Nillumbik Councillor Peter Perkins represented Council at the second Municipal Association Victoria (MAV) State Council meeting for this year, where we have submitted three motions calling for Victorian Government support to:
Protection of Green Wedge
That the State Government provides a dedicated and ongoing funding commitment to better support Green Wedge councils in their management and enforcement responsibilities.
Green Wedge councils carry out significant day-to-day management of Melbourne's Green Wedge, but also manage significant threats to Victoria's biodiversity as located in the Green Wedge including managing deer and other pest animals, and significant weed proliferation. Additionally through their strategic planning function, Councils are required to respond to enforcement matters on private land that contribute to an increase in threats.
Green Wedge Councils responsibilities have broader implications than simply local outcomes, rather they deal with landscape scale impacts and require significant resourcing in order for them to be effectively fulfilled. These responsibilities and resourcing/cost implications set Green Wedge Councils apart from Metropolitan Council's.
As the State Government continues to implement its planning reform to address the housing shortage, and as populations in urban areas become higher in density, protecting our Green Wedge areas for its biodiversity values and as 'the lungs of Melbourne' will become even more critical.
It is essential that the State Government shares responsibility for Green Wedge areas, so that they can continue providing communities with lush green corridors, fresh air and food security, while also ensuring the State's biodiversity is protected for our future generations.
Road Safety
That the State Government implements measures that will enhance road safety on rural road networks by empowering local governments with the ability to reduce the default speed limit on rural roads.
Many rural roads are in poor condition due to a number of factors, including narrow width, unsealed surfaces, sight issue and challenging terrain or geometry. Many of these roads sit under the 'Default Rural Speed Limit' of 100km hour, however, the optimal travel speed is substantially less and is often not aligned with the default speed limit.
Existing processes to amend speed limits, even on Council roads, is complex, requiring Department of Transport and Planning (DTP) and Ministerial approval. Subsequently, the majority of speed limit assessments undertaken on rural roads, with the aim of reducing the speed limit, result in a recommendation to leave the 100km hour unchanged or only marginally decreased.
Local councils, road users and rural communities would benefit greatly by having a new approach where delegation is granted to local government to undertake very specific changes to default speed limits along rural roads.
Implementing speed reduction initiatives along rural road networks would significantly improve driver safety and enable intervention or enforcement to be applied where motorists are driving at dangerous speeds.
Buses
That the State Government provides funding to increase bus infrastructure and provide better connectivity to townships and existing rail infrastructure.
Buses provide essential transport for many people in our community, particularly for the many younger and older residents who don't drive and do not live close to a train station. These community members rely on buses to access health services, employment and education. However, the current availability of services, particularly in outer suburbs and rural areas, makes those trips longer and in most cases isolates and disconnects the community from public transport.
Upgrading bus infrastructure, including bus shelters and features that improve accessibility, and increasing the volume and frequency of bus services would achieve better coordination of bus and rail transportation, while also reducing the overall reliance on motor vehicles.
This action would play a critical role in providing better connections across municipalities and improving outcomes for currently isolated and vulnerable communities, while easing congestion on our roads.
