazing piece of playground,” he said. “From the types of equipment available, to the treatment of the surfaces; these have all been designed for kids of all abilities to use and enjoy.”

The playground includes equipment specifically

designed for accessibility and inclusion with

spaces that engage the senses, and

has been designed

to allow carers to remain in close proximity to children in their care.

“There are slides, swings, things that twist and turn, and a specially designed flying fox.” Mr Watson said.

“The surfaces are soft and rubberised so they are safe and able to be used by children of all abilities, and the trampolines, carousel, wooden boats and swings have attachments that meet the needs of children with disabilities, including those in wheelchairs.”

The design of the playground narrows in the middle and is coloured to give the effect of a running stream. There is even a frog fountain for water play.

On opening day, 27 July 2013, hundreds of people gathered at the playground waiting for the official ceremony to start so playtime could begin.

One family travelled from Ballarat, more than 100kms from St Albans, to give their daughter who has been in a wheelchair since birth the experience of playing on equipment with her siblings and other children.

“That’s the nature of this playground,” Mr Watson said.

“Since then, bus loads of children of all ages and abilities have come to Alice’s Playground specifically because of its inclusive equipment

and layout.”The existing toilets have been upgraded for people with disabilities and their carers to access, and barbecues, seating and picnic facilities have been included. Wheelchair accessible

car parking has also been established on nearby streets.

Touched by Olivia has a vision for a network of inclusive playgrounds throughout Australia and it specialises in providing financial and in-kind support to councils, from the private sector.

The foundation approached Brimbank City Council in 2011 with research that demonstrated a significant proportion of residents were living in the municipality with a disability.

“The foundation believed we ticked all the boxes that met their criteria and we signed an in-principle agreement ahead of seeking community endorsement,” Mr Watson said.

Council consulted with the community by displaying plans and information in council buildings and the local Commonwealth Bank.

“Because of the high proportion of people living with a disability in Brimbank there was strong interest from our community,” Mr Watson said.

“People were genuinely interested in seeing this project develop and watched the construction with great interest.”

The final cost for Alice’s Playspace was $670,000 with Touched By Olivia contributing $200,000 and council funding the $470,000 balance.

“This project required a significant contribution from council but it was worth it in terms of meeting the needs of our population and gaining an understanding of the foundation and what they are trying to achieve,” Mr Watson said.

“Any council can look at the opportunity to develop something like this but it does not need to be as big or expensive.”

Alice’s Playground is the first stage of Brimbank’s Errington Precinct Masterplan, which will see a revitalised hub in St Albans that is more accessible, with better facilities.

“The partnership with Touched by Olivia gave a whole new purpose to the Errington Precinct Masterplan, which would have included a new playground,” Mr Watson said.

“The result is a space much better than we could have ever anticipated. We would have achieved a playground, but this is just the icing on the cake.”

c I vI c 1 7

he LEAD Art Project is one of the final initiatives to be rolled-out as part of the three year pilot project.

Launched in partnership with Shepparton Art Museum (SAM), council recruited 10 local artists from culturally diverse backgrounds as part of the project to develop unique artworks.

These art pieces have now been transferred onto adhesive material to create road foils on pavements in local public areas. The road foils will be seen until the end of the year, while the original artworks were on display in council’s foyer during a two-month exhibition.

The focus of LEAD is to engage with the community to raise awareness about the benefits of a culturally diverse community and the harm caused by race-based discrimination particularly targeting people from Asian, African, Middle Eastern, Indian and Aboriginal backgrounds.

Engaging local artists from Culturally and Linguistically Diverse, and Aboriginal, communities was part of LEAD’s action plan from the start of the project.

Council invited a number of local artists to apply for a $500 grant to

contribute an art piece to the project. Artists living in the Shepparton region from Japanese, African, Middle Eastern and European backgrounds, along with three Aboriginal artists, were among the final ten chosen to display their art in the public domain.

LEAD Coordinator Luke McBain said engaging the community through artwork displayed on footpaths in Shepparton’s Maude Street Mall and in the smaller townships was proving successful.

As Greater Shepparton City Council’s Localities Embracing and Accepting Diversity (LEAD) project moves into the evaluation phase, a unique public art display is providing the local community an opportunity to engage in multicultural art where they walk.

“The LEAD Art Project aims to break down the barriers between cultures, encourage the development of relationships between individuals and engage the wider community to promote pro-diversity and anti-discriminatory behaviour through the creation and display of art in prominent locations throughout the Shepparton region,” he said.

“Through public art we have been successful in engaging a wider community to promote diversity.

“One thing we have noticed about the effectiveness of the road foils is that when you stand back and watch people looking at the art, you can see people really engaging with the art via their positive body language”.

As LEAD starts to wind down, surveys and interviews are being held with key stakeholder groups as part of the evaluation being undertaken in conjunction with Melbourne University.

“While our focus has now turned to evaluation, we will continue to roll-out some of the community’s ideas or initiatives to keep the momentum of the LEAD project going,’ Mr McBain said.

The final evaluation of the LEAD project will be released next year.

Localities Embracing and Accepting Diversity (LEAD) is a pilot project aimed at reducing discrimination

and supporting diversity. Funded by VicHealth and The Department of Immigration and Citizenship in 2009,

the project has been implemented by Whittlesea City Council and the Greater Shepparton City Council with

support from the Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission, the Municipal Association of Victoria,

Beyond Blue and the University of Melbourne.

1 8 c I vI c

HUMAN RIGHTS AHEAD

Are you aware that Victoria has a Charter of Human Rights and Responsibilities?

And do you know that local councils have legal obligations under the Charter?

Each year, we ask all local councils to report on how they incorporate human rights into their policies and actions.

This year’s report on the Charter of Human Rights and Responsibilities and local government is now available and has some great case studies on how councils are putting human rights first.

The Charter and local government

Visit humanrightscommission.vic.gov.au/charterreports

How do YOU stack up against your human rights obligations?

“Although New York, London and Melbourne have different ideas about government involvement with faith groups, each council is committed to treating faith groups in a fair way.”

In preparing for the trip, Ms Baines had to overcome an initial challenge of who to contact.

“It took awhile to work out who to send an email to within the overseas councils, in fact it took several months,” she said.

Once contact with the right people was made, Ms Baines secured a meeting at the New York City Council Community Liaison for Religious Affairs Kihani Brea, whose full time job it is to understand what faith groups are doing. Ms Baines then went on to meet with Deputy Mayor of London and the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea Lady Victoria Borwick who was very supportive and

talked about government’s role in listening and responding to faith groups for almost two hours.

Closer to home, Ms Baines met with Melbourne City Council Mayor Robert Doyle who understood the issues.

“Councils are incredibly pragmatic and because of the increased diversity in each city – New York, London and Melbourne – each council believes it is important to work with faith communities to produce social harmony and peace between diverse religions,” Ms Baines said.

“At a local level, there is an even playing field and councils are responding to faith-based and secular interests in an even handed way.”

Ms Baines recently passed her PhD, which explored the church and state relationship in contemporary Australia. She will graduate in early October this year. Ms Baines also plans to increase education about diverse religions, which may include creating a best practice guide and developing information booklets.

Is religion the new ‘R’ for local government?

uestions around church and state led former Monash Councillor Charlotte Baines to explore if and how local government was responding to faith

groups, and demonstrate that council policies and laws could play a key role in educating the community about the value of religious difference.

A member of the Uniting Church in Australia, the questions really started flowing back in 2006 for the first-term councillor and academic.

Ms Baines soon started to work with council officers and religious leaders to explore how Monash could respond to the needs of faith-based communities.

These collaborations soon grew to more regular inter-faith forums with members of the community attending, and these are still continuing today.

“My experience on council was that my colleagues really valued religious diversity as a social resource, and they were prepared to speak out against discrimination on the grounds of religion,” Ms Baines said.

“Monash is religiously and ethically diverse and rather than continue to focus on the traditional three Rs – roads, rates and rubbish – we also needed to look at how we could respond to the growth of new and emerging faith groups.”

Fast-forward six years and there were still more questions about local government’s role in supporting religious difference and religious needs under existing multicultural policies and frameworks.

An MAV fellowship award last year, sponsored by MacArthur Management, gave Ms Baines the opportunity to have some of these answered.

The fellowship allowed Ms Baines to travel to London and New York to compare and contrast how New York City Council, the Greater London Authority and Melbourne City Council have responded to freedom of religion.

In her report back to the MAV, Freedom of Religion: Opportunities and Challenges for Local Government, Ms Baines’ findings showed that grass-roots initiative can play a key role in helping to promote socially inclusive cities.

“My case studies reveal that discrimination against Muslims and other minor faiths, such as the Sikhs, have heightened in the context of global terrorism and threats to national security and peace,” Ms Baines said.

(L-R) New York City Council Community Liaison for Religious Affairs Kihani Brea and 2012 MAV Fellowship award winner Charlotte Baines.

c I vI c 1 9

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10 yearsCelebrating

Change – climate change – is in the air. And it means that extreme weather events are likely to happen more often.

A new climate for changeBy Allison Harding

Extreme events that lead to floods, bushfires, heatwaves and coastal inundation can devastate regional and rural

communities. People die, crops and stock are lost, infrastructure is damaged, and businesses go broke.

It paints a daunting picture, which is why Colac Otway Shire Council is determined to understand, and be ready for, future extreme weather and what it could mean for the region.

Colac Otway is leading the Climate Resilient Communities of Barwon South West program, a collaboration of 10 councils including Glenelg, Southern Grampians, Moyne, Corangamite, Golden Plains, Surf Coast, and Greater Geelong, the Victorian Department of Environment and Primary Industries, and statutory agency partners.

The innovative project aims to help communities understand the risks and

opportunities that might be presented by future extreme weather.

Colac Otway Environment Coordinator Travis Riches said the project focused on evidence-based data.

“We are not focusing on the incremental changes, such as one degree Celsius increases in annual temperate, that will result from climate change,” he said.

“Rather, we’re looking at how extreme weather events may impact on the sorts of services and programs that councils provide.”

Climate change can affect many aspects of life, including health and wellbeing, economic viability, infrastructure security, public transport, water consumption, waste, and of course, the natural environment.

The project began in April last year and has received funding of around $900,000 – more than half of which was from the state government’s

Victorian Adaptation and Sustainability Partnership.

The first phase of the project is underway and involves gathering and reviewing scientific projections for the region, consulting with partners, and establishing regional priorities. The next phase of the collaboration will be to scope and deliver priority projects.

Mr Riches said there were many ways that councils would be able to adapt to changing conditions.

“While most councils are reasonably well prepared for a one-off crisis, it is more difficult when severe weather events become more frequent,” he said.

Ways to deal with climate change could include revising planning standards for coastal areas, reviewing standards for buildings and open spaces, and improved education and training for staff.

“For example, councils could address the issue of road damage through rainfall events by changing the material used to build the roads,” he said.

“Likewise, councils could change their communications with vulnerable people in their community during hot weather.”

Mr Riches said each council involved in the project would receive an adaptation plan template to assist in developing new ways to cope with climate change events in their areas.

“There is no question that climate change is happening, and we need to be as prepared as possible,” he said.

This article is the first in a special four-part series by guest writer Allison Harding about the work Victorian councils are putting in to tackle climate change. Look out for the Association of Bayside Municipalities climate change projects in the December edition of CiVic.

2 0 c I vI c

Adapting for successClimate change projections forecast that sea levels are likely to rise over the coming century, leading to storm surges, flooding and erosion in coastal areas.

The MAV is working with councils to encourage and assist their climate change actions and planning.

MAV Environment Manager Ben Morris said it is well accepted that councils, and other tiers of government, need to embed climate impacts into their council business and planning.

“Some councils are moving faster than others in this area, depending on their environments, and susceptibility to change and extreme weather events,” he said.

“For example, councils in a number of coastal areas have been working on detailed assessments of how climate change will affect their current exposure to flooding.”

These councils are collaborating with the state government and other land managers to understand how to manage these impacts.

The MAV also regularly liaises with state government agencies

on local government’s capacity to adapt to climate change.

“Councils need to be supported by clear policy – state, regional and local – good data, and access to technical expertise,” Mr Morris said.

“This is critical given the need to reassess risks and adapt responses.”

Councils and networks also need access to the latest statistics and forecasts to use in their planning.

“We get the best results when councils work with each other and other land managers, using the same figures, and similar approaches for analysis,” Mr Morris said.

Councils can also look to the new Australian Standard 5334-2013, which deals with the management of risks associated with climate change for communities and infrastructure.

* Adaptation planning is regularly used in climate change discussions. Generally, it refers to planning that reduces the impact and takes advantage of the opportunities arising from climate change. It also means increasing the capacity of a community or organisation to adapt to changes.

Top right: Climate Resilient Communities of Barwon South West program participants (L-R) Stewart Anderson (Colac Otway), Ben Pratt (RPS), Tim Harrold (Wannon Water), Nola McFarlane (Southern Grampians), Richard Hodgens (Moyne), Stella Whittaker (RPS), Pat Shaw (DEPI), Jack Green (Colac Otway), Bram Muller (Golden Plains), Kate Smallwood (Surf Coast), Jileena Baensch (Corangamite), Travis Riches (Colac Otway - Front), Sarah Farmer (RPS), Steve Reddington (Barwon Water), Kylie McIntyre (Southern Grampians), Kristyn Abbott (Warrnambool), Jacqueline Wilson (Borough of Queenscliffe) and Sarah Kinsela (KPMG).

c I vI c 2 1

The offi cial site for all Victorian Adaptation and Sustainability Partnership projects - sharing ideas, solutions and information

for better environmental outcomes.

> Tutorial videos

> Better navigation

> Improved search options

> New publication newsletters

> Join the conversation on Yammer

Victorian Local Government Sustainability WebsiteThe Victorian Local Government Sustainability Website has been re-launched with new features:

www.sustainability.mav.asn.au

Just 18 months ago more than 80 per cent of Moira, located in Victoria’s north east, was under water.

The extreme flooding caused major damage to 1,800 properties across 18 of Moira’s towns, impacting many of the 29,000-strong community. More than a quarter of the region’s road network was damaged and restoration of nearly 40 bridges, around 50 kilometres of drains, many community buildings and numerous sportsgrounds was required.

In many towns, the average annual rainfall fell in just six days (27 February - 4 March). Yarrawonga, Tungamah, Numurkah and Nathalia copped double, in some cases triple, the amount of rain on record from the region’s previous major flood events of 1974 and 1993.

At first, the damage bill to restore council infrastructure was estimated at around $30 million but as further exploration was done the final figure is more likely to settle around $50 million.

Through the Australian Government National Disaster Relief and Recovery Arrangements,

the recovery process was able to start within weeks of the natural disaster. However, Moira Shire Council took a measured approach to its long-term infrastructure restoration that is receiving widespread endorsement.

With a full time staff of less than 200, and an administration centre already at capacity, Moira quickly identified the need for additional technical and professional expertise and a temporary home to establish a dedicated flood recovery office.

CT Management Group was engaged to provide the necessary professional services team and provided an infrastructure recovery manager, lead civil engineer, project managers, and a team of field supervisors to undertake asset inspections and works surveillance.

This external team joined a number of council officers redeployed from Moira’s main office in Cobram to a dedicated flood recovery office established in one of the worst affected towns, Numurkah.

Moira Shire Council Flood Recovery Manager David Booth said that by the end of March a site had

Works to restore flood damaged infrastructure across the shire of Moira after severe storms in early 2012 is nearing completion, thanks to council’s strategic and measured response to the emergency event.

recovers quickly from good planning

About 80 per cent of Moira was under water after severe flooding devastated the region in February/March 2012.

2 2 c I vI c

been located in a former shop and fitted-out for a dedicated flood team that soon peaked at 15 full time staff.

“Numurkah was an obvious choice because it was central to the shire for access by residents and had itself been severely impacted by the disaster,” he said.

Leased for the duration of the recovery project, the space became the administration headquarters for flood related activities, including a customer service office, meeting room and workstations.

“Recovery has peaks and troughs,” Mr Booth said.

“We mobilised quickly and the team peaked at about 15 professional services and council staff who made sure this remote base operated in accordance with the systems and processes of Moira’s main administration office; albeit dedicated to flood enquiries and information.”

In the months immediately following the floods, around 400 people a week visited the dedicated office, which soon highlighted three

clear benefits. It separated the recovery process from council’s day-to-day administration, ensured the distinction between the functions of each office remained clear to the community, and allowed project costs to be separated in a transparent way for government reporting.

With council leading the dedicated flood recovery team, CT Management implemented new technology to record flood damage, program the works, and generate progress reports.

The technology allowed data relating to flood damage to be recorded in a Flood Recovery Database (Delta-S). This database was used to assess eligibility for restoration and used to manage expenditure throughout the restoration process. Over a six month inspection period, information recorded on-site, using hand held devices and uploaded to the Delta-S system, captured more than 3,500 defects caused by the floods. These ranged from small potholes to large sections of road, all of which required some form of restoration.

Other processes developed by council and the CT Management Group to ensure the recovery

period was as quick and painless as possible included the development of an appropriate model for tendering and contract management. This included allocating multiple contractors work in packages under a major works contract.

A community engagement strategy was also rolled-out to keep the community informed of restoration works as they proceeded. This included community meetings, letters to affected residents, and the distribution of regular newsletters about flood recovery activities to manage expectations.

Around 90 per cent of restoration works are now complete, which has been achieved faster than expected and ahead of the June 2014 grant deadline.

Mr Booth said council was pleased with the progress.“The establishment of the dedicated flood office, the utilisation of innovative technology, our contract management processes and use of experienced project managers and engineers has provided a positive outcome for the restoration of our shire and has received a good response from our community,” he said.

The Australian Army helps out in Moira. Following the floods, almost 1,000 sandbags were used.

c I vI c 2 3

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Who’s representing you?The MAV Councillor Census takes place after each round of council elections to understand the make-up and trends of Victoria’s elected representatives. In 2013, responses were received from 79 per cent of councillors. > Majority are male aged over 46 years > Rise in councillors aged 26-35

years, but a decrease in those aged under 25

> Most are self-employed or working > Majority earn above $52,000 per year > Most have a post school qualification > Female councillors have higher levels

of undergraduate or post graduate qualifications than males

> Female representation has increased despite more than 50 per cent also reporting caring responsibilities

> More than 40 per cent newly elected > More than 60 per cent spend 11 to

30 hours a week on councillor duties, in addition to other employment

> 23 per cent identify with no political party.

MAV Annual Conference & DinnerBringing the sector’s leaders and decision makers together, the peak forum for local government in Victoria will see high profile speakers propose confronting ideas to stimulate discussion, extend the thinking of the sector, inspire new practices and improve performance.

Register at Upcoming Events on http://www.mav.asn.au/events

Saturday

October26

The Garage Sale Trail is a not-for-profit mission supported by the MAV to create positive social and environmental change.

Last year, seven Victorian councils participated, with a population footprint of just under one million people. In 2013, 24 Victorian councils have signed up to be a part of this national day of garage sales to help reduce waste, create community connections, provide a fundraising platform and stimulate local economies.

If your council isn’t participating this year you might like to get along to the garage sales taking place in other local communities on 26 October to find out what it’s all about, or speak with participating councils to hear about the benefits reaped in their community.

garagesaletrail.com.au

Employer of choiceA new sector wide employment branding project by the MAV aims to position local government as an employer of choice to attract a broader range of quality candidates and grow talent pools. A consolidated statewide campaign will also boost the profile of council employment opportunities and increase councils’ return on investment. For the campaign to proceed, expressions of interest must be returned to the MAV by 31 October.

www.careersyoulove.com.au

No room for racismStanding up to Race-Based Discrimination, Local Government Continuing to Build Inclusive Communities is a new MAV resource, funded by VicHealth, to support local government’s broad and diverse roles working for and within local communities. It assists councils to understand race-based discrimination and showcases council achievements in shaping cohesive and diverse communities, and promoting fairness and justice for all residents.

Some simple tips for employers of migrants and refugees to create a more understanding and harmonious workplace were released by the Australian Government. Check out www.immi.gov.au/employers/connections.

“Migrants can find Australian

colloquialisms confusing,

eg Bring a plate’, ‘this machine is

cactus’. You and your employees can help

by explaining colloquial expressions

and technical jargon.”

2 4 c I vI c

The Stronger Planning Enforcement – Risk Assessment Tool provides a framework for councils,

particularly in rural and regional areas, to respond to complaints and audit planning permit compliance.

The tool is currently being trialled in Mount Alexander, Bendigo, South Gippsland, Moira and Colac Otway shires. These councils played an integral role in developing the framework for the Stronger Planning Assessment tool in collaboration with the MAV, Rural Councils Victoria and consultants Russell Kennedy Solicitors.

Together, the group based the framework on a 2008 Victorian Auditor-General’s report, Enforcement of Planning Permits, where Hume and Ballarat city councils took part in determining the role and function of councils in enforcing planning permits.

The risk assessment framework provides a four-step process for councils to identify areas of enforcement while determining the risk profile associated with planning permit breaches. This assessment is then used to help determine enforcement priorities.

Identification is the first step in the process and is separated into Part A – identifying areas for targeted proactive enforcement, and Part B – identifying complaints made to council relating to an alleged breach of a planning permit and/or the planning scheme.

The next step is to assess the risk profile by using the list created in

An innovative new planning tool is helping some rural councils enforce planning and building permits while saving time and improving community safety.

step one to assess and evaluate the breach of a permit, or when a permit is required but not held. In assessing the profile, council determines if there is a risk to human life, property, the environment, economy, amenity or heritage, or to council’s legal liability or reputation. In step three, these risks are given a priority rating ranging from very low to very high.

The final step in the matrix is audit and enforce. In this final step, councils determine where to direct and allocate resources, with the higher the priority rating, the more resources required to undertake compliance activities.

Since the development of the new tool, Mount Alexander Shire Council has changed its planning audit strategy by moving away from its previous approach of random selection to auditing based on the risk-based model.

Mount Alexander Planning Compliance Officer Greg McKay said before the risk assessment tool, council selected every second property to audit.

“By auditing in this way it was found that there was a large proportion of non-compliant permits, particularly those with CFA conditions attached,” he said.

“Along with better auditing and compliance functionality, this new framework is helping to make our community safer by auditing the properties with higher risk potential.”

The matrix can be interpreted to fit with individual requirements of all councils.

Proof is in the enforcement

The effectiveness of the Stronger Planning Enforcement

- Risk Assessment Tool was seen recently when Mount

Alexander Shire Council uncovered a serious planning

permit breach that could have continued to go unnoticed

under the council’s old audit regime.

Council audited a property with a building permit

to identify if a dwelling had been constructed and,

more importantly, if it complied with CFA conditions.

Three bricks and mortar huts being used for

accommodation were found to be constructed on the

property outside of the building envelope with no building

permit or smoke alarms and were non-compliant with CFA.

With serious risk to life and property at stake, Mount

Alexander has taken mandatory enforcement steps.

Mount Alexander is one of five rural councils trialling a new planning assessment tool to improve planning enforcements.

“By using the newly developed risk assessment tool, and with our knowledge of permits with a high level of non-compliance such as CFA conditioning, we came up with three categories – dwellings, non-dwellings and dwelling extensions – and place

all of our permits under these before we apply the matrix,” Mr McKay said.

“This new tool is a better way of auditing in that we are using our time and resources more constructively and targeting specific areas of concern.”

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Kids offer up a bit of VegspirationKnox kids might soon declare brussel sprouts the latest craze after the launch of Knox City Council’s social media campaign Vegspiration recently.

The 10-week Facebook-based initiative is expected to inspire young families to put some colour on their plate and eat more vegetables.

The Healthy Together Knox team created the virtual health kick after it was revealed only 8 per cent of residents consumed the recommended five serves of vegetables each day.

Vegspiration is the first local level social media campaign driven by Healthy Together Knox, a three-year state and federal government funded initiative between Knox City Council and Knox Community Health Service.

“I’m sure the campaign will feed Knox with the right portions of activities, suggestions, ideas and nutritional information to make sure vegetables become a food everyone can enjoy,” said Knox City Council Mayor Karin Orpen.

At the launch in September, a group of young mini-chefs wore t-shirts that read ‘I love veggies’ and individually decorated chef’s hats as they cooked up a veggie inspired storm.

New school for Melton

Melton City Council will get a new primary school after the state government pledged $11.5 million funding.

Melton Mayor Kathy Majdlik explained there was an unprecedented demand for additional schools in the municipality.

“Our municipality is the second fastest growing area in Australia, and with that growth comes the need for more infrastructure and services,” she said.

“We also have a very young population with 42 new families moving in each week, so advocating for additional schools has long been a priority for us.

“This funding will make a real difference to lives of many families in our community. The new school will help deliver additional places for school provision to the north-west of Melton township but further school provision is required in other areas of the municipality.”

Multicultural one-stop shop

The Ballarat Library is now a one-stop shop for the local multicultural community, with the opening of its new Multicultural Services desk. Ballarat’s multicultural community can visit the desk for information on employment, housing and literacy, with resources available from multicultural service providers in the Grampians region.

Ballarat Councillor John Philips said the new desk was a welcome addition to the library.

“Ballarat’s multicultural community will benefit from being able to make one point of call to get all the information they require in regards to jobs, housing and literacy,” he said.

“To have access to this information in the one location as well as having the opportunity to chat directly to staff and volunteers is sure to have positive outcomes for our multicultural community.”

In Brief

The desk will be jointly staffed by council officers, and staff from Ballarat Community Health Centre and the Centre for Multicultural Youth along with volunteers from the Ballarat Regional Multicultural Council.

Accessible dining

Port Phillip City Council has launched the Accessible Dining Guide 2013 for some of the area’s best eateries encompassing Fitzroy Street, St Kilda and Bay Street, Port Melbourne.

The innovative new guide provides information such as noise levels, lighting, access to main entry, furniture and whether there is an accessible toilet, to help people to select a venue that suits their needs. The guide is aimed at supporting people with disabilities but is also relevant to people with prams and older residents.

The release of the guide coincided with the launch of council’s Access Plan 2013-18, which identifies key strategies to address access barriers in Port Phillip. The Access Plan will be registered with the Australian Human Rights Commission.

Bushfire memorial unveiled

Cardinia Shire Council unveiled a bushfire memorial at Koolangarra Park in Bunyip to commemorate those who lost their lives, endured loss or were affected by the Black Saturday bushfires of 2009.

The memorial also pays tribute to those who helped the community during the Bunyip Ridge fire of the same time, including emergency services, volunteers, government agencies and charities.

The memorial was funded by state and federal government’s Community Recovery Fund and council. The ceremony was an intimate gathering for the local community and included a native tree planting ceremony.

2 6 c I vI c

Events

SeptemberHinterland Scarecrow TrailDate: 20 September - 21 October 2013Venue: Mornington Peninsula, various locationsDescription: This springtime event celebrates Mornington Peninsula’s unique, creative, character with a touring trail of scarecrow creations and farm-yard art. Experience this free family activity and discover the artistic interpretations of the humble scarecrow.Need more? www.scarecrowfestival.org.au

OctoberBirregurra Weekend Festival and Art ShowDate: 11 - 13 October 2013Venue: Main Street, BirregurraDescription: The tiny town of Birregurra is transformed with this colourful festival and art show, showcasing the best of the Otway region’s produce with plenty of entertainment. Browse the stalls, sample the food and wine, experience a camel ride and don’t miss the popular dog jump.Need more? www.birregurra.com/festival

Tomato Sales Day at Rippon Lea EstateDate: 20 October 2013Venue: Rippon Lea House and Gardens, Elsternwick

Description: Spring is here and it’s the best time to plant your tomatoes for a bumper summer crop. The Rippon Lea Estate’s National Trust gardeners are on hand for advice.Need more? www.ripponleaestate.com.au

Alexandra and District Open Gardens WeekendDate: 26 - 27 October 2013Venue: Alexandra and district, various locationsDescription: In its 22nd year, the Alexandra and District Open Gardens Weekend allows garden enthusiasts a chance to explore some of the wonderful town and farm gardens of this north central Victorian region. Gardens will be bursting with spring growth and visitors can visit the historic Dove Cottage and enjoy local music.Need more? www.alexandraopengardens.com.au

Jazzing on Puffing Billy RailwayDate: 26 October 2013Venue: Puffing Billy Railway, BelgraveDescription: Get your feet tapping with a fun filled journey through the Dandenong Ranges with Jazz on Puffing Billy Railway. Be entertained with live jazz music from the Mast Gully Quartet, sample great local wines and enjoy dinner in the historic Nobelius Packing Shed.Need more? www.puffingbilly.com.au

NovemberDjerriwarrh FestivalDate: 9 November 2013Venue: High Street, MeltonDescription: Melton’s biggest community festival is a must for people of all ages with activities including art and craft, barbecues, children’s activities, evening entertainment, a street parade and shopping.Need more? www.melton.vic.gov.au

The Melbourne Ring Cycle 2013Date: 18 - 25 Nov, 27 Nov - 4 Dec, 6 - 13 DecVenue: Arts Centre, 100 St Kilda Road, MelbourneDescription: Opera Australia will present its first ever complete staging of Richard Wagner’s Der Ring des Nibelungen - The Ring of the Nibelung. For opera lovers, the Ring Cycle is the pinnacle of the opera experience - 16 hours of opera over four performances, with more than 350 singers, dancers, musicians, costume-makers and technicians bringing Wagner’s masterwork to the stage.Need more? melbourneringcycle.com.au

Aperture FestivalDate: 22 - 23 NovemberVenue: Carrillo Gantner Theatre – Sidney Myer Asia Centre, Parkville BasementDescription: This is the first ethnographic film festival of its kind. With the focus on Asia Pacific, Aperture aims to raise awareness of cultures from the region, as well as showcase the talent of filmmakers.Need more? aperturefestival.com

c I vI c 2 7

Contact: Workplace Emergency Management, Metropolitan Fire Brigade

450 Burnley Street, Richmond VIC 3121Phone: 1800 668 006 Fax: (03) 9420 3890

Email: wem@mfb.vic.gov.auWeb: www.mfb.vic.gov.au/wemm

Your Fire Safety Training Needs

MFB’s Workplace Emergency Management Department has developed a range of products so every workplace can plan, prepare and respond to emergencies. These include:

Workplace Emergency Management On Line Tool: For small to medium sized business, this tool provides a structured framework to prepare a comprehensive and customised emergency management plan for as little as $126.

Training: A full range of practical training from covering initial emergency response and extinguisher training through to Chief Warden is available at your workplace or our training facility.

MFB’s Community Education led a project to incorporate fi re safety information into the VET qualifi cations for community aged care workers nationally. The basic home fi re safety training materials specially developed for community sector workers are now available free via download from MFB’s website. Go to www.mfb.vic.gov.au look for this logo and follow the links.

2 8 c I vI c

Frankston City Council Saves $360,000 a Year with ShoreTelFrankston City Council is based on the eastern shores of Port Phillip Bay, south of Melbourne, covering an area of about 131 square kilometres and aims to meet the needs of more than 130,000 residents.ShoreTel worked with solutions provider NSC Group to help the Council migrate from an out-dated PABX environment to a ShoreTel unifi ed communications and contact centre solution, saving the Council over $360,000 per year.

The Business ChallengeThe Council was operating within a PABX networking environment for years, but decided to go out to tender due to the limited lifespan of the existing hosted telephony solution, along with the signifi cant ongoing costs related to the maintenance of the previous network.“The previous system was cumbersome and diffi cult to integrate with other technologies. It also had limited functionality, which ultimately was hindering overall productivity levels,” said Rohan Puls, Information Services Manager at Frankston City Council.The solutions offered by ShoreTel were the most suitable upgrade for the network infrastructure.

The Business SolutionSince Frankston City Council is situated in a wide geographic area with many different outposts connected via various means, the fl exibility offered by ShoreTel’s unifi ed communications and contact centre solutions were the perfect fi t with Council’s requirements.With the assistance of solutions provider NSC Group, a ShoreTel Unifi ed Communications (UC) solution was rolled out smoothly, replacing the previous PABX environment.“ShoreTel provided the most fl exible, easiest to administer, function rich, scalable and cost effective unifi ed communications solution,” said Puls.

“With the new features of instant messaging and multi point video capabilities, ratepayers calling in to the Council’s contact centre with specifi c queries can have their questions answered quickly and effi ciently. Agents are now able to simply instant-message the appropriate contact to seek responses; whether the query is in relation to environment, rates or even legislation.“Not only has this made the entire contact centre more effi cient, but has also made the internal processes easier to manage. Plus, the actual administration of the system by Council’s IT staff is straightforward and uncomplicated,” said Puls.

The Business Benefi tsSince the implementation of the ShoreTel UC and ECC solutions, Frankston City Council has enjoyed signifi cant benefi ts.As well as signifi cantly reducing the cost of calling between various Council outposts, the ShoreTel Work Group and ECC solutions have eliminated costly line rentals amounting to $30,000 per month – a cost saving of $360,000 per year.“As a local Council, the ability to easily move around the offi ce, work remotely and collaborate across many sites was critical to us. The effectiveness and simplicity of ShoreTel made it an obvious choice for Council, given our multiple sites and end users,” said Puls.

Workplace Emergency Management Manual (WEMM)WEMM is a simple online tool that assists small to medium workplaces develop plans for emergencies. It is based on (AS) 3745-2010 “Planning for Emergencies in Facilities”. It makes emergency management planning more accessible for smaller businesses.

Why do I need it?All workplaces have potential risks that expose them to emergencies. Planning will:

• Provide accurate identification of workplace hazards• Enable you to plan around the impact of potential workplace emergencies• Help you to fulfil your duty of care• Assist with business continuity planning

Planning demonstrates a genuine regard for employee welfare and can reduce disruption to business operations.

Victorian OH&S Act 2004, (Section 21. Duties of employers to employees) states:

“An employer must, so far as is reasonably practicable, provide and maintain for employees of the employer a working environment that is safe and without risks to health.” (This includes during emergency events and extends to visitors, customers and contractors)

How does it work?This online tool takes you through the emergency management process step-by-step, creating a customised manual for your business.

The online account registration process includes a WEMM reference folder which will be posted to you. Save your tailored manual as a pdf or print it and insert into the folder. You may update the manual and print it as often as is needed for the term of the registration.

How to get started?Log on to www.mfb.vic.gov.au/wemm and prepare your business for any emergency.

Workplace Emergency Management Planning:

Construction is expected to start on the $125 million Casey Cultural and Civic Precinct in mid-2015, which

will be one of the largest council-driven projects in Victoria’s history.

Casey Mayor Amanda Stapledon said the announcement of the mega-precinct was fantastic news for Casey’s 270,000 residents and all outer east and south east Melbourne residents.

“The Casey Cultural and Civic Precinct is one of the largest projects ever embarked upon by local government in Victoria and will be a truly unique and iconic facility of which the community can be extremely proud,” Cr Stapledon said.

“As the Casey community continues to grow, residents, artists, performers, schools and community groups want to see a facility built in the area which reflects their aspirations and showcases our status as Victoria’s largest and most vibrant municipality.”

The Casey Cultural and Civic Precinct will be an innovative multi-purpose facility at the heart of the community, combining cultural, community and civic amenities under one roof.

It will include a regional theatre, multi-purpose exhibition space,

Casey’s plan for new $125M precinctA visionary plan to create a truly unique cultural, community and civic precinct at Fountain Gate in Narre Warren was announced recently by Casey City Council.

Casey Mayor Amanda Stapledon (middle) stands with the community set to benefit from the proposed $125 million Casey Cultural and Civic Precinct.

regional art gallery, new community library, community meeting rooms, civic centre and community plaza.

As a result of many years of responsible financial management, Casey City Council will fund a large portion of the project, which will be achieved through a combination of savings, a loan and external funding.

“As the project will benefit the wider community and region, particularly artists, performing arts groups and local schools, council will be calling on the state and federal

governments to contribute funding”, Cr Stapledon said.

“There’s currently nowhere else in Melbourne that you can get assistance from council, take in a theatre show, view amazing art, see a national touring exhibition, relax with friends and family and even visit the gym in such close proximity.”

This project is set to further enhance the Fountain Gate major activity centre and will be located adjacent to Casey Aquatic and Recreation Centre, with the recently-expanded Westfield Fountain Gate Shopping Centre nearby.

“With Westfield Fountain Gate within easy walking distance, you can also go shopping, catch a movie and enjoy dinner nearby.”

The cultural and civic precinct is expected to provide a significant contribution to the economic development of the local region and is a vote of confidence in Casey’s robust economy.

Providing at least 1,000 jobs during the construction phase, the project will inject more than $300 million into the regional economy.

In addition to providing local jobs for local people, it will also stimulate the financial growth and sustainability of the arts and cultural sector.

Cr Stapledon acknowledged the work of Cr Wayne Smith for his vision in relation to the regional theatre and art gallery, and all councillors for supporting the arts community.

“A vision, objectives and site plan have been developed, and council is now seeking community input to further develop the project,” she said.

The proposed site for the new precinct is subject to a planning scheme amendment.

The Casey Cultural and Civic Precinct is expected to open to the community mid-2017.

c I vI c 2 9

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Western Metro Mayors Group (L-R) Brimbank Administrator John Watson, Wyndham Mayor Heather Marcus, Moonee Valley Mayor Narelle Sharpe, Maribyrnong Mayor Catherine Cumming, Hobsons Bay Mayor Angela Altair and Melton Mayor Kathy Majdlik.

For the first time in history, the Western Metro Mayors group is comprised of five females, with the inclusion of Brimbank Administrator John Watson.

Tackling the big issues like the east-west tunnel, the mayors of Melton, Wyndham, Hobsons Bay, Moonee Valley and Maribyrnong city councils have taken the opportunity of being part of the Western Mayors Group to learn from each other both professionally and personally.

The 2013 Western Metro Mayors are all returning councillors and include first-time mayors Cr Narelle Sharpe (Moonee Valley), Cr Catherine Cumming (Maribyrnong) and Cr Kathy Majdlik (Melton) joining experienced second-time mayors Cr Heather Marcus (Wyndham) and Cr Angela Altair (Hobsons Bay) to work collaboratively on issues concerning Melbourne’s western region.

“Our group has a fantastic dynamic, with a good balance of enthusiasm from Kathy (Majdlik), Catherine (Cumming) and myself as first-time mayors all around the same age (40-ish) and stage of life with young children,” Cr Sharpe said.

“This is balanced with the wealth of experience from Angela (Altair) and Heather (Marcus), along with John.”

Compared to other committees Cr Sharpe sits on, this group operates slightly different because of the female gender balance.

“I guess we’re at ease with talking about individual issues as well as the shared challenges we all face in our municipalities,” she said.

“We speak with great honesty amongst each other, and there is a confidence and trust that has been built between us.

“We are also fortunate to have Brimbank Administrator John Watson as part of the group as he often brings a different position or perspective and his breadth of experience and expertise in the local government sector is invaluable.”

The group meets bi-monthly and has been told by council staff it has the strongest working relationship that has existed between the six councils in history.

“We hope that this becomes our legacy, that together we can work together well to achieve what we need to achieve for Melbourne’s western region,” Cr Sharpe said.

If there is a change to the group when mayoral elections are held again later this year, the five women have agreed to continue their regular catch-ups and build on what they’ve already started.

“We have a lot of serious and challenging issues to work on but amongst all that it has been great to make good friends, and we will continue to remain friends and share our experiences for a long time to come,” Cr Sharpe said.

Western women unitedA group of all female elected mayors from Melbourne’s western municipalities have formed a unique bond that is expected to go beyond their mayoral terms.

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Keynote Address – The Victorian Government’s waste reform agenda- The Hon. Ryan Smith

Sustainability Victoria’s programs to deliver Government’s waste reform agenda- Stan Krpan, CEO, Sustainability Victoria

EPA’s programs to deliver Government’s waste reform agenda- John Merritt, CEO, EPA

The role for Government in supporting growth in the waste and resource recovery industry- Kate Houghton, Executive Director Environmental Policy, DEPI- John Merritt, CEO, EPA- Stan Krpan, CEO, Sustainability Victoria

International standards and the future of e-waste in Australia- Libby Chaplin, Director, Arcadian Solutions (USA)- John Gertsakis, Chief Sustainability Officer, Infoactiv Group Pty Ltd

Battery recycling – current markets and future opportunities- Chair: Dr Helen Lewis, CEO, Australian Battery Recycling Initiative- Corrinne Faure-Rochu, Director Business Development, RECUPYL (France)- Will LeMessurier, CEO, MRI (Aust) Pty Ltd- Todd Vains, CEO, Enirgi Metals Group

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Doesn’t add upStonnington has asked Victoria Police and an external auditing agency to investigate a financial anomaly in one of its service areas.

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officer, which gives me more time to dedicate to the mayoral role. The day includes official duties, meetings, and appointments with residents, returning phone calls and answering emails until 2am.

Cardinia Shire covers a diverse mix of landscapes from farming to expanding residential zones to extensive national parks and coastal areas. Does this present any specific challenges for council?Our diversity is challenging. In the north, we have one of

the most bushfire prone areas in the world. To the south we have significant flood risk areas. We are also one of the fastest growing municipalities in Australia. It is exciting to play a part in our growth and our history. I take my role as mayor and councillor extremely seriously. I intend to leave a positive legacy.

What are your key priorities for council?The Monash Freeway is at capacity. Currently, 70 per cent of our working residents leave the shire for work. Business and job creation is a major priority.

The Bunyip Food Belt, the Port of Hastings and an airport southeast of Melbourne, located in our shire, are all a must. We continue to advocate to other levels of government to help us to achieve these goals.

As well as serving as mayor you are a police officer. How does this help in your local government role?I have a community liaison role with Victoria Police which allows me to undertake a more proactive and community focused role. This assists me to further develop skills in which I can utilise in my mayoral role.

You attended the Jamie’s Ministry of Food cooking classes. Are you the chief cook at home now?The program is fantastic. Our shire was very lucky to be one of the early sites in Victoria and the community has embraced the program. The Ministry of Food has certainly improved my cooking skills, which have helped me to prepare several dishes for my family, but I have some way to go.

When you have a chance to relax, what do you like to do?I love spending time with my family and friends. We enjoy having people over for a good meal, a quiet drink and a good chat. I am a mad St Kilda Football Club fan but I am not getting much enjoyment there at the moment. After my mayoral term, I am looking forward to spending more time with my wife Jackie and my two sons.

Cr Brett Owen is a veteran of local government, having served the Cardinia community as a councillor since 2005 and mayor since 2012. He spoke to CiVic about the lessons he’s learnt along the way, his priorities for council and what it’s like to balance his role as mayor with all other aspects of his busy life.

Illustration by Kathryn Steel.

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Cr Brett OwenMayor Cardinia Shire Council

Reducing waste paysCardinia is offering residents financial and other incentives to join its Halve Your Waste program.

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It is exciting to play a part in our growth and our history.

You are currently serving your third term as a councillor. What are some of the most important lessons you’ve learnt that are helping you now that you are mayor?The role of mayor has given me a wider perspective, and helped me to develop a greater understanding and appreciation of the whole shire. I have also had the opportunity to work closely with council staff and improve my working relationship with them. It is vitally important to work as a team to get the best results for the shire. I would not be able to undertake the role without the support of the staff and fellow councillors.

What does an average workday look like for you?I begin the day by changing a nappy or two. I have boys aged three months and two years. Balancing my two roles of both mayor and a police officer is often difficult but possible due to my very supportive wife. During my mayoral term, I have chosen to work part-time as a police 3 2 c I vI c

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