Melbourne and Southern Victoria Region

News

13 May 2010

The Melbourne Region met at the University of Melbourne, Burnley Campus, Yarra Boulevard on Wednesday May 4.

Despite a patch of bad weather arriving not long before the appointed time, 24 people were in attendance for a pre-meeting barbeque and a meeting with a full agenda.

The Chairman of the Melbourne Region, Ross McKay, called everyone present to attention and introduced the formal parts of the session.

Geoff Connellan, 2008 MacLean-Iedema Award winner spoke on the value of green space projects, including green roofs, being carried out by Melbourne Uni, and the SmartGardenWatering.org.au site developed under the SmartWater Fund to tell customers about the watering requirements of their existing gardens or a new garden being planned. A new version of the website, with social networking capability, using Facebook, will be released in the next couple of months.

Visit SmartGardenWatering.org.au for a look at this excellent web-based tool designed to help home gardeners water their gardens more effectively.

Des Horton, Water Conservation Specialist with City West Water, gave a presentation on the recent relaxation of water restrictions from stage 3a to stage 3 in Melbourne, and gave examples of how the water businesses communicate with sportsgrounds managers, users and user groups such as sports association, on requirements and allowances under water restrictions.

Chris Bennett, IAL CEO, presented on the IAL's business plan, and the Melbourne Region's recently developed business plan and how the IAL is making applications for funding to suit the needs of all parts of the IAL.

A key part of this message was that funding applications already made include provision for an Industry Development Officer for Victoria and Tasmania. Everyone at the IAL national office and in Melbourne eagerly await the outcome of these applications.

Ross McKay spoke again towards the end of the meeting offering thanks to Jim Marchbank, Gary Andrews and others on the Regional Committee for having organised the barbeque and following up with members to encourage attendance and RSVP's so catering could be arranged. And special thanks to Geoff Connellan, Melbourne Uni and Burnley for the use of the facility for the meeting.

Des Horton also spoke again on matters of liaison between the National Office and Melbourne stakeholders, especially on efforts to increase links with the Melbourne water supply organisations, and efforts by Tim Gilbert to follow-up on policy and program opportunities.

For example, following a meeting involving Tim, Ross McKay and Jim Marchbank of the Region Committee, and staff from the Department of Sustainability and Environment, IAL has:

• written to the Victorian Water Minister seeking feedback on some ideas for domestic and open space irrigation programs to achieve sustainable water savings; and
• been working with the Instiute of Public Works Engineering Australia (Victoria) to develop a joint open space irrigation improvement initiative. Open space managers have recently been invited to register interest in participating. IAL will then meet with these prospoective participants, and also with IAL members who would like to be involved in the program. These meetings are expected in late June, and IAL will keep you posted via the website. Please note the invitation opposite.

The Chairman, Ross, closed the meeting.

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