Internet Journal (blog) of Cr. Alex Makin

Review of Bus Services – Second Community Workshop

Published by Alex Makin on Monday 22nd of June, 2009

The State Government is undertaking a series of bus service reviews across Metropolitan Melbourne and is currently reviewing services within Maroondah, Knox and the Yarra Ranges.

These reviews consist of two community workshops, the first which was held back in February and provided an opportunity for participants to raise their concerns. Issues that were discussed included the need for additional routes to cover gaps in network coverage, as well as the need for more frequent and longer running services.

Tonight’s workshop provided an opportunity to respond to the first draft of recommendations that will be made into the bus network covering Maroondah, Knox and the Shire of Yarra Ranges.

The recommendations were largely positive and included a number of improvements from the written submission I made to the bus review process.

These improvements included a proposed new bus service along Canterbury Road from Camberwell through to Ringwood, a new bus service along Mount Dandenong Road providing accessible and direct access to Karralyka and Maroondah Hospital and improving the directness of routes to make it easier for people to use public transport.

Unfortunately, there was an omission of new services for the Warranwood area and some of the changes for Ringwood North, which included a telebus service operating in a loop to Ringwood Station needs further refinement to provide better connectivity and to ensure quick travel times.

In addition, there was a lack of detail over service frequency and operating span improvements, although there was the recognition that more frequent services were required particularly along main roads such as Maroondah Highway.

Overall the recommendations were largely positive, although these initiatives will only come to fruition if government funding is forthcoming.

The review of bus services has been a positive initiative and it would be a shame if funding was not made available to use this opportunity and demonstrate a serious commitment to providing fast, frequent and readily available bus services across Melbourne and its outer suburbs.

Tour of the Monkami Centre

Published by Alex Makin on Monday 22nd of June, 2009

The Monkami Centre is located in Croydon and provides services for adults with intellectual disabilities living in Melbourne’s eastern suburbs. Monkami’s mission is to provide opportunities and skills for their clients and has a strong emphasis on community development.

This afternoon I attended a tour of Monkami’s facilities to view the range of programs that they offer. These programs include developmental skills, independent living skills, recreation and leisure, as well as pre-vocational training.

Often these programs cover a range of areas, such as the Monkami Drama Group, which not only provides enjoyment but also assists in skills development and fosters stronger connections with the community. Monkami also provides a nursery, woodwork and office administration skills providing their clients with a range of skills and the potential for employment.

This year Monkami is furthering its community connections, through developing a program where their clients will volunteer within the local area and assist our community just like the many other volunteers within Maroondah.

These programs further strengthen Monkami’s connection within the community and it was great to see the Centre during one of its working days where I could meet several of the participants and hear about their experiences.

Organisations like Monkami help remove the barriers that unfortunately still exist for people with intellectual disabilities and ensures that their capabilities are recognised within our community

For further information on Monkami please visit www.monkami.com.

Eastern Transport Coalition – Bus reviews and transport priorities

Published by Alex Makin on Thursday 18th of June, 2009

The Eastern Transport Coalition, as a regional body consisting of Melbourne’s seven outer eastern councils provides the opportunity to advocate for better public transport across Melbourne’s eastern suburbs.

Tonight’s meeting discussed the bus service review process, with the second round of workshops being announced. These workshops will provide an opportunity for the community to respond to proposals that will be considered by the State Government and the Department of Transport.

It is imperative that the this process leads to better bus services within Melbourne’s outer east and the State Government must provide funding to ensure that the recommendations are implemented.

In this regard, the Eastern Transport Coalition is calling on Members of Parliament to undertake an inquiry into public transport to ensure that it meets the needs of our community and to provide economic, social and environmental sustainability for Melbourne.

Given the regional importance of Ringwood, the redevelopment of Ringwood Station is one of the priorities for the group. Ringwood Station must become an accessible and integrated transport interchange to ensure that it is usable by all members of our community.

The Eastern Transport Coalition will be planning several events throughout this year to demonstrate the need for public transport improvements.

Maroondah Journal: Move on the cards as users outgrow house

Published by Alex Makin on Tuesday 16th of June, 2009

North Ringwood Community House, located at the rear of the Holy Spirit Primary School at 120 Oban Road Ringwood North requires a new location so that it can expand its services and continue to meet the needs of the community.

The Maroondah Journal has reported on its successful application to the State Government for $25,000 to commence a feasibility study into identifying a preferred site.

Combined with a council grant of $5,000 the funding marks the first step towards North Ringwood Community House achieving its objective of creating an accessible and sustainable community centre in Ringwood North.

Cr Alex Makin said the community house needed to be relocated to better meet the needs of the Ringwood North community in an accessible and prominent location.

North Ringwood Community House is not situated on council owned land, which limits its access to grants. In addition, the house is unable to expand to meet increasing demand and its location lacks street frontage making it difficult for the community to access.

“The North Ringwood Community House is the only community house within Maroondah that is not located on council land [and] this has limited the house’s ability to apply for grants. As a result, the house has outgrown its current location and the buildings do not meet current accessibility standards.”

The feasibility study is a critical step in achieving the vision of a new community centre for Ringwood North. The funding provided through the State Government has enabled the house to begin this process.

Cr Makin praised the State Government for recognising the importance of the house to the Maroondah community.

The study is expected to be completed by early next year and will identify a preferred location for North Ringwood Community and the potential for co-location with other community organisations.

Book Launch – “A Quiet Painter” by Shirley Jones

Published by Alex Makin on Tuesday 16th of June, 2009

Shirley Jones is a local Ringwood East resident, historian and artist who has published several books about art and history. This evening Shirley launched her latest work entitled a ‘Quiet Painter’, a biography on the life of James Alfred Turner, an early Croydon resident and renowned painter.

James Alfred Turner was born in 1850 and migrated to Australia from Yorkshire in the United Kingdom when he was 22, with his brother Charles who was 23 at the time. At this time James was already a dedicated art student and quickly became an artist seeking commissions.

The rail line through to Lilydale was completed in 1882 and made the townships along the rail corridor, such as Croydon much more accessible for people in Melbourne. James had already visited the Croydon and Kilsyth area from the mid 1870s and purchased a property opposite the intersection of Colchester Road and Mount Dandenong Road in Kilsyth.

The 20 acres he purchased had a small dwelling surrounded by bush and natural bush landscapes were a prominent feature of James’ paintings.

James was a prolific painter and regularly exhibited his works. In 1903 James’ rural landscapes were re-produced for postcards and became extremely popular, resulting in reproductions well into the 1930s.

Throughout his 36 years in Australia, James produced at least 600 paintings until he suffered from a heart attack on the 15th of April 1908. James’ wifeMary Ann passed away on the 10th of October 1950 at the age of 87.

While James’ artwork fell into obscurity shortly after his death, interest in his works was renewed in recent years and the JA Turner Artist Trail in Croydon, as well as the JA Turner Room in the Maroondah Art Gallery at Federation Estate bear his name.

Shirley’s book a ‘Quiet Painter’ encapsulates the life of James Alfred Turner and the significance of this early colonial painter. Copies of the book are available for purchase through either the Ringwood or Croydon Historical Societies.