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We are concerned that the Department of Health and Human Services is not adequately consulting with nearby residents so they understand their plans and have an opportunity to have your say about what it means for your neighbourhood and community.

We will be making a submission to the Victorian Government to ensure our concerns are heard on the redevelopment. These include:

• Design and size of the apartments
• Selling off public land to build far more private housing than desperately needed public housing
• Tenants short term relocation needs and long term ability to return to Walker Street
• Traffic and transport impacts.

To share our views and hear yours, we invite you to come to a community meeting on Thursday 24 August 2017 between 6.30pm and 8pm at the Walker Street Community Room, 11 High Street Northcote.

Council would welcome your contribution and look forward to seeing you at the meeting.

If you have any questions please contact Nick Matteo on 8470 8635.

Council Meeting Review - 7 August 2017

All agenda items were supported by Councillors at Monday night's Council Meeting.

The minutes from the meetings are published on Thursday afternoon. In the meantime, the full agenda can be viewed at Council Meetings.

Summary:

Item 6.1 – This report identifies the top 25 priority locations requiring pedestrian crossings on the basis of safety and pedestrian volumes in Darebin and follows the development of the Principal Pedestrian Network.

Item 6.4 – This report provides an overview of meetings held with the Wurundjeri Tribal Land Council Elders exploring the use of the Edwardes Lake boathouse as a potential Wurundjeri cultural centre and museum.

Item 6.5 – This report seeks formal endorsement to become a member of Welcoming Cities. An initiative of the Scanlon Foundation and Welcoming Australia, Welcoming Cities supports local councils and community leaders to leverage the ideas and innovation that come from being welcoming and inclusive with a focus on cultural diversity and both newly arrived and receiving communities.

Item 6.6 – This report seeks provisional commitment from Council to approve the use of a Council property at 59B Roseberry Street, the former Preston Police Station, as the new home for 3KND Kool N Deadly Indigenous radio station.

Snap and share a pic of your favourite outdoor Darebin location using #discoverdarebin on social media to enter to win a $200 Darebin shopping or dining voucher!

Whether you're out and about at Bundoora Park Farm with the kids, getting active at the local football field, or going for a jog in Darebin Parklands, your photo could also be chosen to feature in the City of Darebin 2017/18 Annual report.

How to enter:

1. Access and log into your personal Facebook, Twitter or Instagram account
2. Capture an image of your favourite outdoor location/place in Darebin and post the image from your account
3. Ensure the post privacy setting is open to public (not set to private). Instagram posts will require you to make your account public so we can see your entry.
4. Tell us the location, and why you love it!
5. Use the hashtag #discoverdarebin the same post

The photos deemed most creative, including the comments posted by the entrant with the photo, will be judged the winner. 

Prizes:

Winner: $200.00 shopping voucher for a Darebin business of the winner’s choice
Prize 2: $100.00 shopping voucher for a Darebin business of the winner’s choice
Prize 3: $50.00 shopping voucher for a Darebin business of the winner’s choice

You can enter as many times as you like, but only one prize per winner.

Entries close 11:59pm (AEST) Sunday 3 September, 2017. Please read the Terms and Conditions before entering.

Good luck and thanks for entering!

“Following an extensive executive recruitment process, I am delighted to announce that Sue Wilkinson has been appointed CEO for a period of five years starting on 18 September 2017,” she said.

“I thank the Independent Chair of the Council’s CEO Employment Matters Committee Mary Crooks for assisting our fair and thorough recruitment process.

“We have accepted the Committee’s unanimously recommendation in selecting Sue Wilkinson on the basis of her track record in local government, leadership attributes and values.

“I am confident we have selected the very best candidate from what was an incredibly high calibre field of applicants.

“On behalf of Council, I wish to publically thank acting Chief Executive Officer, Phil Shanahan, for his leadership.

“His extensive experience and strategic advice was critical in helping us to develop an ambitious Council Plan that will leave a lasting legacy on the City,” the Mayor said.

Ms Crooks said consultation with the local community, Council management and staff was central to the recruitment process.

“One of the fundamental elements during the recruitment process was to understand what skills, competencies and outcomes the Council and community sought in its Chief Executive Officer,” she said.

“The response was extremely strong and Sue Wilkinson emerged as the preferred candidate from a very high calibre field of applicants,” Ms Crooks said.

“This appointment ushers in a new era for Darebin as a vibrant and effective local government,” Ms Crooks said.

Ms Wilkinson said she is honoured by the appointment and very excited to be joining Darebin. 

“I am deeply committed to delivering Council and community objectives and will work hard with staff to achieve future focused, positive outcomes in the years ahead.”

Sue Wilkinson’s total remuneration package will be $345,000.

Media release: 25 July 2017

About Sue Wilkinson

Ms Wilkinson is currently the Chief Executive Officer of Colac Otway Shire and has a strong track record of delivery of high quality, coordinated services and complex public policy outcomes. 

She has significant senior leadership experience across both state and local government having previously worked at the City of Monash, the City of Port Phillip and the Department of Planning and Community Development. 

Sue is highly regarded for her ability to engage with people and establish partnerships and over the course of her career she has developed strong working relationships with other levels of government and key stakeholders to deliver for the communities where she has worked. 

Whilst at Colac Otway Ms Wilkinson has worked to build a strong organisational culture of community focused services and continuous improvement. She has also led the Shire’s community recovery efforts following several very challenging events including devastating bushfires, multiple floods and landslides. 

The Melbourne’s North Jobs Fair is an initiative of the Department of Employment in partnership with the Victorian State Government, Toyota and the Northern regions Councils, including Darebin Council.

This one day event is likely to attract over 4000 job seekers from the region, and will be open to all members of the community who are looking for work.

Employers have the opportunity to be an exhibitor on the day, promote their current job vacancies and meet genuine job seekers face to face. If you can't attend there is also the option of advertising your vacancies on a jobs board at the event.

Details:
Date:  Thursday 3 August
Time: 1 - 7pm
Location: University Hill Conference Centre (30 Graduate Road, Bundoora).

To register as a job advertiser or exhibitor, please complete the registration form.

Expressions of interest close 14 July.

Further information
Phone: 8470 8602
Email: philip.obrien@darebin.vic.gov.au

Thank you to those community members who have submitted an expression of interest for the Lifelong Learning Strategy Reference Group.

The selection process is currently underway. All applicants will be contacted when Reference Group membership has been confirmed.

The Reference Group will provide advice, feedback, support and guidance to Council on the development of the Lifelong Learning Strategy 2017–2021.

There are up to 15 positions available for community members, agency and learning organisation representatives who live, work, study or provide lifelong learning in Darebin. Appointments to the Reference Group will be for the duration of the planning and development stages of the Strategy, expected to be until 30 June 2018.

We encouraged applications from those who can represent and engage with the diverse sectors of the Darebin community in terms of gender, age, sexuality, cultural and linguistic background, employment status, education, and industry.

The Reference Group will meet a minimum of 4 times for up to 2 hours duration. Meetings will be held at various Council facilities or other locations within the City of Darebin as appropriate.

Please refer to the Terms of Reference for more information.

For further information, please contact Melanie McCarten on 8470 8234 or melanie.mccarten@darebin.vic.gov.au

Expressions of Interest closed 5pm, Friday 21 July 2017.

Criteria for Young Achiever Nomination:

- must be 25 years or younger

- must have been with the organisation for more than 12 months

- demonstrated outstanding achievement in their particular field

- has clear career aspirations

- has an outstanding attitude to their work and fellow employees

- has made a significant contribution to their company

The Young Achiever must be available to attend and present at the NBAA Business Breakfast on Thursday, 7 September 2017.

Please complete the online Nomination Form by 4pm, Friday 28 July 2017.

The St Georges Road bike path and surrounding vegetation will be restored by Melbourne Water once the pipeline work has been completed.

For more information and regular updates please visit the Melbourne Water website or phone 1800 754 077.

People shared things they wish they knew when they were younger, affirmations and things they have learnt and want to remember. Many Darebin people across six Council and community events participated - here are some of their messages to all of us.

Explore the Messages to Myself Booklet.

Free Wi-Fi is now fully operational in the following shopping centres:

• High Street, Preston
• Station Street, Fairfield
• Broadway, Reservoir
• High Street, Northcote and Westgarth
• Edwardes Street, Reservoir
• Spring Street, Reservoir

For more detail on coverage areas please see Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs).

How do I access the Free Wi-Fi service?

• Turn on Wi-Fi
• Select “Free Darebin Wi-Fi” (in Preston, Fairfield and Reservoir) or “Darebin Free Wi-Fi” (in Northcote and Westgarth) and connect
• Click on your internet browser from your menu page and select “sign in to Wi-Fi” when prompted
• Accept the terms and conditions
• Enjoy free Wi-Fi!

Problems?

If you have problems accessing the service and need help, there are service technicians available, at portal@infrastructurelogic.net.au or by calling:

• Ph: 1300 765 543 for Preston, Reservoir, Fairfield
• Ph: 1300 135 249 for Northcote and Westgarth

This free Wi-Fi service has been made available to you by Darebin City Council with the assistance of business owners and operators in the coverage areas and with the assistance of our industry partners Infrastructure Logic and Easyweb Digital.

Opportunities for Business

Businesses in Preston, Reservoir and Fairfield will be able to list and promote their businesses on a marketing portal (coming soon), this is already available in Northcote and Westgarth. 

If you would like to know how you can use the services to market your business products and services, please contact us.

Business Development

Ph: 8470 8344