Archive for April 17th, 2008

Eastern Transport Coalition - presentation from the National Transport Commission

Published by Alex Makin on Thursday 17th of April, 2008

Tonight’s Eastern Transport Coalition meeting included an update on the Federal urban transport paper which will be utilised by the ETC to convey the economic, social and environmental case for Federal leadership in the investment of urban public transport infrastructure.

The guest speaker was Karen Dowling from the National Transport Commission who spoke about the commission’s role within the Federal Government and the Infrastructure Working Group which operates through the Council of Australian Governments (COAG).

Infrastructure Australia has been appointed to advise governments on matters relating to nationally significant infrastructure, such as transport, energy, communications and water. Infrastructure Australia will serve as an advisory group to COAG.

Given that issues such as traffic congestion, social isolation and greenhouse emissions all have national costs it is imperative that the Federal Government begins to invest in urban public transport infrastructure. The Better Cities program of the early 1990s provided electrification to Cranbourne East and tram services to East Burwood and Bundoora. It is now time for the Federal Government to focus once again on the sustainability of our cities.

On Tuesday morning delegates of the Eastern Transport Coalition will be undertaking surveys at major transport interchanges to ascertain community attitudes on public transport. I will be at Ringwood Station from 7am to conduct these surveys.

Council backflips - Response submission to be listed for Monday’s council meeting

Published by Alex Makin on Thursday 17th of April, 2008

This afternoon I received a telephone call advising that Maroondah’s response submission to the Victorian Electoral Commission’s representation review will now be listed on the agenda for Monday night’s council meeting.

It is encouraging that Maroondah has seen the need for this item to be listed in the open council chamber. This will ensure that the item will be debated and while I doubt that it will change the outcome, it will provide an opportunity to reinforce the fact that the community has requested substantial changes in the structure of wards and representation within Maroondah.

Response submission to the Victorian Electoral Commission close on the 22nd of April.

Media Release: Council view on ward boundaries must be transparent

Published by Alex Makin on Thursday 17th of April, 2008

Cr. Alex Makin has condemned Maroondah City Council for its failure to adequately represent the community over proposed ward boundary changes.

“Community consultation held in November last year made it clear that the community supported the introduction of a new ward structure including multi-member wards,” Cr. Makin said.

The Victorian Electoral Commission (VEC) is required to undertake a review of council wards every second term. The VEC’s preliminary report found that substantial change was required within Maroondah to ensure that communities were sufficiently represented.

“Council’s advocacy campaign was not endorsed by council and is a simply another tactic of the closed door mentality that operates in Maroondah,” Cr. Makin said. “This thinly veiled attempt at bullying our community is typical of the ‘gang of four’ who benefit from this lack of scrutiny.”

Maroondah Council is proposing to submit a further submission to the VEC in favour of retaining the current ward structure. Neither the final submission or the petition calling on community support have been formally endorsed by council.

“I call on the community to see through council’s latest stunt and to support the changes that are necessary to ensure a higher standard of democracy and representation within Maroondah. Should council fail to uphold basic democratic principles I will be considering action against this abuse of process,” Cr. Makin concluded.

About Alex Makin:
Alex Makin was elected in November 2005 as the Councillor for Loughnan’s Hill ward in the City of Maroondah. Alex, currently the youngest councillor elected within the history of the City of Maroondah and just one of several councillors Victoria wide aged under 30, has a keen interest in sustainability, including public transport, planning and community engagement.

ALL MEDIA ENQUIRIES: CR. ALEX MAKIN ON 0408 311 645

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Eastern Transport Coalition meeting

Published by Alex Makin on Wednesday 19th of December, 2007

Thursday, 24 January 2008
6:30 pm	to	9:00 pm
Thursday, 21 February 2008
6:30 pm	to	9:00 pm
Thursday, 20 March 2008
6:30 pm	to	9:00 pm
Thursday, 17 April 2008
6:30 pm	to	9:00 pm
Thursday, 15 May 2008
6:30 pm	to	9:00 pm
Thursday, 19 June 2008
6:30 pm	to	9:00 pm
Thursday, 17 July 2008
6:30 pm	to	9:00 pm
Thursday, 21 August 2008
6:30 pm	to	9:00 pm
Thursday, 18 September 2008
6:30 pm	to	9:00 pm
Thursday, 16 October 2008
6:30 pm	to	9:00 pm
Thursday, 18 December 2008
6:30 pm	to	9:00 pm

The Eastern Transport Coalition consists of seven outer eastern metropolitan councils (Maroondah, Knox, Whitehorse, Yarra Ranges, Manningham, Monash and Greater Dandenong) and is a regional based advocacy group that lobbies for better public transport in Melbourne’s outer east.

The Eastern Transport Coalition meets on a monthly basis to discuss the transport priorities of the region and to further its advocacy for public transport. I have been Maroondah’s delegated representative on the Eastern Transport Coalition since my election in November 2005 and have been re-appointed as the delegate for 2008.

For more information on the Eastern Transport Coalition please visit www.etc.org.au.