April 2011
Victorian Floods Review
Victorians affected by recent severe floods are invited to have their say on the Review of 2010-11 Flood Warnings and Response, with public submissions now open.
The head of the review, Neil Comrie, AO APM, encouraged homeowners, residents, businesses and farmers in flood-affected areas to share their views by emailing submissions@floodsreview.vic.gov.au. Submissions can also be posted to the review.
Written submissions, accompanied by a cover sheet, will be received by the review until 5pm on Friday, 27 May 2011.
During April, community consultation meetings will be held in the following locations for community members of that location, and its surrounding locations - Beaufort, Benalla, Carisbrook, Horsham, Kerang, Koo Wee Rup, Mildura, Rochester and Swan Hill.
Visit www.floodsreview.vic.gov.au for further information.
Comprehensive guide to safe child restraints
Victorian parents can ensure their children have the best crash protection following the release of a guide that rates child restraints.
The 2011 buyer's guide compiles the results of the Child Restraint Evaluation Program (CREP) that has tested and rated 83 child restraints for different ages. It gives each child restraint a star rating for protection and ease of use, with 5 stars being the highest rating attainable for each category.
The guide titled Child restraint safety ratings is supported by two Victorian road safety authorities, RACV and the Transport Accident Commission (TAC).
Visit www.howsafeisyourcar.com.au for further information.
National Youth Week
National Youth Week is an annual, week-long celebration of young people throughout Australia and will run from Friday 1 April – Sunday 10 April 2011.
National Youth Week offers a great opportunity for Victorians to join the rest of Australia in recognising and celebrating the diverse skills, knowledge and ideas that young people contribute to our society. It is also a perfect time for young people to showcase their talents or highlight an issue in their region that is important to them.
All events and activities held during National Youth Week are planned and developed by young people, for young people.
Visit www.dpcd.vic.gov.au/youth/national-youth-week for further information.
New public transport fares
Public transport fares were adjusted with inflation from Saturday, 12 March 2011.
Metcard, myki and V/Line fares will rise by an average of 3.1%, in line with the Consumer Price Index (CPI).
2011 Victorian Women's Honour Roll
On 16 March 2011, 20 new recipients were inducted at the National Gallery of Victoria as a part of International Women's Day activities for the 2011 Victorian Women's Honour Roll. The Minister for Women's Affairs, Ms Wooldridge, congratulated the inductees who came from right across Victoria.
The 2011 Honour Roll Inductees are:
- Professor Muriel Bamblett AM
- Ms Terry Bracks
- Mrs Cecilia Conroy
- Ms Sandie de Wolf AM
- Ms Dale Fisher
- Dr Paula Gerber
- Ms Tricia Harper AM
- Ms Chris Jennings
- Mrs Jill Joslyn
- Ms Betty Kitchener OAM
- Professor Jayashri Kulkarni
- Ms Marion Lau OAM
- Aunty Dot Peters
- Dr Wendy Poussard
- Ms Brenda Richards
- Mrs Jane Scarlett AM
- Ms Carol Schwartz AM
- Ms Virginia Simmons AO
- Dr Diane Sisely
- Dame Peggy van Praagh OBE, DBE
Artificial Grass For Sport Guide
The Artificial Grass For Sport Guide is a key resource for sporting clubs, local councils, and schools set to undertake an artificial grass project.
Recent experience has shown there's been inadequate information and support for local councils, schools, clubs and their communities to plan for, select, install, and manage new artificial grass surfaces.
As a result Sport and Recreation Victoria has consulted with the sports industry to develop what will undoubtedly become an indispensable resource for future artificial grass projects.
For questions, comments, feedback or suggestions regarding the Guide or artificial grass please email artificialgrass@sport.vic.gov.au
Disaster recovery and heritage
Extensive floods across large sections of Victoria's west and north have impacted on heritage buildings and their contents.
Some excellent resources to help owners and managers ensure the best possible outcomes can be found online.
Find out more about disaster recovery and heritage.
2010 Road Safety Statistics released
Motorcyclists, male and regional motorists were the worst performed on our roads last year with all groups recording large spikes in death rates, Transport Accident Commission (TAC) statistics released in March show.
Despite Victoria last year recording an all time low road toll for the second year running, motorcyclist fatalities increased 39%, regional deaths spiked 13% and male fatalities 12% however female deaths decreased 29%.
The following is a breakdown of these figures:
- Motorcyclist fatalities increased to 49 in 2010 from 38 in 2009.
- Regional deaths spiked at 163 in 2010 from 144 in 2009.
- Male fatalities increased to 220 in 2010 from 196 in 2009.
Alarmingly, motorcycle deaths increased 29%, bringing the 2010 total to 49, significantly above the five year average of 44.
Pedestrian fatalities decreased 24%.
Fatalities in metropolitan Melbourne decreased 15% although rural Victoria increased 13%, indicating the outstanding danger on rural Victorian roads.
Over the past five years the following regions recorded the highest death tolls:
- Benalla
- Casey
- Mornington Peninsula
- Swan Hill
- Yarra Ranges
Beat the bite!
We love getting outdoors while the weather is warm. The problem is - so do the mosquitoes. The're not just annoying; some mozzies can transmit serious diseases. There are simple things you can do to Beat the bite!
Legal Reporting Awards 2011
Calls for entries for 2011 Legal Reporting Awards for reports published or broadcast in 2010 on Victorian legal issues, are now open.
Entry close 5pm, Friday 29 April 2011
Awards are offered in 13 categories:
- Columb Brennan Award for excellence in court reporting
- Tony Smith Award for reporting which promotes an understanding of the work of the courts
- Reporter of the year on legal issues
- Best report in print
- Best report on television - long form
- Best report on television - same day
- Best report on radio
- Best online report
- Best report in multicultural media
- Best report in community media
- Best report by regional media - all media
- Best camera work still/moving
- Best illustration
Entry form can be downloaded at www.victorialawfoundation.org.au/news-and-events/reporting-awards
Field guide app
There are no angry birds in Field Guide to Victorian Fauna, the museum's new free app for iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad. Instead, crazy-coloured snakes, critically endangered species, state fauna emblems, stinging jellies and a Baggy Pants Frog are among the animals included in the first release.
The app lets you explore useful and interesting information about each species including: identification, biology, distribution, diet, habitat, scientific classification and endangered status. Wherever you are – a forest, a desert, a rocky shore, at Ararat or Apollo Bay – you'll be able to find information on more than 700 animals at the swipe of your finger.
And, in a first for the museum, the code for the app is being released as open source. This means that museums and organisations worldwide can take their own data and build their own local field guide, too.
MasterClass sessions
The MasterClass for Growth program in 2011 will be offered in two streams, catering to applicants based in regional Victoria and metropolitan Melbourne. The programs will commence in April/May 2011.
New vehicle database for probationary drivers
P-plate drivers can find out what sorts of vehicles they can and can't drive in a new section of VicRoads' website.
New Publications
General Publications
250 Victorian Waterfalls
by Barber, Ray & Wacey, Ian @ $49.95
Ten Mile Dreaming
by Lloyd, Brian @ $20.00
Citizens, Cargo and Coal: A History of the Gippsland
by Fiddian, Marc @ $19.95
Walks in Nature Melbourne
by Explore Australia @ $24.95
Holiday in Victoria
by Explore Australia @ $29.95
The Law Workbook
by Beattie, Scott @ $39.95
Statutory Planning in Victoria (4th Edition)
by Eccles, D & Bryant, T @ $79.95
The New Ornamental Garden
by Rickard, Simon @ $39.95
Know Your River: Bass River
River by Melbourne Water @ $1.95
Local Histories
Gippsland Murders: Murder Mysteries
by Adams, Alby @ $29.95
Bendigo Independent Inquests: 1866-1867
by O'Donohue, Annette @ $25.00
Mapping Products
Camping Around Australia
by Explore Australia @ $39.95
Melbourne City Pocket Map 360 - 14th Edition
by UBD @ $7.95
Bogong Alpine Area: Outdoor Recreation Guide
by Spatial Vision @ $11.95
Bush Camping with Dogs: A Guide to Dog Friendly Camping Areas in Australia
published by Flat Earth Mapping @ $34.95
Government Reports
Environmental Management of Marine Protected
by the Victorian Auditor-General @ $20.00
Managing Drug and Alcohol Prevention and Treatment Services
by the Victorian Auditor-General @ $20.00
Local Community Transport Services: The Transport Connections Program
by the Victorian Auditor-General @ $20.00
Effectiveness of Small Business Victoria's Support Programs
by the Victorian Auditor-General @ $20.00
New Legislation
New Acts
| No new Acts published this month. |
New Statutory Rules
Reprinted Acts
| A52.94 | Catchment and Land Protection Act 1994 Reprint 5 | $18.65 |
| A68.00 | Electricity Industry Act 2000 Reprint 6 | $21.50 |
| A78.98 | Fundraising Act 1998 Reprint 3 | $15.75 |
| A104.86 | Motor Car Traders Act 1986 Reprint 7 | $18.65 |
| A6330 | Partnership Act 1958 Reprint 8 | $15.75 |
| A6975 | Sale of Land Act 1962 Reprint 14 | $15.75 |
| A54.89 | Second-Hand Dealers and Pawnbrokers Act 1989 Reprint 7 | $15.75 |
| A6377 | State Electricity Commission Act 1958 Reprint 10 | $15.75 |
| A80.92 | Treasury Corporation of Victoria Act 1992 Reprint 4 | $12.20 |
Reprinted Statutory Rules
Visit the Victorian Legislation and Parliamentary Documents website for a list of all Victorian acts and statutory rules.
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250 Victorian Waterfalls
Each waterfall entry in this book contains information on: municipality. source, GPS co-ordinates, closest town, distance and direction from Melbourne, approximate time from Melbourne by car, vehicle access, walking access, facilities, origin of name and other points of interest.
Beware carbon monoxide. It's a silent killer. Get your gas heaters checked for winter. Visit www.esv.vic.gov.au for information.
ANZAC Day dawn service - Free buses for veterans and supporters on ANZAC Day.
Daylight saving ends on Sunday 3 April - Change your clock, change your smoke alarm battery.
Apollo Bay
Apollo Bay is located between Lorne and Cape Otway on Victoria's scenic coastal route, the Great Ocean Road. A popular tourist destination, Apollo Bay offers both swimming and surf beaches, as well as a large boat harbour and marina which is home to a major fishing fleet. There is a good selection of restaurants and cafes, situated along one side of the Great Ocean Road, overlooking a wide, grassy foreshore which fronts the main swimming beach. Check out the 2011 Apollo Bay Music Festival to be held between 8-10 April.
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