A trend to developer-led proposals for expansion of urban boundaries around the world is counter to the evidence base that demonstrates the benefits of a more compact urban form, especially when sufficient land supply for housing exists with no need for expansion of suburbs to areas of significance to cities, now or in the future.

This urban form, with an emphasis on public and active transport, contributes to community health and well-being. Urban sprawl and car dependence is associated with obesity, air pollution, lack of interaction and sense of community, isolation, marginalisation and loneliness (reported to be as much a threat to health as obesity).

A progressive vision for Bendigo is of a more liveable and attractive and vibrant city that anticipates the consequences and outcomes of poor, development-driven planning decisions on the social, built and natural environments.

It is one where value is placed on a community based society where agricultural land and biodiversity is preserved on the urban fringe and there is efficient use of resources such as water and energy. It is a vision where communities act to conserve, protect and sustainably manage land and water resources that are a key to climate change mitigation and adaptation strategies.

Homophobia is defined as an unreasoning fear of, and antipathy towards, homosexuals and homosexuality.

Homophobia has, for generations, been underpinned by hateful misinformation and ignorant intolerance which has historically been used to justify extreme societal discrimination. Homophobic discrimination has resulted in abject suffering, blighted potential and violent injustice for many, many thousands of Australians, often most intensely during their formative adolescent years, and onwards.

Homophobia is fear of difference and diversity. Most of us now know better. Most of us now know that homosexuality and trans-sexuality are not disorders. Most of us want a better, fairer, healthier and safer society for our precious and perfect children and grandchildren – in short, for our future generations.

Safe Schools Coalition Australia is a mainstream organisation which has the express support and backing of numerous first-tier universities, healthcare organisations, relationship and family welfare agencies, community legal services and multi-faith and multicultural councils.

It is endorsed by the Australian Education Union, the Independent Education Union Australia, the National Tertiary Education Union and the Australian Secondary Principal’s Association. Beyond Blue, Headspace, the Mental Illness Fellowship and Relationships Australia are also on board. It is completely beyond belief that any well-informed and fair-minded person could conclude that such expert representative bodies would be lending their names to Safe Schools to the detriment of our young people, or their public credibility.

Excitingly, there are multiple local councils and shires, metropolitan and regional, also lending their support to Safe Schools because they, and the communities they serve, “believe that schools should provide a safe and inclusive environment for all students”.

The work of the Safe Schools Coalition is to create positive change for same-sex attracted, intersex and gender diverse students, school staff and families.