RCV Mayors, Councillors and CEOs Forum and Annual General Meeting Wednesday 17 October 2018 at the Arts Centre, Melbourne
To register, click here.
Each year, Rural Councils Victoria invites delegates to its annual meeting. The timing of this year’s meeting coincides with the second 2018 RCV forum, which will be held at the Arts Centre Melbourne, from 10am on Wednesday, 17 October. As part of this meeting, the 2017-18 Annual Report will be presented, featuring information about the achievements of the past financial year, the major advocacy efforts which have occurred and the progress on the RCV milestones.
The program for the October Mayors, Councillors and CEOs Forum includes:
Minister for Regional Development Jaala Pulford
Minister for Local Government Marlene Kairouz
Opposition Leader Matthew Guy
Regional Australia Institute Chief Executive Officer Jack Archer
Foundation for Rural and Regional Renewal Chief Executive Officer Natalie Egleton
Paul Shipp from Urban Enterprise
John Stevens from Dench McClean Carlson
Connor Parker from The Agenda Group
Rules of Incorporation Review The current Rules of Incorporation are being reviewed, and proposed changes will be released to member councils for feedback in August. A special resolution will be put to member councils at the AGM in October to confirm changes.
Rural & Regional Councils Sustainability Reform Report The Victorian Government has committed $20 million from the 2018-2019 Victorian State Budget for a Rural Councils' Transformation Program to improve the efficiency of rural local governments. The program will support collaboration and shared services in rural and regional Victoria at a scale that has not been available previously. KPMG have delivered a report to underpin this work, which is available to view here. This report reinforces strong links between the work already underway with RCV and the needs of LGV.
Advocacy meetings
Part of the role of RCV is to advocate on behalf of member councils. This can take the form of writing letters, meeting with Ministers and other government organisations in an effort to improve the lives of people living in rural areas. In recent months, meetings have included Local Government Minister Marlene Kairouz and Victorian Treasurer Tim Pallas, as well as the Office of the Victorian Skills Commissioner, NBN and VicTrack.
RCV is working with The Agenda Group to prepare a campaign for the Victorian Government election. High-level messaging has been developed that will be used consistently across all advocacy and communications campaigns. The key messages identify the following priorities, and will underpin the development of RCV’s advocacy platforms in the lead up to the Victorian Government election:
Sustainable rural communities
Liveable communities – when we invest in communities, so do businesses and residents. Liveable communities are good for families and economies.
Broader job offerings – economically resilient towns are sustainable towns. Bringing new industries to rural Victoria will make communities stronger.
Quality infrastructure – effective transport connections are the lifeblood of rural Victoria. Investing in rural roads and rail is essential.
Population growth – We have the jobs – we need the people. Encouraging population growth in rural Victoria will revitalise rural economies.
Better representation – A strong voice for rural Victorians means services that better respond to their real-world needs.
Sustainable rural councils
Financial sustainability – long term problems need long-term solutions. Sustainable rural councils can deliver generational change.
Improving service delivery – when councils can’t afford vital services, families and businesses suffer. Rural communities need support to meet expectations.
Population Attraction and Retention Strategies for Rural Victorian Communities
As part of Workstream 3, the Population Attraction and Retention Strategies for Rural Victorian Communities project consolidates the lessons of RCV’s prior projects along with evidence from the broader knowledge base to determine a practical, actionable set of projects for RCV to support over the next three years. The final report identified seven key projects, two of which have been completed:
With these reports now completed, RCV Committee members will be briefing relevant Ministers on the findings and RCV’s asks of government as a result of the reports. A meeting was held with Minister Jaala Pulford on 25 May to brief her on the Rural Population Growth Policy. A meeting was also held with Mr Peter Walsh, Leader of the Nationals, on 7 June. A workshop will be held with RDV policy staff to present the detailed findings of the reports and discuss how they will impact State policy. A workshop will also be held for Council officers to attend, and the consultants who developed the reports will present at the Mayors, Councillors and CEOs Forum in October.
Image: A sunset view in Strathbogie Shire
Expressions of Interest - Project Management
RCV is now calling for expressions of interest from member Councils for the project management of the following four projects. To express interest, please contact the RCV Secretariat via reply email.
Rural Investment Attraction Program - Introducing mechanisms and capacity building to identify, promote and facilitate significant private sector investment opportunities.
Older Persons Services and Accommodation Program - Identifying initiatives that support the capacity for rural communities to attract and retain older people.
Delivery of Services that Contribute to Liveability - Identifying examples of working models of alternate service delivery for key services that underpin liveability.
Community Planning Update - Identifying common needs that could be supported through government or private sector investment. Aligning with Population Growth in Rural Victoria report.
Social media proves popular
A huge effort has been undertaken by RCV recently to increase its social media presence.
RCV has held a Twitter account for several years, and recently has started a Facebook page, which is proving a popular communications tool.
We encourage people to like our Facebook page and follow us on Twitter to keep informed of the latest with RCV.
Our Club - a new resource
Alcohol and gaming are closely linked to many clubs’ sporting and social activities. The Victorian Commission for Gambling and Liquor Regulation (VCGLR) is the regulator of liquor and gambling in Victoria. It recognises that committee members are often working on a voluntary basis, have numerous time pressures and experience membership turnover on a regular basis and the level of understanding of their legal obligations may reduce over time.
The VCGLR has developed the ‘Our Club’ folder as a specific resource for clubs to provide committee members with a comprehensive guide that clearly outlines the club’s (and committee members’) obligations/responsibilities under the legislation and to assist with the management of the club’s liquor and (if applicable) gaming licence. To find out more, go to https://www.vcglr.vic.gov.au/liquor/sporting-and-community-club/licensee-resources/our-club
