NEWS DESK
Councils unite on homeless moves Stephen Taylor steve@mpnews.com.au MORNINGTON Peninsula Shire is one of 13 councils representing two million residents in Melbourne’s east and south east lobbying for more social housing to “end homelessness”. Their focus was informed by research commissioned by Monash Council through the Council to Homeless Persons: ‘Making a Difference – effective local government responses to homelessness.’ It identified that the “single, most powerful way” councils can contribute to preventing and ending homelessness was to advocate for more social housing across Victoria. This housing is owned either by
the state government or not-for-profit community providers and rented to low income households at either 25 per cent (public housing) or 30 per cent (community housing) of their income. Those more recently affected include the “new vulnerable”: the people who have lost their jobs and homes as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, with many seeking crisis accommodation for the first time. The 13 councils, supported by Eastern Affordable Housing Alliance, Municipal Association of Victoria, Eastern Region Group of Councils and the Department of Health and Human Services, say they want more housing as the “first step towards addressing the often complex social and health needs of the region’s most vulnerable community members”.
Providing a safe home first, as part of a broader social housing framework, is the way to stem the increase in homelessness, they say. “Only with a home can the compounding set of circumstances leading to homelessness be properly addressed to enable better outcomes for vulnerable people facing extreme adversity.” Statistically, homelessness is more likely to affect the most vulnerable in our society, including women and children fleeing family violence, those with a disability, or living with a mental health condition, those living in poverty and marginalised groups. A charter to guide the campaign: the Regional Local Government Homelessness and Social Housing Charter 2020, came through a forum of CEOs and senior staff from all councils, initi-
ated by Monash Council in November. It was attended by housing providers, peak bodies and the state government. Homelessness advocate “Nova”, who has lived experience as a result of family violence, shared what was described as a “powerful and moving story” with forum attendees. The charter commits the groups to working together, and with state and federal governments and private partners, to deliver social housing and respond to homelessness in the east and south east and to identify land in their municipalities for social housing. The mayor Cr Sam Hearn said shire officers were often the first to respond to people experiencing homelessness. He said the COVID-19 crisis had further pushed vulnerable people into crisis, especially women and children ex-
periencing family violence, and those on low incomes. “A safe home is fundamental for recovery and safety,” Cr Hearn said. “Everyone deserves to have a roof over their head, a door they can lock and a place where they feel secure and safe. A place to call home. This is a fundamental and basic right.” He said: “All 13 councils are committed to working together to see change in social housing provision. Never has it been more important.” The other municipalities are Frankston, Casey, Cardinia, Greater Dandenong, Knox, Kingston, Manningham, Monash, Maroondah, Whitehorse, Yarra Ranges and Bayside. To see the campaign forum and hear homelessness advocate Nova’s story visit monash.vic.gov.au/homelessness
‘Map’ shows the way on climate
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phins would be just as unperturbed by the new regulations facing owners of the beach boxes which provided the backdrop for their gymnastics. In a revamp of the 20-year-old existing regulations, Mornington Peninsula Shire plans, among other changes, to make it mandatory for beach box owners to either live or own property on the peninsula. Submissions on the draft boat shed and bathing box policy close next Monday, 21 September. Visit: mornpen.vic.gov.au Keith Platt
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OBLIVIOUS to restrictions onshore, a pod of about six dolphins provided entertainment for morning walkers at Mornington. Alan Dillon watched from the pier as the bottlenose dolphins leaped from the water, possibly as part of a ploy to catch fish. Mr Dillon said the dolphins appeared to be “in a frenzy at times” and thought it may also have been a training lesson for a younger spotted one among the group. While untouched by the restrictions facing those on land (except maybe seeing an increase in fish stocks due to a ban on fishing), the dol-
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AN “ambitious” climate emergency plan has been adopted by Mornington Peninsula Shire Council one year after declaring a “climate emergency”. The Ensuring Our Future: Our Climate Emergency Response plan aims to guide the peninsula towards having no carbon emissions by 2040 through seven “summits” and 21 “action steps”. However, the shire says the outcome “can only be achieved by the community and the shire working together”. A 10-year program includes targets around leadership and governance, climate advocacy, zero carbon energy, resilient and adaptive community, sustainable transport and travel, sustainable land use and environmental restoration, circular economy and zero waste. The shire says it was the 34th council in Australia to declare a climate emergency - there are now 96 - while its plan is one of the first six developed and adopted by an Australian municipality. The mayor Cr Sam Hearn likened the seven “summits” to a “map to guide us away from the dangerous emergency situation and the kinds of impacts that should still be stark in our mind from last summer”. “The shire is ready to lead by example and show the way,” he said. “In August 2019, the shire declared a climate emergency. Since 2016, we’ve had a five-year plan for the shire’s operations to become carbon neutral, which we’re on track to achieve by 2021. “The need to act to stop climate change and cre-
ate a better future story is more urgent than ever.” The shire says it is “focused” on achieving the targets of the plan and has accelerated some projects based on the climate emergency declaration. This has resulted in environmentally sustainable design being included in the planning scheme, it says. Three recycled water projects are supporting agricultural growth and drought proof the peninsula. The Beyond Zero Waste Strategy was also adopted on 25 August 2020. As part of the plan the shire’s economic stimulus projects are being aligned to climate emergency objectives, including tree-lined footpaths. “Along the way, we have encountered a stark reminder that we are all connected and our current and future wellbeing is collective,” Cr Hearn said. “This year, the coronavirus pandemic brought home the fragility of our current systems and the vulnerability we have to existential threats. It has also revealed the value of local connectivity, [and] the immense power we have when we do act with a united purpose and move toward selfsustaining community. “Let’s turn that awareness into opportunity. We can each make climate-friendly choices to rebuild the economy, revitalise our community and restore nature. “The climate emergency plan looks ahead 20 years to a world in which the Mornington Peninsula community has transitioned to net zeroemissions. We know there is steep terrain ahead.” Details: mornpen.vic.gov.au/climatechange
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Stephen Taylor steve@mpnews.com.au
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Spice Hawker Beach Bar Southern Peninsula News 16 September 2020
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