Posts related to 'education'

Partners in Health, Safety and Wellbeing Committee - final meeting for 2008

Published by Alex Makin on Tuesday 18th of November, 2008

This morning marked the final meeting of the bi-monthly Maroondah Partners in Health, Safety and Wellbeing Committee for 2008. The committee includes council and a number of external bodies, including Victoria Police, Connex, Department of Human Services, Outer East Primary Care Partnerships and the Department of Education, to implement a collaborative approach to enhancing the health, safety and wellbeing of Maroondah.

Today’s meeting examined food security within the eastern region, exploring the effects of rising food costs and the level of access to nutritious food. While Maroondah may be relatively well served with supermarkets and fresh food outlets, there are some pockets where there is a lack of access, particularly for people without access to a car.

The rising cost of living has also had an impact, particularly for people on fixed incomes, such as pensions, who are sacrificing food so that they can pay for other living expenses, such as rent, electricity and water.

The Primary Care Partnerships will be finalising a report on their findings in regard to food security with the aim of alerting governments to the food security difficulties experienced within the eastern region.

An update was also provided in regard to the Maroondah Community Wellbeing Plan, where the feedback provided by service providers is currently being considered. Community engagement and discussion over the plan will begin early to mid next year to provide an opportunity for widespread public comment.

I would like to thank the members and organisations who have been a part of the committee over the past three years and also to Cr. Jo-anne Taylor who was the previous chair.

Maroondah Climate Change Action Group - Questions regarding climate change

Published by Alex Makin on Wednesday 5th of November, 2008

The Maroondah Climate Change Action Group has sent a questionnaire to all council candidates to confirm their views on climate change. The questions and my responses were as follows:

1. Do you support Maroondah Council:-
a. becoming carbon neutral by 2012?
1a. Yes, I do support council becoming carbon neutral by 2012 but it is critical that council achieves this target through reducing its energy usage and not by merely offsetting its emissions.

b. informing residents and businesses of practical ways to reduce their carbon footprint
b. I certainly agree that council needs to be an environmental leader and educate the community on steps to reduce carbon emissions and increase urban sustainability. I also believe that council must lead by example through using public transport, cycling and walking rather than its car fleet.

2. In what ways do you see the Maroondah Council supporting environmental sustainability?
2. Council needs to undertake community education programs while also reducing its own emissions. Council needs to supplement its energy fund so that it can meet a 2012 target and also reduce its dependence on car based transport. Councils such as Knox provide council Metcards to encourage public transport usage, given that Maroondah is better served by public transport than Knox it could be easily be done here.

Likewise Council needs to advocate for better public transport to build on the removal of zone three fares, through campaigning for an accessible and safe Ringwood Station and better bus services.

Footpaths and cycling paths are also required to encourage walking and cycling.

Likewise council needs to ensure a higher standard of development that meets urban sustainability guidelines. This is particularly important given the Eastland redevelopment.

3. How highly do you place the priority of climate change as an issue to be dealt with by the Maroondah Council?
3. I view climate change and sustainability, alongside accountability and accessibility, as the top three priorities for council. I have been a long committed environmental and public transport advocate and I certainly plan to continue this.

4. Are you attending the Eastern Region Climate Forum on the 18th Nov?
4. Yes I will be attending the forum.

Media Release: Remember the school road rules

Published by Alex Makin on Wednesday 1st of October, 2008

Maroondah’s schools are back in action from Monday 6 October and Maroondah City Council is reminding drivers to remember the school rules and slow down to the specified speeds in school zones.

Councillor Alex Makin stresses how important it is that all motorists be responsible when approaching school zones, and obey the reduced speed limits.

“Maroondah schools are clearly signed to indicate the appropriate 40km/h speed zone. The reduced speed applies to specified time periods before and after school in some areas whereas others are permanent 40km/h zones,” said Cr Makin.

“The exceptions to these school zones include time based 60km/h speed limits outside schools on 80km/h roads, like Maroondah Highway. Electronic variable signs are used on these roads to indicate the correct speed limits for the particular time of the day,” said Cr Makin.

“The 40km/h school speed zones are in place to reduce the alarming statistics surrounding injuries and deaths of children in and around school areas. Research has indicated reducing speed can dramatically increase the chances of survival for a child involved in an accident,” said Cr Makin.

“Being aware of the location of schools throughout Maroondah and paying attention to the speed zone signs is essential, because even a minor reduction in travelling speed can make the difference in saving a life or reducing injury,” said Cr Makin.

“Although school speed zones have been in effect since 2005, for everyone’s safety motorists are reminded to slow down as we enter a new school term,” said Cr Makin.

In Maroondah each year, on average, there are approximately 310 to 330 casualty accidents (where someone is injured and the Police attend), and out of these approximately 30 involve pedestrians, of which around 7 to 8 are school age children (Source: VicRoads Crash Stats).

For further information about speed limits around schools, contact the VicRoads information hotline on 1300 360 745 or visit www.arrivealive.vic.gov.au

- ENDS -

Partners in Health, Safety and Wellbeing Committee - defining the wellbeing of Maroondah

Published by Alex Makin on Tuesday 16th of September, 2008

The Maroondah Partners in Health, Safety and Wellbeing Committee comprises of internal council staff and external agencies to develop strategies and implement actions to improve the wellbeing of Maroondah.

The group’s current priorities include council’s new Community Wellbeing Plan. This plan, which is expected to be finalised in mid 2009, will set council’s priorities for the wellbeing, health and safety of Maroondah and will operate in partnership with agencies such as Victoria Police, the Department of Education, the Department of Health and community based organisations such as Eastern Volunteers and indigenous groups.

Earlier this month council conducted consultation sessions with service providers, such as carers networks, community houses and health agencies and today’s meeting provided an opportunity for the committee to provide its feedback.

The committee defined wellbeing as good health with social and cultural connectedness underpinned by a supportive and safe community.

This definition assisted the committee in identifying a number of issues that adversely affect the wellbeing of the Maroondah community. These issues were categorised into the broad categories of transport (inducing accessibility), housing, safety and social isolation and were identified as priority areas by the group.

The input from today’s meeting will assist council is preparing the Maroondah Community Wellbeing Plan and identifying potential partnerships to assist in its implementation.

The next and final meeting for 2008 will be held on Tuesday the 18th of November.

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.