Summary of exhibition feedback
Climate Change Adaptation Memorandum of Understanding
Submissions received
The exhibition period for the Climate Change Adaptation Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) opened on 6
August 2014 and concluded on 3 September 2014. In total 40 submissions were received, from a mix of individual
councils, greenhouse alliances, and the Municipal Association of Victoria (MAV).
Overall support
A large majority of submissions received were supportive and requested only minor amendments to the MoU.
Nine submissions did not support the MoU in its current form and requested changes. All requested changes
were considered using the analysis process outlined below.
Analysis process
In determining whether each piece of feedback should result in an amendment to the MoU, the following were
considered in no priority order:
 whether the concern was consistent with discussion at the round-tables held in May;
 whether the amendment would impact on the intent of the MoU;
 whether the concern could be addressed within the scope of the MoU;
 whether the feedback indicated a key omission or gap;
 whether the amendment would be consistent with relevant policy and legislation; and
 the number of organisations that provided the feedback.
Key themes
The table below outlines the key concerns raised through the submission process and the nature of the responses
to the concern. This is not an exhaustive list of the concerns raised, however those detailed below were
consistently identified across a number submissions and have therefore been included as key concerns.
Concern
Response
The proposed signatories to the MoU are not
representative enough of the local government sector.
To address this concern the MAV agreed to be an additional signatory to the
MoU.
Completion of the work plan by January 2015 is too
ambitious and/or may not allow sufficient time for
meaningful collaboration with local government.
To address this concern the date for completion of the work plan has been
extended to March 2015.
The fifth point in the “Integrated Decision Making”
principle implies that responsibility for climate risk
management will be devolved to local government to
an unacceptable extent.
To address this concern the principle of integrated decision making has
been amended to remove the statement that risk “is often best managed by
those closest to the risk”. The value of incorporating local values and
knowledge into decision making was strengthened in the principle regarding
“Informed decision making”.
The MoU does not clarify roles and responsibilities to
the extent expected (it’s too high level).
The MoU is a deliberate step forward to develop shared understanding of
where clarity is needed and how state and local government want to work
in adaptation.
Greater clarity of responsibilities will be achieved through the future work
committed to in the MoU.
Local government request guidance regarding climate
related legal liability which is currently not referred to
in the MoU.
To address this concern the MoU has been amended to include legal liability
as an area for further investigation in 2015/16 (see Section 8).
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Climate Change Adaptation MoU – Summary of exhibition feedback
Discussions of community empowerment in the
principles and priority areas are largely described as
information provision. Empowerment is however
much more than this.
To address this concern the “Community empowerment” priority area has
been renamed to reflect that the priority area may include focus on
engagement, information provision and empowerment.
The Victorian Centre for Climate Change Adaptation
Research (VCCCAR) program needs to receive further
funding given the importance of information provision
which is highlighted in the MoU.
DEPI is working to ensure that the products from VCCCAR continue to be
accessible and of use to stakeholders. This includes, for example,
dissemination of information, knowledge, tools and expertise developed by
VCCCAR as a key component of the VAS partnership mentoring initiative.
The MoU states that the future work it commits to will be informed by
Victorian, national and international examples of successful adaptation, and
by relevant expertise. This may include drawing on the products and
relationships built through the last five years of VCCCAR.
The MoU is a tool to increase clarity of climate adaptation responsibilities,
not a vehicle for funding commitments.
Funding and costs of adaptation are not mentioned.
Adequate funding will be required for appropriate
adaptation to occur.
The MoU states that capacity and resource models are issues to be
considered in all priority areas.
The wording of the “Integrated decision making”
principle needs to consider the complexity, extent and
duration of risks, not only least cost, when
determining appropriate adaptation responses.
To address this concern wording in the MoU has been amended to more
accurately reflect the intent of the principle as it is articulated in the
Victorian Climate Change Adaptation Plan which accounts for the
complexity and scale of risks.
Further detail is required on how local government can
remain involved in the processes associated with the
MoU after it is finalised.
To address this concern wording has been added to the MoU which states
that the future work will be guided by the Victorian State-Local Government
Agreement which includes principles for engagement between the spheres
of government.
The MoU is not a vehicle for funding and it recognises that state and local
governments are already delivering a broad range of work that increases
Victoria’s climate resilience, which is often embedded in governments’ core
business activities.
The “joint development” of guidance notes and case studies committed to
in the MoU will necessarily involve engagement and work between state
and local government.
The environment/natural assets is not mentioned as a
priority area.
To address this concern the MoU has been amended to include a new
sentence on page 4 that states ”The priority areas also require
consideration of impacts on Victoria’s economy, environment, community
safety and well-being”.
Use of feedback for future work
Many of the submissions include information that is valuable for the future work committed to in the MoU. This
information will be considered in the work in 2015-2016.
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Climate Change Adaptation MoU – Summary of exhibition feedback