Murray Region Futures Conference
Monday, 19 July 00 2010 - Tuesday, 20 July 00 2010The Murray River Group of Council’s formed in 2007 on the understanding that the community interests shared across the group at a regional level were better served by working together. Combining the strategies and efforts of each Council is a more effective approach to achieving common goals and provides more complete and stronger representation on regional issues for each Council.
The issues that commonly come together across our region are those represented by the themes we are exploring during this conference; Infrastructure, Planning & Population, Economic Development and Diversification, Social Well-being and Community Capacity Building, Climate Change and Water and Alternative Energy.
Conference Program:
Monday 19 July
8.00am: Registrations Tea and Coffee provided
9.00am Conference Opening – Cr Keith den Houting, Chair
Murray River Group of Councils
Facilitator Bill Russel, Melbourne University
9.20am: Ready for Tomorrow: A Blueprint for Regional and Rural Victoria
Speakers: Richard Milne, Regional Director, Loddon Mallee, Regional Development Australia
9.35am: Northern Loddon Mallee Region Strategic Plan, Regional Development Australia
Speaker:Jenny Dawson, Chair, Loddon Mallee Regional Development Australia Committee
10.00am: Morning Tea
10.30am: Infrastructure Planning & Population
Speakers: Hon Warren Truss MP – Leader of the Nationals, Michael Campbell – Senior Consultant, AEC Group
11.30am: Economic Development and Diversification
Speaker: Brian Haratis, Economist & Futurist – MacroPlan Australia
12.30pm: Lunch
1.30pm: Social Well-being and Community Capacity Building
Speakers: Martin Hawson, General Manger – Mildura Rural City Council, Colleen Lux, Senior Research Associate – Judith Stubbs and Associates
2.30pm: Workshop the day topics in break-out groups
Facilitators: Michael Campbell, Senior Consultant – AEC Group, Brian Haratsis, Economist & Futurist, Martin Hawson, General Manager – Mildura Rural City Council and Colleen Lux, Senior Research Associate – Judith Stubbs and Associates.
3.30pm: Afternoon Tea
4.00pm: Presentations of workshop outcomes
4.30pm: Summation and Close
4.45pm: Finish
7.00pm: Dinner Cruise aboard – Paddleboat Mundoo
Speaker: Dr Janine Kirk AM, Chairman- Tourism Victoria Board
Cruise departs Mildura Wharf at 7pm. Five minute walk from Quality Hotel Mildura Grand or bus departs Hotel at 6.45pm. The bus is available at the wharf upon return of the cruise at 10pm.
Tuesday 20 July:
8.00am: Tea and Coffee
8.30am: Welcome and Introduction
Cr Greg Crickshank, Mayor – Swan Hill City Council
8.40am: Climate Change and Weather
Speakers: Senator the Hon. Penny Wong, Minister for Climate Change, Energy Efficiency and Water, Dr Graeme Pearman, Interim Director – Monash Sustainability Instituate, Monash University, Cr Terry Hogan AM, Chairman – Riverina and Murray Regional Organisation of Councils and Ray Stubbs, Executive Officer – Riverina and Murray Regional Organisation of Councils.
10.30am: Morning Tea
11.00am: Alternative Energy
Speakers: Rob Gell, Environmentalist, President of Greening Australia- Channel 7 Weather Presenter, Ian Porter, Chief Executive Officer – Alternative Technology Assocation
12.04pm: Securing Agriculture in an Insecure Environment
Speaker: Th Hon Joe Helper MP, Minister for Agriculture and Small Business
12.30pm: Lunch
1.30pm: Panel Discussion “Water, food and our communities in a changing environment”
Chair: Dr Simon Longstaff, Executive Director – St. James Ethics Centre
Panelists: Speakers from today’s topics and special guests
3.00pm: Summation and Conference Close
3.15pm: Afternoon Tea
3.45pm: Council representatives to sign off on agreed actions
For more information please click here for the Murray Region Futures Booklet
Please Click here for the Registration Form
