My Internet Journal is designed to provide details on my role as a Councillor for the City of Maroondah and my involvement within a variety of community organizations.
You can also subscribe to updates to stay informed in regard to community and council activities and how I am making a difference for the Mullum Ward and the Maroondah community.
Your comments and thoughts are welcomed and encouraged.
While Councillors set the direction of a municipality by debating and adopting policies, it is role of staff to implement the decisions made by Council. The Staff Achievement and Milestones Recognition Function provides an opportunity to congratulate staff that have achieved significant milestones at Maroondah.
This evening I joined Maroondah’s CEO in congratulating staff that have worked in the organisation for 10, 20 and 30 years. Longevity of staff is important as it is ensures that knowledge is retained within the organisation and it is great to be able to recognise these accomplishments.
In addition, I also congratulated staff that were recognised for their dedication through the Recognising Exceptional Value (REV) Awards. These awards are provided to staff members that demonstrate exceptional service to the organisation and are recognised through a Letter Under Seal from Council.
Category: Community Engagement,Maroondah,Urban Sustainability
Maroondah Mayor, Councillor Alex Makin has welcomed the $265,000 of Federal Government funding through the Regional and Local Community Infrastructure Program.
“Council welcomes the ongoing partnership with the Federal Government, and the $265,000 will go towards the establishment of a new Youth Space as part of the Croydon Parklands Future Directions Plan.
“Council is currently undergoing extensive community consultation in relation to a new skate park within the Youth Space. The area could also include a half basketball court, stage and shelter and fitness equipment.
“To date we have surveyed young people at secondary schools, at Maroondah Festival, during Youth Week in May, at 3-Ply skateboarding events, we have held workshops with Swinburne students and there is an online survey on Council’s Youth Services website.
“As part of this consultation two locations have been identified – the site of the current skate park in Norton Road or the site of old playground near tennis courts in Croydon Park.
“Council will undergo further consultation with the community before announcing the preferred location.”
Maroondah City Council’s Budget 2010-2011 has allocated $372,000 in 2011-2012 towards the project.
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Category: Community Engagement,Maroondah,Media Releases,Urban Sustainability
Maroondah City Council’s Proposed Council Plan 2010-2014 and Proposed Budget 2010-2011 were formally adopted during Council’s Monday 28 June meeting. The documents highlight the key initiatives which underpin the planning and budget blueprints for the Maroondah community.
Mayor of Maroondah, Councillor Alex Makin, said the Council Plan set out a broad range of Council activities designed to assist Council and the community move towards the future, as identified in Maroondah 2025: A Community Planning Together.
“The Council Plan clearly details the range of strategies that will be adopted over the coming four years and outlines Council’s commitment to working in partnership with the community to foster quality and sustainable lifestyles,” Cr Makin said.
“There are eight themes within the Council Plan: community; economic development and employment; infrastructure; leisure and culture; natural environment; transport; urban design and development; governance and corporate support,” Cr Makin said.
“The 2010-2011 Budget outlines the provision of financial resources for the coming 12 months, and details how these resources will be applied to delivering the many services Council provides to the community,” Cr Makin said.
FINANCIAL SUSTAINABILITY
“One of the key factors in this year’s Budget is providing the resources to bring forward the operational deficit that has existed in 12 out of the past 14 Council Budgets,” said Cr Makin.
“It is imperative that this Council draws a line in the sand to ensure that ongoing deficits are no longer acceptable. We must move our financial status into surplus as soon as possible to allow Council to be in the position to invest in community facilities and to meet our obligations now and into the future,” said Cr Makin.
“Council has determined that the operational surplus will now be brought forward to the 2012/13 financial year (three years earlier), commencing with the 2010/11 Budget,” said Cr Makin.
“The operating result for the 2010/11 year is planned at a $1.782 million deficit which halves that of the 09/10 Budget,” said Cr Makin.
“It is important to remember that rates and charges provide 63 per cent of Council’s operating revenue, with the remainder sourced from user charges, operating and capital grants and interest,” said Cr Makin.
“The cost of services delivered to the Maroondah community in 2010/2011 is expected to be $91 million, which is an increase of $6.2million over the 2009/2010 Budget,” said Cr Makin.
The Budget is based on a proposed general rate and charges increase of 9.8 per cent.
This increase is made up from:
| CPI (taken from the December 2009 quarter) | 3% |
| Infrastructure Levy | 2.5% |
| New initiatives | 2.5% |
| Regional Aquatic & Leisure Centre in Ringwood | 1.1% |
| State Government imposed increase in Landfill Levy | 0.7% |
For the average ratepayer living in a median priced house in Maroondah this represents a $98.10 increase in annual rates and charges, or $1.88 extra per week.
“Maroondah remains one of the lowest rating councils in Victoria, with figures released this week by the Municipal Association of Victoria indicating Maroondah has the 7th lowest (per capita) rates and charges of 71 Victorian Councils,” said Cr Makin.
“When further assessing these figures, the six lower rating Councils (per capita) are much larger in population than Maroondah, and therefore benefit from substantial economies of scale as well as other sources of income,” said Cr Makin.
“In addition, at an average rate of $549 per head, Maroondah has the lowest rating of all nine Victorian Councils of similar size (90,000 to 120,000 people),” said Cr Makin.
INVESTMENT IN INFRASTRUCTURE AND SERVICES
“Council’s Budget provides the resources to ensure we are able to sustainably provide over 120 services to the 105,000 members of our community, as well as providing resources for a number of new initiatives,” said Cr Makin.
These new initiatives include
LEISURE FACILITIES – MEETING THE COMMUNITY’S FUTURE NEEDS
“The allocation of funding in the 2010-2011 Budget (1.1% of rate increase) will be used to develop the design work and continue the community consultation for the proposed Regional Aquatic and Leisure Centre in Ringwood, which will replace the existing Ringwood Aquatic Centre,” said Cr Makin.
“It is important that Council looks to the future to ensure that we meet the expectations and needs of the Maroondah community. A new regional aquatic and leisure facility is an exciting project that will generate enormous community benefit, and ensure significant leisure and aquatic facilities for the Maroondah community into the next 50 years,” said Cr Makin.
“Maroondah is maintaining its position as a lower rating council in metropolitan Melbourne and returning the budget to surplus allows us to deliver exciting projects like the proposed Regional Aquatic and Leisure Centre in Ringwood,” said Cr Makin.
The 2010-2011 Budget and 2010-2014 Council Plan will be available for viewing on the Maroondah City Council website at www.maroondah.vic.gov.au
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Category: Maroondah,Media Releases,Urban Sustainability
MAROONDAH’S people, places, pastimes and events, as captured by its residents, will be on display at this year’s Maroondah City Council Photo Competition Exhibition at Maroondah Federation Estate.
This year the annual event attracted 121 entrants from 70 amateur photographers.
Maroondah Mayor, Councillor Alex Makin said the quality of this year’s entrants was going to make selecting a winner in all three categories extremely difficult for the judges.
“Our municipality has many fantastic places and people, so it is great to see people out there enjoying what is on offer and capturing that moment in time for others to enjoy,” Cr Makin said.
“Whether it’s the city’s landmarks, people enjoying the parks and gardens or relaxing at home, all of the pictures provide a sneak peek into how people live in and enjoy Maroondah,” Cr Makin said.
“I encourage everyone to come and see the exhibition for themselves and see Maroondah though the eyes of their fellow residents,” Cr Makin said.
A selection of works from the Maroondah City Council Art Collection will also be on display at the gallery during July.
The collection boasts more than 140 paintings, prints and ceramics which includes a number of pieces by artists from the region, as well as showing local landmarks and scenes.
The Maroondah City Council Photographic Competition categories were:
The awards will be presented at a special ceremony at Maroondah Art Gallery on Thursday July 8.
The Maroondah City Council Photographic Exhibition is sponsored by Croydon Camera House, Hoyts Cinemas Eastland, Maroondah Journal and Eastland Shopping Centre.
The exhibition is open until July 24 at the Maroondah Art Gallery, Maroondah Federation Estate, Greenwood Avenue, Ringwood. Opening hours: Monday to Friday 10am – 4pm and Saturday 12pm - 4pm. Details: 9298 4545.
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Category: Community Engagement,Maroondah,Media Releases,Urban Sustainability
Alex Makin is a councillor for the Mullum Ward in the City of Maroondah. Alex has been a councillor since 2005, representing ratepayers, businesses, community groups and residents.
I aim to continue making a difference and welcome any thoughts you may have in regard to life, community and business in Maroondah.
Phone: (03) 9870 8202 or 0408 311 645
Email: alex@alexmakin.com.au
