The federal Department of Immigration and Citizenship is inviting applications for funding under the Diversity and Social Cohesion Program (DSCP).   

The DSCP provides the additional resources often needed by not-for-profit community organisations to develop their own projects and find their own ways of helping their community build stronger community relations.

DSCP funding aims to:

• Promote respect, fairness and a sense of belonging for Australians of every race, culture and religion.  
• Develop the community capacity building skills of specific community groups under significant pressure due to their cultural, religious or racial diversity.  

Community organisations can apply for funding of up to $50,000 to develop projects that aim to address issues of cultural, racial or religious intolerance or to develop community capacity building skills.  Projects must provide an opportunity for participation and interaction by different members of the community.

Applications must be lodged by Friday 9 March 2012.

For further information including the Application Information Booklet and application form, click here or contact the Diversity and Social Cohesion Program helpdesk on 1800 453 004.

The National Airports Safeguarding Advisory Group (NASAG), comprising Commonwealth, State and Territory Government planning and transport officials, the Australian Government Department of Defence, the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA), Airservices Australia and the Australian Local Government Association (ALGA), is finalising the draft National Airports Safeguarding Framework (the draft Framework).

The draft Framework is being developed with the aim of improving community amenity by minimising aircraft noise-sensitive developments near airports and improving safety outcomes by ensuring aviation requirements are recognised in land use planning decisions.  The draft Framework will ensure that both airports and residents of suburbs around airports are safeguarded from inappropriate off-airport development.

The NASAG is seeking feedback from interested parties on the draft Framework.  In this context, the chair of NASAG, Andrew Wilson, has recently written to councils that are likely to be directly affected by the draft Framework.   A copy of the draft Framework can be found here.

Any comments on the draft Framework should be provided by 15 March 2012, directly to:  safeguarding@infrastructure.gov.au; or

Mr Scott Stone
General Manager Aviation Environment
Department of Infrastructure and Transport
GPO Bob 594
CANBERRA CITY ACT 2601

Queries on the detail of the draft Framework may be directed to Mr Stone, on (02) 6274 7605 or Scott.Stone@infrastructure.gov.au. 

It is important to note that the draft Framework is yet to be endorsed by governments, but it is expected to be considered by the Council of Australian Governments (COAG) in the future.  Subject to COAG endorsement, each jurisdiction would then consider implementation through its own mechanisms and may undertake further consultation processes.

A federal inquiry into the impact of fly-in, fly-out (FIFO) is underway in central Queensland, the heart of the state's coal mining sector.

The House of Representatives Standing Committee on Regional Australia is investigating the impact of the FIFO workforce on mining communities.

The committee is due to hear from several groups, including the Dysart Community Association and Moranbah Medical.

It has raised concerns about the doctor-to-patient ratio, which is one to 2750.

Mount Isa Mayor John Molony says fly-in, fly-out workers should not be allowed at mine sites that have an operational life of 100 years or more.

He said if mining companies planned on staying in an area for a significant amount of time, they should be relying entirely on local workers.

"One of the greatest things that any mining company can do to contribute to the skills shortage in Australia, in conjunction with the government, is training and the provision of trades," he said.

Australia’s coastal councils have commissioned a research project to collect information on the impact of non-resident populations, such as tourists and holiday home owners, on coastal communities.

The project is to be undertaken by a research team at the University of Adelaide headed by Professor Graeme Hugo, one of Australia’s leading demographers, and is being carried out in conjunction with the National Sea Change Taskforce.

Alan Stokes, executive director of the National Sea Change Taskforce, said mobile populations such as the millions of people who flocked to coastal areas over holiday periods and weekends, were hard to count.

“Many of these people do not show up in the permanent population data for coastal areas which is collected during winter,” he said.  “As a result, the populations in these communities tend to be significantly underestimated.”

“Bass Coast Shire Council in Victoria, for example, has a permanent population of 30,000. The council estimates, however, that this figure increases to nearly 80,000 in holiday periods and can exceed 100,000 when major events are held at Phillip Island.”

Alan Stokes said the differences between these weekend and seasonal population figures have an important bearing on the share of financial assistance grants that councils receive.

Professor Hugo will present a keynote speech on the project at the 2012 Australian Coastal Councils Conference, which is to be held in Hobart in March.

The Western Australian Acting Planning Minister Troy Buswell has released a draft revised policy and new guidelines for public consultation following a full review of the State Coastal Planning Policy.

Mr Buswell said the proposed revisions and additions provided more guidance to the Western Australian Planning Commission, State Government bodies, and local governments for land use and development on or near the coast.

“The review of the State Coastal Planning Policy takes into account the latest planning information locally, nationally and internationally, from learning from application of the policy, and an extensive internal and targeted external consultation,” he said.

“The review brings the policy in line with other Australian states’ planning policies in terms of sea level rise and application of a precautionary and risk management approach.”

The acting Minister said the comprehensive review had looked into coastal planning matters such as foreshore reserve width; coastal types; and risk of erosion and inundation resulting from a storm event taking into consideration all WA coastal areas.

The draft policy is available here.  Submissions are due by 31 May.

The Tasmanian Government has announced the release of the Tasmanian Local Government Asset Management Policy, aimed at assisting the state’s councils in their management of $8 billion worth of assets.

“The Tasmanian Local Government Asset Management Policy provides guidance for councils in developing their own policies and strategies for sustainable, long-term asset management,” Tasmanian Minister for Local Government Bryan Greens said.

“This Policy is a key component of the long-term sustainability framework that the Local Government Association of Tasmania and State Government are working with councils to implement.”

President of the Local Government Association of Tasmania, Barry Easter, welcomed the policy announcement, describing it as a sustainable way to support both the current and future needs of the Tasmanian community.

“The Local Government Association of Tasmania is currently coordinating asset management maturity assessments of all councils as a first step in this process,” Mr Easter said. 

“These assessments will provide councils with fundamental information in progressing or improving their long-term asset management plans, and will provide consistent information around asset maturity in councils across the state.”

The worldwide climate actions of local governments have been discussed at an international seminar in Japan organised by ICLEI Japan in collaboration with the Ministry of the Environment, Japan and the British Embassy in Tokyo.

 83 participants representing 34 local governments, including Leeds and Bristol, UK, attended the seminar on 9 February, 2012 and agreed to implement the Local Government Climate Change Registry, a system to actively report and publicise local government actions and commitments.

The Japanese registry, including 124 cities and prefectures, is the first national supplement to the global carbon Cities Climate Registry.  

The seminar concluded with participants declaring their commitment to:

• Energy saving, efficient use of energy and a shift to renewable energy.
• Increasing green space and promote a better lifestyle with low environmental impact.
• Promoting GHG emission reduction measures, measure and analyze GHG emission on a regular basis to achieve the reduction target.
• Encouraging measurable, reportable and verifiable (MRV) actions by implementing effective measures.
• Effectively promoting local governments’ measures through the Local Governments Climate Change Registry system.

Contributing to tackling global climate change issues through data sharing and collaborative activities with the global carbon Cities Climate Registry.

More women participate in cultural activities, but men are more likely to get paid for their involvement, according to results released from a survey conducted by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS).

In 2010-11, more than a quarter (27 per cent or 4.7 million people) of Australians 15 years or older participated in cultural activity such as dancing, sculpting, painting, drawing or cartooning.

Women had a higher participation rate in cultural activities (31 per cent) than men (23 per cent), but when it came to being paid, 18 per cent of men received a wage, salary or other payment for their participation in cultural activities compared with 12 per cent of women receiving payment for their involvement.

People aged 15–24 years had the highest participation rate in cultural activities, at 34 per cent. Cultural activity participation rates tended to decrease with age, with people aged 65 and over reporting a participation rate in cultural activities of 23 per cent.

Further information is available here.

A Taste of Harmony – Australia’s biggest celebration of cultural diversity and food on the Australian calendar – will take place from 19-25 March to coincide with National Harmony Day on 21 March.

A Taste of Harmony is an annual week that invites all Australians to bring in a dish and share a meal and stories with colleagues to celebrate our diverse cultures.

To participate, simply register your workplace event for free by visiting www.tasteofharmony.org.au and receive free merchandise.

Participating in A Taste of Harmony is a great way to enjoy a delicious meal with colleagues while learning more about the cultural diversity of the workplace.

There is no fundraising involved, it is simply about enjoying a meal and sharing stories.

Communities are being asked to nominate their local mayor for the 2012 World Mayor Prize.

Every two years the City Mayors Foundation awards the prize to a mayor who has developed a vision for urban living relevant to towns and cities across the world.

The City Mayors Foundation is seeking candidates who are at least in their second term of office.

Mayors wishing to be considered for the World Mayor Prize will be asked to sign the City Mayors Code of Ethics.

Nominations will be accepted until mid-May 2012: Nominate your mayor now!