Archive for April, 2007

Delegates' report: Water conservation and community advocacy

Published by Alex Makin on Monday 16th of April, 2007

A pressing theme that has emerged over the events I attended in the previous month has been that of the environment and in particular the need for water conservation.

On the 23rd of March I attended the SaveWater Awards, convened by the SaveWater alliance, a non-profit association which includes membership from our water authorities and government agencies. The purpose of the SaveWater Awards, as its name suggests, is to encourage water conservation within government, private enterprise and the wider community and it was great to see many examples of innovation and a strong commitment to conserving water.

In particular the local government category has shown a number of examples that we can follow and Hume City Council must be congratulated for winning the local government category of the awards. Hume City Council is set to save more than 70 mega litres of drinkable water per year through the use of recycled water, water tanks and drought resistance turf. Kingston and Monash City Councils, the two other finalists in the category, have also introduced a number of water saving initiatives and combined the three councils a total 82 mega litres of drinking water is being saved.

This is the equivalent to 33 Olympic sized swimming pools and it demonstrates some of the proactive examples that are occurring in local government. It is also sets a high standard and in fact I would very much like to see Maroondah City Council as a potential finalist for next year’s awards. I will be tabling the Clearwater Awards publication.

Whether someone believes in the notion of climate change is irrelevant, the fact is that long term trends are showing an ever increasing bleak picture for Melbourne’s water supplies and the onus is on us to lead by example.

The good news is that in some areas Maroondah City Council is playing its part, since on the 30th of March I had the pleasure of participating in training session conducted on the use of rainwater gardens hosted at Maroondah’s council offices.

The training session was conducted by Clearwater, a non-profit organisation hosted and supported by Melbourne Water, and covered the potential benefits of using rainwater gardens to improve the quality of stormwater run-off by collecting excess rainwater run-off. What was great about this session is the fact that this is an area where Maroondah is leading by example.

Maroondah has recently installed its own rain garden at the lower carpark in front of Karralyka, due to design of rain gardens, the water runoff nourishes these gardens and also helps improve the quality of stormwater. This is one example of where Maroondah is taking initiative in water conservation.

Being proactive on water conservation and other environmental issues will have the support of the community and it is with community support that we can truly help shape positive change.

The last item I wish to raise is an example of where community support helps further an issue of concern and that is the issue of Maroondah’s stance in seeking a review of current gaming and planning legislation.

The Croydon Conservation Society issued correspondence citing their concern with the current gaming and planning legislation and the powers of VCAT. While the reply received from the Department of Justice does little other than provide excuses it does demonstrate the steps the community and community groups will undertake to assist council in its own efforts.

I will tabling the remainder of my delegates report.

The first Maroondah Environment Forum

Published by Alex Makin on Tuesday 10th of April, 2007

The City of Maroondah is holding its first environment forum on Monday the 7th of May. this forum will allow the community to discuss environmental issues that concern Maroondah and raise items for council’s attention.

This forum marks the beginning of what will become regular forums to allow the community to discuss environmental issues within Maroondah. The first forum will consist of a largely open format allowing the community to set the agenda for the issues that council should pursue and will set the focal point for the rest of the year.

The information exchange will be a two-way process, with the community providing feedback to council on required environmental projects and for council to provide feedback and education on activities.

The first forum will be held from 7pm on Monday the 7th of May at Karralyka in Braeside Avenue, Ringwood East.

Please continue reading this post for further details.

(Read more…)

Norwood Park Hall Users meeting for 2007

Published by Alex Makin on Sunday 8th of April, 2007

The Hall Users Meeting for the Senior Citizens Centre at Norwood Park, situated on Warrandyte Road Ringwood North, provides an opportunity for the three groups that use the hall to discuss issues related to the facility.

There are three groups based in the hall, the North Ringwood Senior Citizens, Ringwood U3A and Enjoying Planned Retirement. The bi-monthly meeting provides a forum for the three groups to discuss their activities and the needs of their groups.

As the ward councillor for Loughnan’s Hill, I have been invited to attend the meetings to ensure that communication exists between the three groups and Maroondah City Council.

Media Release: Working towards cleaner waterways in Maroondah

Published by Alex Makin on Wednesday 4th of April, 2007

With dam levels reaching historic lows, people everywhere are looking at ways to cut water use, or to substitute. One solution is a rain garden.

Councillor Alex Makin said over the last decade there has been a quiet revolution going on in the world of drainage and stormwater.

“There has been a realisation that traditional drainage is not necessarily the best system as it quickly diverts untreated stormwater via pipes and drains to channels, rivers and bays. This means large amounts of stormwater, containing pollutants that runoff roads and gardens, pollutes and degrades our waterways,” said Cr Makin.

“Rain gardens are a new system, whereby various layers of filtration materials are used in garden beds to detain and treat stormwater for passive irrigation, providing a green oasis and cleaner water that slowly flows into our waterways. They can be located along roadsides, in parklands, shopping centre car parks as well as other public areas,” said Cr Makin.

“Maroondah City Council has recognised this new form of passive irrigation and stormwater treatment and has recently constructed the first rain garden in the municipality as part of a demonstration project,” said Cr Makin.

The rain garden is located in the Council carpark at Braeside Avenue, Ringwood.

To coincide with the installation of the rain garden, the City of Maroondah hosted an industry training session, in conjunction with Clearwater, on Friday 30 March. Entitled ‘˜Rain gardens – lessons from the past’ it was a practical half day program covering key do’s and dont’s on how to design, build and maintain these garden systems.

Clearwater is a joint initiative of Melbourne Water, the Environment Protection Agency Victoria, the Municipal Association of Victoria and the Stormwater Industry Association of Victoria.

The training session was presented by Dr Nick Somes and Dean Lewis, of EcoDynamics, both with many years experience in rain garden design and construction.

“The training session has proved extremely popular, with over thirty five people from councils and the development industry attending, indicating that there are tremendous opportunities for local government to work with the development industries to produce sustainable stormwater solutions,” said Cr Makin.

“Through on the ground projects such as the rain garden construction at the Council offices and industry education in sessions such as these we are able to demonstrate the possibilities that are available to improve the health of our waterways,” said Cr Makin.

For information on future training sessions contact Clearwater at 9235 5335 or info@clearwater.asn.au

Stage 3A Water Restrictions

Published by Alex Makin on Sunday 1st of April, 2007

Melbourne has now entered Stage 3A water restrictions. The primary difference from stage three being that no evening watering of gardens is allowed.

Gardens may now only be watered between 6am and 8am for manual systems while automatic systems (which turn on and off automatically) can only be used between midnight-2am.

Even numbered houses can water on Saturday and Tuesday while odd numbered houses can water on Sunday and Wednesday.

Greywater can be used for gardens but to ensure high health standards it must be used within 24 hours of collection (unless it has been treated).

Water restrictions are also having an impact on local councils. The current regulations allow councils to water just one in four sportsgrounds, Maroondah is working sporting clubs to try and rationalise sporting facilities.

For more information please visit the Yarra Valley Water website www.yvw.com.au.

Maroondah Citizens' Advice Bureau meeting schedule for 2007

Published by Alex Makin on Saturday 3rd of February, 2007

The Maroondah Citizens’ Advice Bureau began in 1967 with the founding of the Ringwood Advisory Service and became the Maroondah Citizens’ Advice Bureau Inc. following council amalgamations in 1996.

The Maroondah Citizens Advice Bureau provides crucial support for some of Maroondah’s most vulnerable residents through providing advice, food assistance and referral services through a largely volunteer based organisation.

The Committee of Management meets on a monthly basis to discuss the direction of the organisation and to enact policies and other requirements. I have been a committee member of the Citizens’ Advice Bureau since mid 2006.

(Read more…)

Heatherdale Community Action Group meeting

Published by Alex Makin on Saturday 3rd of February, 2007

The Heatherdale Community Action Group (HCAG) represents the needs of the Heatherdale community within Maroondah and Whitehorse. Since Heatherdale is divided between the two municipalities (the boundary being Heatherdale Road) an ongoing community presence is necessary to ensure dialogue between the two councils in regard to the needs of the Heatherdale community.

Since my ward borders Whitehorse and the encompasses the Heatherdale community I regularly attend the Heatherdale Community Action Group meetings to ensure that their needs are represented throughout council.

The Heatherdale Community Action Group meets from 7:30pm on the second Wednesday of each month at the Manhattan Hotel, corner Canterbury and Heatherdale Roads, Heatherdale.

(Read more…)

2007 Maroondah Tourism and Heritage Advisory Board

Published by Alex Makin on Sunday 14th of January, 2007

The Maroondah Tourism and Heritage Advisory Board serves to promote the culture and heritage of Maroondah. The board meets every two months and includes members from the community to serve as an advisory board on the matters relating to tourism, culture and heritage.

I am one of four councillor delegates on the Maroondah Tourism and Heritage Advisory Board for 2007.

2007 Maroondah City Council Meeting

Published by Alex Makin on Wednesday 3rd of January, 2007

Council meetings commence at 7.30 pm and are held in the Council Chambers, Braeside Avenue, Ringwood.

The public is welcome to attend and there is an opportunity to submit a question to be answered at council meetings or to speak directly to councillors and council staff after the meeting.

If you wish to submit a formal question at a council meeting, please download the form for Public Question Time from the Maroondah City Council Website.