Media Releases
Thousands of international students are being welcomed and supported with essential information as they make their first steps into Melbourne.
Members of the Committee for Melbourne’s business leadership program Future Focus Group, launched their initiative entitled Connect-ED at Melbourne Airport today, to welcome more than 20,000 international students.
Our CEO Ms Sally Capp hosted the launch of the Student Welcome Desk at the airport, as part of a pilot scheme designed to enhance the arrival experience of international students coming to live and study in Victoria.
“We are responding to the needs of the growing international student population and striving to educate, support and inspire them from the moment they arrive in our city,” Ms Capp said.
Connect-ED team members had identified there was a significant opportunity to improve the quality of experience for international students arriving in Melbourne, as well as to re-establish Melbourne as a city that valued and welcomed its students.
Future Focus Group’s Connect-ED team member, Mr Craig Harris said through this approach we are not only able to provide valuable orientation information to students, but also achieve collaboration across government, the universities and various support groups.
“In doing so, this becomes a signature event that promotes Melbourne’s reputation as a University City and destination of choice for international students.” Mr Harris said.
“We hope this initiative will result in an improved orientation experience to international students on an ongoing basis. We will also seek to gather a database of international student contact details for ongoing communication and the provision of follow-up information, services and support,” he said.
Volunteers will be handing out welcome packs to the international students. These packs provide essential information about welfare services, transport guides, housing and employment options and social integration.
The welcome desk will operate from 6am – 11pm daily during the peak overseas student arrival period, 16-20 February 2009.
This initiaitive is now a collaboration with the Office of Knowledge Capital and the nine unversities in Victoria.
The State government should back up its support for airlines providing direct flights to Melbourne by directing MPs and public servants to utilise existing flight services and further build demand, according to Committee for Melbourne CEO, Ms Sally Capp.
The decision by Emirates Airlines to introduce another direct service into Melbourne daily was a huge boost to the State and deserved support from all sectors, she said.
Ms Capp said there were currently 23 airlines providing international services to Melbourne, with 21 carriers providing direct flights in and out of Australia but many travellers still chose to connect through Sydney where they had to change terminals, significantly adding to total travel times.
“We need to encourage more direct services by boosting passenger demand for them,” Ms Capp said.
“Direct flights have huge benefits for the State in terms of greater efficiency for business travellers and also boosting Melbourne’s profile for tourism,” she said.
“That translates to reductions in costs and increases in profits, and that’s a fantastic thing, especially in the current financial climate,” Ms Capp said.
“The Government can lead the way by directing its MPs and government officials to fly direct wherever possible,” she said.
Ms Capp said that Melbourne was the only city with continuing positive growth in passenger numbers each month since September last year, when the global financial crisis began to have an impact in Australia.
If demand continues to increase, Melbourne has the capacity to accommodate more direct flights with its $330million international terminal expansion project due for completion in 2012. The project will double the size of the existing international terminal and provide capability to 2020, she said.
The new Melbourne Recital Centre which opened today, builds on Melbourne’s reputation as a world leader in providing world class facilities to support cultural pursuits and excellence, according to the Committee for Melbourne’s CEO, Ms. Sally Capp.
“This significant building will be the envy of the world and we expect that others will come from all over the globe to learn from what has been created here in terms of excellence of design, and to listen to the unique platform acoustic qualities within the two performance spaces,” Ms. Capp said.
“In true Melbourne style, what has been created here is an iconic and acoustically advanced building that will provide a benchmark for others.
“Our congratulations to the Victorian Government, for their vision in bringing this magnificent recital centre to reality, for the benefit of all Melburnians and visitors to our city,” she said.
The Federal Government’s spend of almost $2billion on infrastructure projects for Victoria will bring a welcome boost to the State’s economy, according to the Committee for Melbourne.
Committee for Melbourne CEO, Ms Sally Capp, said the $380 million to be spent on higher education infrastructure is long overdue.
“Investing in our universities has short term benefit for job creation but, importantly, in the longer term, it underpins our future growth opportunities through skills creation and innovation,” she said.
“This investment is very welcome, but more is needed when the Federal Government’s full Infrastructure Australia priorities are announced next year,” Ms Capp said.
About $1.4 billion will also be spent on roads and 215 million will be spent on rail projects in the State.
“These projects will benefit business in Victoria and the community, and will help address the estimated $4 billion congestion cost to Melbourne,” Ms Capp said.
The Victorian government is to be applauded for its wide-reaching transport plan which will boost the Victorian economy and jobs market for the next 12 years.
Committee for Melbourne CEO, Ms Sally Capp, said the plan would be widely supported in the community and offered something for everybody.
Given the current economic climate, the Government’s $38 billion investment with a flow on benefit of 100,000 jobs over the 12 year life of the plan, was very timely, she said.
“All Victorians will welcome this significant investment in our future,” Ms Capp said.
In terms of public transport measures, the plan has gone even further than the Eddington report’s recommendations, she said.
“When all the public transport measures are completed, including the new line to link West Werribee to Southern Cross station, the extension to South Morang and the rail tunnel to Caulfield, we will have a world class metro system, Ms Capp said.
The additional bus network for Doncaster will complement this, and plug a serious gap in current public transport services, Ms Capp said.
Road users would be well served by the new Maribyrnong tunnel, providing a second link under the Yarra River, the new freeway connection from Greensborough to Bulleen, and the proposed Frankston bypass, she said.
“By addressing these critical problem areas, the Government will greatly improve the liveablity of Melbourne for both residents and business,” Ms Capp said.
The introduction of a freight management plan – a first for Victoria – with new truck transport routes and an intermodal terminal at Donnybrook will add to Melbourne’s reputation as a fantastic city in which to do business, she said.
Cyclists would also benefit from additional funding for the bike path network and, more importantly, a commitment from the Premier that bicycle lanes will be included in all major transport route planning, Ms Capp said.
“The Government has come up with a plan that balances the needs of public transport users and road users, and it has been sensitive to the issues of sustainability. Our members will welcome this report,” she said.
An East West road tunnel is needed to complement public transport initiatives in the Government’s transport plan leaked to The Age today.
Committee for Melbourne CEO, Ms. Sally Capp, said that, if correct, the details provided to The Age would get a big tick from public transport users and would add to the liveability of Melbourne.
The addition of a road tunnel as an alternative to the Westgate Bridge would complete the Committee’s wish-list on transport options, she said.
Ms. Capp said the Committee also welcomed Minister Pallas’ announcement today that emergency lanes on the Westgate would be opened up to through traffic to relieve congestion, but said the measure is only a short term fix.
Instead a long term east west traffic solution is needed to improve the flow of traffic from the western suburbs to the CBD, to improve connections to the Port of Melbourne and thereby improve freight efficiency, and to relieve congestion at the end of the Eastern Freeway by removing through traffic.
Greater cross-city access for cyclists and more options for park and ride should also be included when the full transport plan is announced, Ms. Capp said.
A metropolitan Planning Authority needs to be established to oversee the implementation of the Government’s Melbourne@5million plan, according to the Committee for Melbourne.
Committee for Melbourne’s Chief Executive Officer Ms. Sally Capp, said new transport links, and economic and social infrastructure are needed to support the proposed urban growth areas along with higher density living along existing transport routes.
“Green wedges and protections for the environment must be guaranteed to preserve Melbourne’s reputation as one of the most livable world cities,” Ms. Capp said.
“The six identified central activities districts need to cluster employment opportunities. The Government needs to explain in detail the incentives that will be provided to encourage the development of job opportunities in these districts,” she said.
“A metropolitan Planning Authority would ensure that all of these considerations are taken into account.”
Ms. Capp said the high growth forecasts included in Melbourne@5million added to the immediacy of planning issues.
Melbourne is projected to grow from 3.744 million in 2006 to 5.525 million in 2036, with the number of households projected to increase by 51 per cent.
“On the basis of these figures, Melbourne is projected to double its size in the next 30 years,” Ms. Capp said.
Ms. Capp said Melbourne@5million would provide the basis for discussion with the wider community on the future growth of Melbourne.
Committee for Melbourne claimed both the penultimate Fast Thinking 2008 Innovation Prize and the award for Social Innovation at Sydney’s Powerhouse Museum Wednesday night, for its work towards ensuring Melbourne’s prosperity and liveability.
Melbourne has proven itself to be Australia’s true innovation hub by sweeping the 2008 Innovation Awards in the categories of Business, Science, Technology, Social and claiming the overall Fast Thinking 2008 Innovation for overall excellence.
Committee for Melbourne Chairman Mr. George Pappas said the Committee was worthy of the inaugural Fast Thinking 2008 Innovation Award.
“This award is a much appreciated and thoroughly deserved acknowledgement of the work by all of the Members of the Committee for Melbourne over the last 22 years, to implement new ways of bringing business, government and other community organisations together to advance the prosperity and liveability of our region,” Mr. Pappas said.
The Fast Thinking 2008 Innovation Awards partnered by Open Universities Australia (OUA) are designed to recognise and foster innovation in Australia.
Fast Thinking’s Chairman, Mr. John Keeney said, “Our aim in putting these awards together was to pave the way for more and greater innovation, which in turn is a key driver in creating a more productive and prosperous country”.
Melbourne’s winning streak continued with Computershare claiming the Technology Innovation Award. Winner of the Science Innovation Award was the Australian Mathematical and Sciences Institute and for Business Innovation, BioMelbourne Network’s member CSL Limited, was recognised for its development of plasma therapies, particularly the Gardasil vaccine for treating cervical cancer.
ETN-COM is a Sydney-based global publishing firm which produces the award-winning quarterly magazine, Fast Thinking, devoted solely to innovation. Fast Thinking has won a number of awards and received world-wide praise and involvement from corporations such as Ricoh, Fuji Xerox, Hewlett Packard, Allianz, the Federal Government, State Governments of NSW, Victoria and Queensland.
Melburnians – as individuals, businesses and as a community – must work
together to take practical actions and strive for sustainability in the face of climate
change, according to a plan released today by the Committee for Melbourne.
“We as Melburnians must be proactive and act now to adapt to the ‘locked in’
effects of climate change,” Committee CEO, Ms. Sally Capp said.
Released today and the result of 12 months’ work by 80 Melbourne organisations,
the Committee for Melbourne climate change FutureMap report is a blueprint for
adapting to the inevitable impacts of climate change, which include rising sea
levels, increasing temperatures, and more frequent extreme weather events.
The first Melbourne-specific and ‘plain English’ report on the impacts of climate
change also recommends practical actions for mitigating our greenhouse gas
emissions, particularly from stationary energy and transport, by engaging all levels
of the community.
“It would be too easy to sit on our hands until an Emissions Trading Scheme
‘forces’ us to act. If we wait, we risk more than just losing an opportunity to use our
vast innovative and technological resources to establish a leadership position in
the way we deal with climate change. We risk our most precious commodities –
our environment and our city’s liveability and prosperity,” Ms. Capp said.
“Today’s date - 24/7 - is symbolic of the sustained joint effort - 24 hours a day, 7
days a week - required to address this issue and protect our liveability and
prosperity,” she said.
The Climate Change Taskforce was convened to investigate the impacts and
opportunities from climate change for Melbourne. Committee Members will be
invited to play a key leadership role in showing the changes business can make to
seize and deliver the opportunities that are presented by a changing climate.
The Committee is calling on Melbourne organisations, including its broad 170-
strong membership, to take action to make ‘early and deep’ cuts in the amount of
harmful emissions put out by Melbourne and Victoria.
The Committee will hold workshops in the coming months about the benefits of
retrofitting buildings, ‘greening’ procurement processes, and changing travel
behaviour to adapt to climate change, reduce emissions and improve the
organisation’s bottom line. The Committee will also host a roundtable to discuss
measures to help low income renters adapt to climate change impacts.
In addition to taking concrete actions, the Committee will share its
recommendations with Government because it believes climate change requires
Melbourne and Victoria to plan, on a community-wide scale, for reserves,
redundancy and resilience.
Among the climate change sensitive policies set out by the Committee, the
FutureMap advocates:
• All new and proposed amendments to Government legislation be subject to
a Climate Change Impacts Assessment, including measures to
accommodate resilience to the effects of climate change;
• Planning regulations to allow ‘as of right’ 6-storey/30m height development
along specific high frequency public transport routes, subject to local ‘green
space’ and heritage considerations; and
• Melbourne utilise an ‘Asia Pacific Institute for Sustainable Cities’ to facilitate
the co-ordinated uptake of existing funding schemes and business
investment across Victoria to encourage reductions in greenhouse gas
emissions.
The report is focussed, rather than all-encompassing, and identifies Melbourne
opportunities which are within the Committee’s realm of expertise and where it has
the capacity to make a difference. The areas it covers are: buildings; business
procurement; urban resilience; transport; low emission energy; and social equity.
The Committee believes Melbourne must show leadership and drive the market for
sustainable products and services by greening our procurement processes. It also
calls on Melbourne’s building owners to reduce their energy and water use – and
operational costs – through retrofitting.
An increase in investment in public transport infrastructure, and a national vehicle
emissions target, requiring manufacturers to align with the lower, best practice
standards of the European Union across their model ranges by 2015, are also
advocated.
In addition to significantly increasing our investment in research and development
into all renewable energy technologies, the FutureMap also proposes an
independent study to determine, once and for all, if low emission coal is
commercially feasible and if so, within what timeline and at what cost.
The Committee’s Climate Change Taskforce is co-chaired by the Royal Botanic
Gardens’ Director and Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Philip Moors and Origin
Energy’s Director for Victoria and Tasmania and an Advisor to the Garnaut Climate
Change Review, Mr. Tony Wood.
WEDNESDAY 16 July, 2008 – The Committee for Melbourne’s Climate Change
Taskforce will be releasing their FutureMap later this month, which details key
opportunities for business, community and government associated with climate
change in Melbourne.
The Committee’s Chief Executive Officer, Ms. Sally Capp, says the FutureMap
will reveal how Melburnians will be directly affected by climate change, and what
we can do adapt and mitigate these impacts. “Melbourne must now start to adapt to the unavoidable consequences of climate
change and the report outlines key opportunities in a range of sectors,” Ms. Capp
said.
FutureMap is the first report to detail Melbourne-specific opportunities for
different business sectors emerging from climate change. Opportunities have
been identified in the areas of sustainable building; business procurement; urban
resilience; transport; low emissions energy and social equity.
“We wanted to understand how the community we live and work in will be
impacted by climate change including areas such as health, water resources and
floods, biodiversity, industry and alpine regions,” she said.
The FutureMap will be released on 24 July, 2008, and its aim is to engage
Melburnians and Victorians across all levels of the community.
“The Committee will be facilitating workshops and roundtables around key
opportunities from September to October 2008, to ensure uptake,” Ms. Capp
said.
The Taskforce is co-chaired by the Royal Botanic Gardens’ Director and Chief
Executive Officer, Dr. Philip Moors and Origin Energy’s Director for Victoria and
Tasmania and the Garnaut Climate Change Review’s Advisor, Mr. Tony Wood.