CLAIR Forum

The CLAIR Forum is an annual one-day seminar organised and sponsored by the Japan Local Government Centre (CLAIR, Sydney). It was inaugurated in 1995 to provide an opportunity for Australian and New Zealand government officials and academics to exchange knowledge and ideas with other peers and visiting experts from Japan on a topic of mutual interest.

CLAIR Forum in Sydney -SUMMARY-

2010 CLAIR forum was held on 1st of December at Custom House, Sydney. This year’s theme was on “Balancing the environment with regional economic development- Stories from big cities and rural communities”, around 60 people had participated the forum. Dr Robert Mellor, Program Manager from UTS Centre for Local Government facilitated the program throughout the day. The forum began with the welcome speeches from the director of CLAIR Sydney Mr Shinsuke Takigawa, then opening speeches from Consul-General of Japan in Sydney Dr Masahiro Kohara then and Councillor Robert Kok from City of Sydney. The topic for the keynote address was on “Balancing the Environment with Regional Economic Development” by New Zealand’s former Minister of Conservation, Minister of Forestry and Minister of Lands, Hon Denis Marshall. Following the keynote address, the presentation “Moving Sydney Towards a Low Carbon Future” was conducted by the Sustainability Director, Mr Chris Derksema from the City of Sydney. The Japanese speaker for the day was former Mayor of Iiyama City, Mr Kunitake Koyama. He talked about his experience as the former Mayor of Iiyama City and addressed some of the challenges he faced in making a green city. Panel discussion, which consisted representatives from Byron Shire Council, ACELG (Australian Centre of Excellence for Local Government), was conducted later in the afternoon. Summary for all presentations on the day are as followed:

Keynote Address Hon Denis Marshall, former New Zealand Minister of Conservation, Minister of Forestry and Minister of Lands.

Denis Marshall represented Rangitikei for 15 years and was for 6 years an Associate Minister of Agriculture with responsibility for horticulture, 5 years Minister of Conservation and for 3 years Minister of Lands. These responsibilities enabled him to gain a real insight into and understanding of the often sensitive issues of conservation and land use. In his presentation, he spoke from a New Zealand rural community perspective on balancing the environment with regional economic development.

Case study Mr Chris Derksema, Sustainability Director, the City of Sydney - Moving Sydney Towards a Low Carbon Future

At the City of Sydney Council Mr Derksema manages a multi-disciplinary team responsible for developing and implementing policy, strategy and programs to improve the environmental performance of Council’s operations and the community. Mr Derksema played an integral role in the development of Sustainable Sydney 2030, a vision for the future of Sydney and is now responsible for implementing a number of actions to achieve the City’s environmental goals.

Case Study Mr Kunitake Koyama, Former Mayor of Iiyama - Rural Open Spaces-Our Imcomparable Treasure

After 22 years as a farm operator, he was elected as Mayor of the City of Iiyama in 1990. From his experience as a farm manager, Mr Koyama recognised the educational value of contact with living creatures and earth, and actively promoted Green Tourism. Green Tourism, based on nature in its unchanged form, was identified as the driving force behind revitalising the region.

Case Study Ms Jos Mitchell, the Sustainable Communities Manager, - Byron Shire Council - Market Value

In Ms Mictchell’s presentation, she shared Byron Shire Council’s experience in balancing environment and economic development. Byron Shire Council is known of its incorporation of economic development, tourism management and community services. In her presentation, she talked Byron Shire Council’s community economic development plans and policies.

Academic Stance Prof Graham Samson,Director of the Australian Centre of Excellence for Local Government,Direcotor of UTS Centre for Local Government - 2010 CLAIR Forum: Balancing the Environment with Regional Economic Development, Review and Reflections

Followed by Ms Mitchell’s presentation, Prof Graham Samson, Director of ACELG and UTS Centre for Local Government had given a presentation for reflections from an academic stance for the forum theme. Graham has held senior positions in both local and state government, and has carried out research and consultancy projects in all States and Territories. He is also actively involved in local government issues internationally, and is a board member of the Commonwealth Local Government Forum as well as editor of the Commonwealth e-journal of Local Governance.

Panel Discussion
Panel discussion was conducted towards the end of the forum, which had given all speakers opportunities to answer questions from the floor. Following points were discussed:
-Opinions on conflict of interest and intention between economic development and environmental suitability.
-Conflicts on political interest and public interest.
-Challenges in implementing long-term plan when change of councillors occurred.
-Community involvement in environmental sustainability plan.
-Government’s best and most productive role in balancing environment and economic development.
-NSW government framework and consistency in local government’s long-term plan.
-Meeting environmental target.
-How to effectively respond in change of lifestyle and environment.
-Lessons for other non-green regional councils.
-How to retain young people in local government in relations to environmental sustainability.

 

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