Maroondah City Council officially meets on a monthly basis from 7.30 pm at the Council Chambers at the Maroondah Civic Centre in 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 with councillors and council staff after the meeting.

The Mayor chairs the council proceedings and copies of the agenda are available from the Maroondah City Council website prior to 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.

Eastern Volunteers would like to invite you to our Business Booster Breakfast at Club Ringwood on 15th September, to launch our new business network, Friends of EV.

Our Business Booster Breakfast will offer the chance to:

• hear Tom O’Dowd (Exclusive Distributor for Power Balance in Australia & NZ) speak on ‘The benefits for businesses of engaging with the community (and some strategies on how to make this a competitive advantage)’
• hear from Alex Makin, Mayor of Maroondah
• see the launch of ‘Friends of EV’ and find out more about it
• meet Terry Macdonald, Chair of EV’s Board and other key staff, and
• network with other like-minded local business-people

all while enjoying a cooked breakfast at Club Ringwood!

We will also discuss some of the synergies available and benefits to you of partnering with Eastern Volunteers and our networks. We are keen to hear your questions and needs and we encourage you to bring your thoughts to share in the discussion.

For further information please visit www.easternvolunteers.org.au/boosterbreakfast.php

The Australian Local Government Association (ALGA) is the peak body representing local government at a national level.  Each year the organisation holds a National General Assembly, where Councils across the country nominate motions to influence the priorities and initiatives undertaken by ALGA.

I will be in Canberra during the week of the 14th of June to participate in the National General Assembly and to meet Federal Members of Parliament to discuss the priorities of Maroondah City Council.  It is important that Maroondah is well represented at a Federal level and I would to thank Maroondah’s CEO Frank Dixon, as well as my fellow Councillors, Paul Macdonald, Michael Macdonald, Rob Steane and Les Willmott who will be joining me in Canberra.  During this time we are planning to meet several Members of Parliament where we can discuss Maroondah’s priorities and the need for ongoing collaboration between all levels of government.

In accordance with Section 65 of the Local Government Act 1989, a Special Meeting of Council has been called to formally consider the 2010-2014 Council Plan and the 2010/2011 Budget.

The Special Meeting of Council is required to place the proposed Council Plan and Budget on public exhibition to enable the community to formally comment on these proposals.  A  submissions panel, which includes Cr. Nora Lamont, Cr. Rob Steane and myself will be convened on Wednesday the 23rd of June to formally consider any submissions received during this process.

A second Special Meeting of Council will be held on Monday the 28th of June at 7.30 pm to formally consider any recommendations from the committee and the finalised Council Plan and Budget.

While there are a number of challenges over the course of this year, the City of Maroondah’s Council Plan and Budget aims to strengthen the capacity of the Council so that we can meet the growing and diverse needs of our community.

I encourage the community to read through these documents and to attend these meetings.

The Maroondah Partners in Community Wellbeing Committee meets on a quarterly basis to oversee the implementation of Maroondah’s Community Wellbeing Plan.  The plan aims to improve the wellbeing of the Maroondah community through working in partnership with other organisations, many of which are represented on the committee.

Priority areas in the plan include:

• Promoting healthy minds and healthy choices
• Developing engaged and resilient communities
• Creating accessible and safe communities
• Promoting lifestyle opportunities that support health and wellbeing
• Targeting equity and social inclusion
• Achieving healthy and sustainable environments

Cr Ann Fraser and myself are the two Councillor representatives on the the Maroondah Partners in Community Wellbeing Committee and there is a newly formed Safety Committee which is represented by Cr Rob Steane.  These two committees provide a collaborative approach to the health, safety and wellbeing of our community.

The Eastern Regional Mayors and CEO Forum provides an opportunity to discuss issues affecting local government within the eastern region.  The region includes the Cities of Banyule, Boroondara, Dandenong, Knox, Manningham, Maroondah, Monash, Nilumbik, Whitehorse and the Shire of Yarra Ranges.

The Forum meets on a monthly basis to enable discussion on issues affecting local government and to develop common advocacy positions in regard to the region and the sector.

The North Ringwood Community House, located at 120 Oban Road, Ringwood North, is a community owned and managed centre which provides a diverse range of courses and educational opportunities for our community.

One of the strengths of the house is the provision of accredited Vocational Education and Training (VET) courses within a supportive, friendly and nurturing environment. The community house also provides a creche and occasional care.

The Committee of Management oversees the development of the community house and establishes a strategic direction for the facility. I was a member of the committee between 2007 and March 2010, when I resigned due to changes in the Local Government Act, which hampers the ability of Councillors to advocate for organisations when they are a member of a committee.

The main priority for the committee and staff is to find a new location so that the community house can continue to provide a range of courses and services for the local community.

For further information please visit www.nrch.org.au.

Eastern Volunteers is a not-for-profit organisation that provides volunteer assistance, as well as community transport for the frail aged and people with disabilities. The organisation aims to strengthen volunteering by providing training services and assistance in recruiting and placing volunteers within other community based associations.

Eastern Volunteers is also heavily involved in community transport solutions and provides a range of transport services for home and community care (HACC) eligible clients to assist in enhancing social inclusion and reducing isolation. The organisation is also involved in programs which aim to look at how community transport can augment public transport and taxi services. Eastern Volunteers is planning three major events this year, including its Fun Run in March, a Business Dinner and a Regional Conference in August.

Eastern Volunteers was formed in 1976 and has 14 part-time staff with approximately 100 volunteers to assist in service delivery. A voluntary board of management oversees the policies and strategic direction of the organisation. I have been a member of the board of management since July 2008.

For further details on Eastern Volunteers please visit www.easternvolunteers.org.au.

The Maroondah City Council Audit Advisory Committee meets on a quarterly basis to oversee and provide advice on matters relating to accountability and internal controls within the Council.

The Committee comprises of two Council representatives, the Chief Executive Officer and two external members.  As the Mayor for the 2009-2010 Council Year, I am a member and Chair of the Audit Advisory Committee. Cr. Rob Steane is also a Councillor representative on this committee.

The Heatherdale Community Action Group exists to preserve, protect and enhance the amenity of Heatherdale Road and neighbouring areas. Heatherdale is in a unique situation where the locality is divided between Maroondah (the eastern side of Heatherdale Road) and Whitehorse (the western side of Heatherdale Road).

The Action Group is able to provide a voice for Heatherdale residents to ensure that the two councils are aware of their concerns.

The Heatherdale Community Action Group often includes an impressive range of speakers covering topics such as planning, transport, the environment as well as health and safety issues.