Archive for July, 2008

Ringwood Rotary meeting - the student ambassador program

Published by Alex Makin on Wednesday 30th of July, 2008

The ambassadorial scholarship program is one of the many initiatives that are organised by Rotary, a worldwide organisation of over 1.2 million members.

The program enables dedicated students to study abroad and further their education. Today’s speaker was Cindy, who was an ambassadorial scholar through district 7750 in South Carolina in the United States. Cindy is studying postgraduate qualifications at Monash University and aims to begin a career in international diplomacy.

Throughout the past three weeks, Ringwood Rotary has presented a range of speakers discussing various community initiatives. Organisations like Rotary demonstrate the positive community impact that can be achieved when members of the community work together towards common aims.

Media Release: Green thumbs used for National Tree Day

Published by Alex Makin on Wednesday 30th of July, 2008

In support of National Tree Day, held on Sunday 27 July, Maroondah City Council staff brought their green thumbs to work and planted 250 trees.

Councillor Alex Makin said National Tree Day is one of Australia’s largest community tree planting event, with over 290,000 volunteers taking part last year.

“Community tree planting took place on Sunday 27 July at four sites throughout Maroondah, and Council staff did their bit at Croydon Town Park at lunchtime on Tuesday 29 July,” said Cr Makin.

“Maroondah City Council plants 30,000 trees and shrubs every year, and if you combine the number of trees in public and private land, you’ll find there are more than 500,000 trees in Maroondah,” said Cr Makin.

“There are numerous reasons why we need trees, not least that they are the earth’s lungs, inhaling carbon dioxide and removing greenhouse gas from the atmosphere then exhaling oxygen for humans to breathe,” said Cr Makin

“In addition, trees provide habitat and food for the many different species of wildlife that we are fortunate to enjoy in Maroondah,” said Cr Makin.

Council staff planted Eucalyptus radiata and cephlacapa as well as Dianella and Lomandra grasses in an area 200 square metres of Town Park in Croydon, to improve and extend the natural bush in the western end of the park.

- ENDS -

Maroondah Leader: Council walks the walk

Published by Alex Makin on Tuesday 29th of July, 2008

In 2006 Maroondah City adopted its first Integrated Transport Strategy, this document highlighted the need for a pedestrian strategy, which was completed by council last year. Following from this strategy, council has now produced the principal pedestrian network, which indicates the streets that require footpaths within Maroondah.

The principal pedestrian network is now available for public comment and the Maroondah Leader has reported on the opportunity for public comment:

Cr Alex Makin said the plan would identify “missing links” to ensure all roads considered part of the network had at least one footpath. He said walking played an important role in encouraging participation in the community.

The construction of new footpaths to link shops, schools, hospitals, public transport stops and community facilities, would improve the accessibility and sustainability of Maroondah by encouraging walking and making our streets safer for people with mobility aids.

“The development of the network will go along way to improving walking options through local neighbourhoods,” Cr Makin said.

It is clear that the Maroondah community values sustainability and wants footpaths to ensure that walking is an option within our community. The community response in regard to council’s attempt to sell a laneway in Great Ryrie Street, which linked residents in Heathmont Road to bus stops for routes 670 and 367, demonstrates that the community expects council to deliver improvements to the pedestrian network.

Cr Makin said there had been a “lot of community anger” about the council’s plan to sell off the land. He said it was “ironic” that the council discussed selling off a walkway at the same meeting where its walkable communities plan was adopted.

It is important to preserve walking paths that assist in linking our community and encouraging sustainable transport. I would like to thank the residents that assisted in efforts to preserve this path and demonstrating that the community expects council to create a sustainable and safe environment that encourages and supports walking.

Maroondah Journal: Footpaths set for upgrade

Published by Alex Makin on Tuesday 29th of July, 2008

The Maroondah principal pedestrian network has reached draft status and was placed on public exhibition at the council meeting held on the 21st of July, This means that the community can now comment on the document and identify any additional parts of Maroondah that require footpaths.

The Maroondah Journal has reported on the document and the opportunity to further refine the network through community submissions:

Cr Alex Makin said walking played an important role in encouraging people’s participation in the community. “The principal pedestrian network will go a long way to improving walking options through local neighbourhoods for Maroondah residents.”

The principal pedestrian network aims to identify the locations within Maroondah that require footpaths. The areas that have been identified include streets that link public transport stops, schools, shopping precincts, health centres, as well as sporting and community facilities.

Once the final plan is adopted, council will implement a funding program to construct footpaths in these areas to assist in encouraging walking as a sustainable and accessible form of transport.

Copies of the principal pedestrian network are available from customer service centres or the Maroondah City Council website.

Eastern Volunteers board of management meeting

Published by Alex Makin on Monday 28th of July, 2008

Thursday, 31 July 2008
9:00 am	to	11:00 am
Thursday, 28 August 2008
9:00 am	to	11:00 am
Thursday, 25 September 2008
9:00 am	to	11:00 am
Thursday, 30 October 2008
9:00 am	to	11:00 am
Thursday, 27 November 2008
9:00 am	to	11:00 am

Eastern Volunteers is a not-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 communtiy 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 also one of the partners of the Sustainable Living Space initiative, which aims to investigate the potential for an environmentally sustainable community centre in Melbourne’s outer east.

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 was co-opted onto the board of management in July 2008.

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