Community Flag Policy

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Community Flag Policy

1. Background

From time to time, Council receives requests for community flags and emblems to be

flown at the Brimbank Community and Civic Centre flagpoles. At these flagpoles, Council

flies the Australian Flag, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Flags and the Brimbank City Council

House Flag in accordance with the Australian National Flag Protocols

1

. The Australian

National Flag Protocols stipulate that only official flags of nations recognised by Australia

should be flown in conjunction with the Australian National Flag.

To accommodate requests for community flag flying, Council has made provision for a

Community Flagpole site at St Albans Community Centre (STACC).

The Community Flagpole is a means for different communities within the City of

Brimbank to express and symbolise identity, pride and belonging celebrated at different

and significant cultural and or community days or events.

2. Purpose

The purpose of this Policy is to provide consistent guidelines for the flying of flags at

Council’s Community Flagpole site at St Albans Community Centre.

This Policy purposefully distinguishes the Australian National Flag Protocols and the

Council’s Community Flagpole site into two distinct categories for flags to be flown as

follows:

• at the Council’s civic flagpole site. It ensures that Council complies with Australian

National Flag Protocols issued by the Department of Premier and Cabinet.

• at Brimbank Council’s Community Flagpole site. This Policy provides for specific criteria

for the provision of such flags by community groups and members to Council so that

community flags can be flown at the site.

3. Scope

This Policy applies to Council’s Community Flagpole site at St Albans Community Centre.

It provides for specific criteria for the provision of such flags by community groups and

members to Council so that community flags can be flown at Council’s Community

Flagpole site.

This Community Flagpole site is managed by the Community Planning and Advocacy

Department.

4. Community Flagpole Site

The Brimbank City Council’s Community Flagpole is located at St Albans Community

Centre.

Brimbank Council has provided a Community Flagpole site in recognising the diversity of

communities within the municipality. Council is therefore responsible for ensuring the

flags displayed are acknowledged with due diligence, dignity and attention.

1

https://www.pmc.gov.au/government/australian-national-flag/australian-national-flag-protocols

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5. Council Policy

5.1 Criteria for Consideration of Flying a Community Flag

Community flag flying requests will be forwarded and assessed by the Community

Planning and Advocacy Department and approved by the Director Advocacy,

Partnerships and Community.

Only applications in writing from locally based communities for events or internationally

recognised days and activities will be eligible for consideration.

Where community, Council, State or Federal sensitivities are identified during an

application assessment, approval may be referred to Council for resolution.

Groups applying to have a community flag flown at Council’s Community Flagpole site

will be required to provide the flag to be flown. All requirements and guidelines for an

application to be made in writing are provided for in Appendix 1 to this Policy.

The following criteria will be considered when a request to fly a community flag at its

Community Flagpole site during days of cultural or other significance is received by

Council.

The flying of the community flag:



Promotes respect for all.



Is part of an event or ceremony.



Is consistent with Council’s values and policies.



Embraces a sense of belonging and enhanced community life.

Council will

NOT

consider a request to fly a community flag that is connected to:



Individual advancement.



Political or cultural sensitivities.



Exposure to adverse criticism of Council or the community as a whole.

On the days where specific community flags are not flown at the Community Flagpole

site, Council will take priority at the site if it is holding a community event at the St

Albans Community Centre.

5.2 Maintenance and Monitoring

Council’s Hall Keeping is responsible for coordinating the maintenance of the Community

Flagpole and the monitoring of the flags condition while they are being displayed. If a

flag suffers damage and is rendered unsuitable for display, the respective community is

responsible for coordinating immediate replacement and disposal of the damaged flag.

5.3 Protocol for display

The flag should always be flown aloft and free as close as possible to the top of the flag

mast with the rope tightly secured.

The flag may only be flown at night when illuminated. In accordance with National Flag

Protocols, street lighting is considered appropriate illumination when the flag(s) are

clearly visible. If a flag is not illuminated at night and permission is given for more than

one day of display, the flag will be lowered at the end of each day.

The flag should not be allowed to fall or lie flat on the ground.

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Appendix 1 – Application to Fly Community Flag at Council’s

Community Flagpole Site

Guidelines to fly a Community Flag at Council’s Community

Flagpole site

Eligibility

Only applications in writing on the

from locally based communities for events or internationally

recognised days and activities will be eligible to be considered.

Community flag flying requests must be forwarded to and assessed by the Community

Planning and Advocacy Department and will be considered on a case by case basis on a

first in first served basis.

Applications should be forwarded at least six weeks prior to the date when the

community flag is intended to be flown.

Applications should be sent to the Manager, Community Planning and Advocacy, see

further details on form.

Criteria Considered in Applications

The following criteria will be consided when a request to fly a community flag at its

Community Flagpole site during days of cultural or other significance is received by

Council.

The flying of the Community flag must:



Promote respect for all.



Is part of an event or ceremony.



Is consistent with Council’s values and policies.



Embraces a sense of belonging and enhanced community life.

Council will

NOT

consider a request to fly a community flag that is connected to:



Individual advancement.



Political or cultural sensitivities.



Exposure to adverse criticism of Council or the community as a whole.

Other considerations



Permission may be given to fly a community flag for a minimum of one day to a

maximum of seven days.



If more than one community group or organisation wishes to utilise the

Community Flagpole site on the same day, priority will be given to the application

received first and based on merit.



If more than one community group or organisation wishes to utilise the

Community Flagpole site during the same week, then Council will use its best

endeavours to accommodate all requests during that week.



Where community, Council, State or Federal sensitivities are identified during an

application assessment, approval may be referred to Council for resolution.



A response to an application indicating approval or otherwise will be provided in

writing signed by the Manager, Community Planning and Advocacy indicating

approval or otherwise.

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

Where an application is approved, the applicant will be required to provide the

community flag to be flown. The flag must be new and 1800mm wide by 900mm

high. Differing community flag measurements will be advised accordingly. The

flag must be provided to Council’s Community Planning and Advocacy

Department at least one week prior to the date it is intended to be flown. The flag

will be returned to the applicant or representative.

Council Event Priority

On the days where specific community flags are not flown at the Community Flagpole

site, Council will take priority at the site if it is holding a community event at the St

Albans Community Centre.

History of amendment

Rev

Review date

Reason for amendment

Next review date

A 10/12/2019

Adopted by Council

10/12/2021

Select date

Select date

Select date

Select date

Approved by council:

Yes

Date approved by council: 10 December 2019

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Application to Fly a Community Flag at the Community Flagpole

St Albans Community Centre

Name of application/community group/organisation

Name of applicant:

Click here to enter text.

Community group or

organisation

Click here to enter text.

Postal Address

Click here to enter text.

Suburb and Postcode

Click here to enter text.

Contact number 1:

Click here to enter text.

Contact number 2:

Click here to enter text.

Contact number 3:

Click here to enter text.

Email address:

Click here to enter text.

Description of Community Flags (add attachment if that assists you)

Reasons for display

☐

Community Event

☐

National Day

☐

Day of significance

☐

Other

Describe how this request meets Council criteria

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Dates the flag needs to be flown

The first date the community flag must be flown

Click here to enter text.

The last date the community flag must be flown

Click here to enter text.

Return completed form to Brimbank Council

Post

Manager, Community

Planning and Advocacy

Brimbank Council

P.O. Box 70 Sunshine VIC

3020

In person at a customer

service centre:

Sunshine:

Brimbank Community and

Civic Centre

301 Hampshire Rd

Sunshine

Hours: Monday- Friday:

8.45am - 5pm

Watergardens:

Station Street,

Watergardens Town Centre

(located within the

Sydenham Library),

Taylors Lakes

Hours



Monday-Thursday:

10.30am-7pm



Friday: 10.00am-5pm



Saturday: 10.00am-

12.30pm

Keilor Community Hub

704b Old Calder Highway

Keilor

Hours: Monday to

Friday, 8:45am – 5pm

Email:

CPA@brimbank.vic.gov.au

Fax:

03 9364 9389

For Official Use Only: