Event Description.

Theme: The Clash: Higher Density Living and a Changing Climate

Would you like to know more about coming climate change impacts in Whitehorse, do you worry about how planning laws will address those climate impacts?

Come along to our special forum on 19th October 2024 at the Whitehorse Community Arts Centre, Box Hill. We have lined up some excellent speakers who are experts in their field.

Forum Objectives:

1. To expose the realities of what we can expect in Whitehorse from further destabilising climate change – the known and the surprises.

2. To explore how dramatically changed state government housing policy will inevitably clash with climate change mitigation and adaptation objectives.

3. To better understand what the City of Whitehorse is doing to address the climate emergency and the threat of the new housing policy.

4. To share ideas and work together, to help identify community ambitions for what would make Whitehorse more liveable; a better place to live, accounting for climate change AND, to tell our leaders what needs to change.

Planning Minister Sonia Kilkenny in a statement has said Plan Victoria would … ‘‘give Victorians a once-in-a-generation opportunity to have a say on how we shape our cities, towns, regions and communities for decades to come. We want to talk about a wide range of topics that affect how we live now, and what people’s lives will be like in the future: that includes housing affordability and choice, jobs and equity, liveable and thriving neighbourhoods, and climate action and sustainability.’’

Speakers.

Neil Plummer
Board Director and Climatologist, Out of the Box Executive

Neil supports organisations in mitigating risks, and capturing opportunities, from the impacts of climate change and the clean energy transition. He also facilitates training on strategy, leadership, governance and business planning for government agencies and businesses.

Neil is a non-executive director on the boards of Wannon Water and Geelong Sustainability, an executive director with Out of the Box Executive and on the Technical Advisory Board of Climate Communications Australia. In 2020 Neil became a graduate member of the Australian Institute of Company of Directors and, in 2019, his climate services expertise was recognised with a Pacific Meteorological Council Lifetime

Professor Joe Hurley.

Joe is a Professor with the Sustainability and Urban Planning program; and a member of the Centre for Urban Research. His research focuses on the intersection between urban planning and urban sustainability, and on the role of urban governance and policy in producing sustainable outcomes. He is a chief investigator on several research projects funded by the Australian Research Council; Victorian Department of Planning; and the Australian Urban Research Infrastructure Network (AURIN).

Joe takes a particular interest in the relationship between research and practice worlds and is actively involved in work to reduce the barriers to exchange and enhance collaboration.

Dr Stephen Rowley

Stephen Rowley is a Senior Associate at SGS Economics and Planning, an independent planning consultant (as RCI Planning), and an adjunct Senior Lecturer in Urban Planning and Design at Monash University. He has 25 years of experience as a planner across state and local government, and in private practice.

He is a recognised expert in the Victorian planning system, having written the standard text The Victorian Planning System: Practice, Problems and Prospects, the second edition of which was published in June 2023.

Panel Discussion with presenters and filtered questions from the floor.

Supported by:

Bendigo Bank

Blackburn Village Residents Group (BVRG)

Blackburn and District Tree Preservation Society