Media Releases
Two initiatives from the Committee for Melbourne – the airport Welcome Booth and the Culture Card – received funding in the State Government’s Thinking Global Action Plan for International Education launched by Premier John Brumby this morning.
Committee CEO Sally Capp said it was important to connect international students to the Melbourne community from the moment they arrived and throughout their stay in Victoria.
“We need to address issues of student safety and vulnerability which to some extent relate to the un-connectedness of international students who are away from their family support networks,” Ms Capp said.
“International students both want, and need, to develop their networks and understanding of their host communities and cities,” she said.
The Welcome Booth has been operating on a trial basis at Melbourne Airport for the peak induction weeks in February and July this year. “It is fantastic that the Government’s support will ensure this initiative is a permanent part of our student welcome in Melbourne,” Ms Capp said.
The Culture Card is a new initiative to start in 2010 and will help students understand and connect to our culture and life in Victoria.
The Culture Card will introduce students to activities and destinations in Victoria, such as football games, arts performances and outdoor experiences. Students would be welcomed to these events, and the activities would be specifically tailored to meet their needs and interests.
Ms Capp also welcomed the other initiatives in the Thinking Global package that would help to raise Victoria’s standing as a competitor to other international study destinations, such as the investment in a scholarship program to attract outstanding students to our State.
International education is the most important service industry export in Victoria with a value of almost $5 billion in the 2008 calendar year.
An overarching planning policy for Melbourne should be established including emphasis on increasing density within existing urban areas and the delineation of a final urban growth boundary, according to the Committee for Melbourne’s CEO, Ms Sally Capp.
In a submission to the Urban Growth Boundary Review, the Committee recognised the need to accommodate new growth areas for future Melbourne, but urged the Government to consider greater emphasis on policies to increase density within existing areas as a preference over further expanding the city’s boundaries.
“As Melbourne’s population expands, the Government and the community need to develop creative ways to accommodate people close to where they will work, shop, study and enjoy recreational activities,” Ms Capp said.
“Housing needs to be affordable, but so do living costs and this can only be achieved along with a high quality sustainable lifestyle if transport is readily accessible and travel times are kept to a minimum,” she said.
“An overarching policy is needed for Melbourne of increasing density along arterial transport routes as a matter of right with height limits sensitive to neighbourhood planning and with appropriate protections to preserve the character and liveability of existing suburban communities encased within the arterial boundaries.
“A final urban boundary also needs to be established to provide long term clarity as to the final limits of Melbourne with future growth beyond this to be achieved through increasing density in existing areas or the further development of regional satellite centres in Geelong, Bendigo, Ballarat and Gippsland centres,” she said.
Ms Capp said further development of regional rail links was supported to improve connections to Melbourne.
The Government was also to be applauded for its consideration of the impact of expanding growth areas on sensitive ecosystems in the Urban Growth Boundary Review and its efforts to provide offsets to protect and preserve our environmental heritage, she said.
“Melbourne’s reputation for liveability is in part related to its public spaces and green areas. Existing parklands and green wedges surrounding Melbourne must be preserved and enhanced despite the pressure of population growth,” she said.
Moving Galleries, an initiative of the Committee for Melbourne, today launched its latest exhibition of travelling art and poetry that touched on the theme of transformation, at Melbourne’s iconic Flinders Street Station.
Parliamentary Secretary for Public Transport and the Arts, Mr Rob Hudson officially launched the exhibition together with Connex’s Deputy Chairman Mr Bruce Hughes, Committee for Melbourne’s Chairman, Mr George Pappas, and artists and poets of the exhibition.
“What differentiates one city from another is the way in which culture moves within its structure, working to shape a city, ultimately giving it its own personality,” Mr Pappas said.
Moving Galleries’ latest exhibition, Transformation, shows art projects that ‘transformed’ everyday spaces in and around Melbourne and poetry that explores the theme of ‘transformation’, by observations on the seasons, the natural world, work and human relations.
The exhibition documents art projects that enlivened spaces such as laneways, city buildings, and iconic landmarks, such as Federation Square and St. Pauls Cathedral, altering their everyday appearance.
Amongst the exhibition is Mr Robbie Rowland’s The Upholsterer, an interior manipulation, and Martin Corompt and Philip Brophy’s No Answer, a series of unreachable payphones ringing and illuminating Lush Lane.
“Three hundred and fifty thousand people every day have the opportunity to enjoy these works… with more than 200 million customer trips each year – that really is bringing art to the people,” Mr Hughes said.
The Moving Galleries initiative reflects its creative use of public spaces, making art and literature accessible to everyone, reinforcing Melbourne as the nation’s cultural and creative capital.
Supported by the Department of Transport and Connex, Moving Galleries has been moving art and poetry around the metropolitan region since 2006, as part of the Committee for Melbourne’s incentive to build on Melbourne’s renowned cultural identity.
Moving Galleries’ 2009 Transformations exhibition will be appearing on 40 Connex trains and will continue for approximately six months.
Victoria’s competitiveness as an international study destination is under threat if the Government fails to act on concession fares for international students, according to Committee for Melbourne CEO, Ms Sally Capp.
International education is Victoria’s biggest service export industry but Victoria’s attractiveness to international students is falling behind other States and competitor countries due to a lack of support once the students have arrived, Ms Capp said.
Victoria and New South Wales are the only States in Australia that do not offer concession fares.
Melbourne also compares poorly to our key international competitor destinations of US, UK, Germany and France who all offer transport concessions to international students.
In 2008, 161,625 international students were enrolled in courses in Victoria generating $4.45 billion for the State while the cost of providing the concession fares could be as low as $2.4 million Ms Capp said.
A survey of 670 international students prepared for the Committee for Melbourne in 2008 found that 90 per cent of students’ experience of Melbourne was adversely affected by the lack of transport concession fares, she said.
The report found that international students would use public transport more if concession fares were offered with the additional number of tickets purchased offsetting the cost of the scheme.
Ms Capp said the concession fares could be offered for travel in non peak times, alleviating overcrowding on trains and trams.
Concession fares would also make it easier for students to live further out from the city centre easing inner city congestion and alleviating the student housing shortage in inner areas.
“We know that word of mouth is the number one influencer of student’s decisions about their future study destination. We need people who are studying here to have a great experience, to feel welcome and supported, and to tell their friends back home that Melbourne is a great place to live and study,” Ms Capp said.
Former Victorian Chief Commissioner, Ms Christine Nixon has won the Committee for Melbourne’s 2009 Melbourne Achiever Award.
Ms Nixon was presented with the award for her outstanding contributions to the Melbourne community at the Committee for Melbourne’s annual dinner attended by the Prime Minister, the Hon Kevin Rudd MP.
Committee Chairman Mr George Pappas said Ms Nixon had left Victoria Police in a great position after almost eight years at the helm.
“Her impact on policing, crime reduction and community safety is integral to her lasting legacy as Chief Commissioner. Ms Nixon helped the Victorian Government build stronger and safer communities and we are all the beneficiaries,” he said.
“During Ms Nixon’s time as Police Chief, Victoria’s underworld crime was successfully tackled through the Purana Taskforce, the crime rate dropped by 24.5 per cent, the road toll was reduced by 26 per cent, there was a huge cultural shift to change how police worked with the community to increase respect and cooperation, and the security of Australia’s first international sporting event since September 11 2001 - the Commonwealth Games, was successfully implemented,” Mr Pappas said.
“The community is grateful that her skills will now benefit those who suffered such enormous loss in Victoria’s devastating bushfires on Black Saturday through her appointment to head the Victorian Bushfire Reconstruction and Recovery Authority,” he said.
Past recipients of the Melbourne Achiever Award have included: the award winning architect and urban designer, Professor Rob Adams AM; research biologist, Sir. Gustav Nossal; well-known philanthropist, Dame Elizabeth Murdoch AC; renowned Melbourne businessman, Mr. Ron Walker AC; and sporting greats, the Oarsome Foursome.
Mr Pappas said the Committee for Melbourne congratulated Ms Christine Nixon on being the sole recipient of the Committee for Melbourne 2009 Melbourne Achiever Award and wished her well in her new role.
Victoria’s Latrobe Valley is the ideal location for a scale coal CCS project, even on a world scale, and should be considered a top priority, according to the Committee for Melbourne’s CEO, Ms Sally Capp.
“We need to act now on CCS, and the best place to do that is in Victoria,” Ms Capp said.
This morning Prime Minister Kevin Rudd will launch the Federal Government's new Global Carbon Capture and Storage Institute, which will manage a $100 million research effort to demonstrate clean coal technology.
Former World Bank chief, Mr James Wolfensohn, will chair the panel that will oversee the goal of bringing 20 carbon capture and storage projects online and proven within the next decade.
Ms Capp said carbon capture and storage is about long term reductions in greenhouse gas emissions, security around the delivery long term of energy supplies and preserving the value of Australia’s coal resources and jobs related to that industry.
Victoria wants to be the first State to get a project up and running, she said. The Committee for Melbourne has already been working on bringing the major players together to prepare for a project to begin.
The Latrobe Valley’s unique combination of abundant coal reserves (up to 500 years at current usage levels), cluster of high emitters (four major brown coal-fired generators) and known large storage sites in the adjacent on and off-shore Gippsland basin, mean that a demonstration project could be established here more quickly than in other locations and at lower cost, she said.
“There is a lot of support from the Victorian business community and our universities to work with the Government on a scale sized project,” Ms Capp said.
The benefits to Victoria include creating long term value for the State’s brown coal assets, opportunities to showcase our R&D capability, potential new industries and new jobs for Victoria, attracting international interest and recognition of Victoria’s leadership in this area.
To get a scale demonstration project up and running in Victoria Ms Capp said we need:
Funding support to be secured;
Legal and legislative frameworks to be put in place including bringing forward Victorian legislation for exploration for onshore storage;
Establish onshore storage areas and pipeline infrastructure; and
Build community understanding and support as to why this project is so important.
Telstra’s decision to commence its new super-fast high speed internet service in Melbourne will add to our city’s reputation as one of the most liveable cities in the world, according to Committee for Melbourne CEO, Ms Sally Capp.
Telstra announced today that it would invest $300 million to more than triple its broadband speed to cable customers in Melbourne by Christmas 2009.
The business community and about one million households will have access to the new service.
High speed broadband to facilitate business in Melbourne has been high on the Committee for Melbourne agenda for a number of years, Ms Capp said.
“The Committee’s members recognise that if Melbourne is to be competitive economically and be home to multinational companies then we must have a world class broadband system providing information and communication capabilities,” she said.
“This puts Melbourne among some of the fastest internet cities in the world,” Ms Capp said.
“The new technology will provide greater flexibility for Melbournians in how they choose to live, work and study,” Ms Capp said.
“Business will benefit from greater efficiencies and lower costs through access to faster communications technology.
“But also, it will become more viable to work from home, or to access goods or services without having to travel, adding to our city’s green star rating,” she said.
“And a door will open onto a new world of entertainment that can be accessed from your lounge room,” she said.
“This is a great win for Melbourne,” Ms Capp said.
One of the Committee’s business leadership program project group PaRing Gallery, is on the move again after the successful launch in November 2008 in the KPMG foyer.
The exhibition meandered further down Collins Street last night to take up residency in the foyer of the Rialto building.
One of Melbourne’s most iconic business addresses has the privilege to be given an insight into Indigenous culture with this wandering exhibition of first Australian art.
In the tradition of the nomadic Indigenous communities, the exhibition will move around the city, settling in the foyers of various Melbourne Central Business District buildings.
By constantly evolving its content and design to best complement its ever changing location around the city, PaRing Gallery will remain constantly fresh and enlightening for Melbourne corporate audiences.
The roving gallery project, PaRing Gallery, is a partnership between the Committee for Melbourne’s business leadership group Future Focus Group and the Koorie Heritage Trust.
The PaRing Gallery project aims to create ‘PaRing’ (an Indigenous word for ‘pathways’) between the Melbourne business community and first Australian culture.
Iconic Indigenous Australian and Olympic Gold Medallist, Ms Cathy Freeman, praised the PaRing Gallery project after being given a sneak preview of the first exhibition.
“The exhibition moves me because when magnificent Australian Indigenous culture are proudly presented by our ‘corporate giants’ I realise that Reconciliation is becoming part of our reality,” Ms Freeman said.
“I want to thank and congratulate the Future Focus Group and the Koorie Heritage Trust on such a magnificent partnership and initiative. My ancestors would be most proud!” she said.
Future Focus Group participant Ms Sarah Clarke explains the project team wanted to find a way of bringing Aboriginal people, their art and connection to culture deeper into the daily lives of Melburnians.
“The idea first came from the frustration at our own lack of formal education about first Australian cultures. All of us work in the corporate sector, so we wanted to find a way to create conversations and heighten appreciation for others like us,” Ms Clarke said.
“Thousands of people pass through our city buildings every day, so they present the perfect backdrop for a roaming gallery of Indigenous art.”
“People will be able to engage with the art through their daily routine, and the exhibitions also provide an opportunity for established and emerging artists to showcase their talent,” she said.
The PaRing Gallery currently in the Rialto building will move onto other busy corporate buildings throughout 2009 and beyond.
The PaRing Gallery team brings together Melbourne’s young business leaders from Connex Melbourne, PricewaterhouseCoopers, Ernst & Young, KPMG, City of Melbourne, Grollo Australia and Origin Energy.
City workers, visitors and residents will demonstrate their commitment to help those impacted by the bushfires tomorrow Friday 27 February, in the city wide initiative Our City Cares, at Fed Square.
Our City Cares starts at 6am with a full day of activities and musical performances.
Highlights will include:
Lord Mayor Robert Doyle making his ‘Helping Hands’ pledge (7.30am/12pm),
Major General John Cantwell, Interim head of Victoria's Bushfire Reconstruction and Recovery Authority making his ‘Helping Hands’ pledge (8.30am),
Whittlesea Country Music Festival (hosted by ABC’s Derek Guille) (1pm),
Wicked and Billy Elliott Performances (4pm),
Runner’s Relief Fun Run (sign up at 4:30pm, starts at 7pm),
Circus Oz (5:15pm), and
Evening concert featuring local acts Kinja, Illzilla and Joshua Jwan Rawiri (8pm – 10pm).
In recognition of the public’s ongoing pledge and volunteered support, you will be able to stencil your Helping Hand on a canvas. The canvas will be displayed all day in Fed Square as a reminder of the devastating bushfires and a tribute to the volunteers.
Committee for Melbourne CEO Sally Capp said Our City Cares is an event that will allow Victorians the opportunity to volunteer their services and commit their long term efforts to rebuilding the bushfire affected communities.
“Whether that be help in the form of providing your time and expertise in the areas of plumbing, carpentry or electrics to re-build community centres; or in the areas of legal and architectural services – your efforts and unique skills are valuable,” Ms Capp said.
“Many communities are starting from scratch and everyone has something to offer,” she said.
Drop in after work, pop in during your lunch break or spend the afternoon at this free public gathering of support.
All proceeds will go towards the Australian Red Cross 2009 Victorian Bushfire Fund and volunteering will be coordinated by Volunteering Victoria.
In an act of solidarity for the victims of Victoria’s bushfires, the Melbourne community will rally together on Friday 27 February, 2009, to show The City Cares.
The City Cares is a day of support that will enable city workers, visitors and residents to demonstrate their commitment to help those impacted by the bushfires. The day will include a range of events, such as the launch of the Helping Hands initiative.
Among other activities at Federation Square, supporters will be able to graphically record a pledge of time, skill and the resources that are needed for the ongoing work of rebuilding bushfire affected communities.
Committee for Melbourne CEO Ms Sally Capp said the day would be an opportunity to galvanise community feeling and support those communities devastated by the worst bushfires in this country’s history.
“As this event occurs during a work day, businesses are asked to devise practical ways they and their teams can participate in this event,” Ms Capp said.
“You, your friends and colleagues are invited to join together to show how deeply you feel and how much you want to help those people and regions affected by the bushfires,” she said.
Lord Mayor Robert Doyle says that the bushfires were an unprecedented national tragedy that has shocked the world.
“The City Cares Day on the 27th is a great way for us all to express our willingness to show our ongoing help and support,” the Lord Mayor said.
“Details of the day’s activities will be released shortly. In the meantime, enter Friday 27 February 2009 in your diaries and rally to support our friends in the bush,” Fed Square CEO Ms Kate Brennan said.
The City Cares Committee was formed through the support of the Committee for Melbourne, the City of Melbourne, the Australian Red Cross, Fed Square, the Herald & Weekly Times, ABC, George Patterson Y&R, Freehills and Northbridge Infrastructure.
All proceeds will go towards the Australian Red Cross 2009 Victorian Bushfire Fund, and volunteering will be co-ordinated by Volunteering Victoria.