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Bass Coast News BulletinIncludes: Local Government assembles in Canberra; New Access Committee in place; and Westernport Seagrass Partnership launched By Bass Coast Shire Council - 6th July 2009 - Back to News Local Government assembles in Canberra
Bass Coast Mayor, Cr John Duscher and CEO, Allan Bawden attended the National General Assembly of Local Government in Canberra in June.
The event brings together more than 700 local government mayors, councillors and CEOs from across Australia.
This year the focus was on the major issues impacting local government across the board, such as climate change and infrastructure renewal and now to develop a national approach across these key areas.
While in Canberra, Mr Bawden and Cr Duscher took the opportunity to call on local members, Greg Hunt and Russell Broadbent. They also visited the office of Maxine McKew, secretary for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government to discuss Commonwealth funding of Council projects under the Federal Government’s Community Infrastructure Program.
New Access Committee in place
A new Access & Inclusion Advisory Committee has been formed for a term of xx years. This year, there were double the amount of applications received to be a committee member than there were positions available, showing there is strong interest in improving opportunities for people with disability in Bass Coast.
The Committee’s role is to help keep disability issues on Council’s agenda and offer a resource to Council and Council staff when they need to consult with the disability community. This includes people with a disability, carers and people with an interest in disability related issues.
The committee is made up of community representatives, local organisational representatives and council officers. Cr Ross Smith is the chair of the committee.
At the first meeting of the new committee, the Draft Municipal Recreation Plan and Draft Arts & Culture Plan were presented and members were asked to consider commenting on them in relation to the disability community and encourage others with whom they network to do the same.
For more information on the committee please contact Cathy Giliam, RuralAccess Worker on 1300 BCOAST (226 278).
Westernport Seagrass Partnership launched
Bass Coast Mayor, Cr John Duscher, launched the Westernport Seagrass Partnership DVD and website last week on Churchill Island.
"The Westernport Seagrass partnership is a voluntary environmental organisation dedicated to protecting and restoring the ecology of Westernport," explained Cr Duscher.
"For the past ten years the partnership has worked to understand and restore the seagrass meadows and mangrove stands in Westernport.
"This wonderful DVD has been developed to help educate people on some of the features of and issues confronting Westernport and its catchment," continued Cr Duscher.
"It is a fabulous documentary on a truly unique and very beautiful area which has a huge diversity of plants and animals. It is also an area that is impacted greatly by what we as humans do and by climate change."
The launch was attended by regional industry representatives, community organisations and the directors of the Partnership. Presentations were made by Dr Tim Ealey and media identity John Clarke.
Source: www.gippsland.com Published by: news@gippsland.com
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