My Internet Journal is designed to provide details on my work as a councillor for the City of Maroondah and also my involvement within a variety of community organisations.
You can also subscribe to updates to stay informed in regard to community and council activities and how I am making a difference for the Maroondah community.
The following article was written by a journalism student who asked Cr. Jo-anne Taylor and myself about the challenges experienced within local government:
While some Maroondah citizens would not know who these individuals are, it’s highly likely that the residents, ratepayers, business owners and community groups of Maroondah have witnessed the outcome of their hard work on a daily basis.
These photos are of Alex Makin and Joanne Taylor, two local councillors who are dong it tough for Maroondah. They spend up to 30 hours a week on council duties yet face daily obstacles from their colleagues and receive little recognition from the community.
Representing residents and ratepayers is an overwhelming commitment which requires intense passion and impacts on the lives of councillors, including their family and friends. As Cr Alex Makin stated, “council, has made it difficult to balance a career outside of council, as well as other commitments.”
Privacy or the lack of it, is another issue faced by councillors “apparently I don’t have a private life anymore. My family, including my children know what has been put in the paper about me,” Cr Joanne Taylor added.
With council elections looming over Maroondah, it appears that political rivalry is rife. “The gang of four have made it difficult to encourage public discussion and debate, but it has been possible to work around such difficulties, through local community groups and supportive council officers,” Cr Alex Makin stated.
Despite these obstacles Cr Alex Makin and Cr Joanne Taylor are running for the upcoming council election because both believe there is still work to be done. “I am standing so I can continue to make a difference to Maroondah, particularly in regards to improved accessibility, sustainability and the accountability of council,” Cr Alex Makin commented.
“I particularly want to see council meetings conducted in the view of the public, so that debates occur in the open. This would prevent the current political divisions since the public can see the discussion,” Cr Alex Makin added.
“I have survived two terms - despite some councillor’s best effort to have me removed, this has only made me more determined, and I now know enough to make change happen,” Cr Joanne Taylor said.
Both councillors are excited with the prospect of the new council structure which will introduce a new generation of local councillors to Maroondah. “Prior to this structure being in place Maroondah councillors were being elected unopposed, which weakened local democracy,” Cr Alex Makin stated.
The last three years have laid numerous foundations for Cr Alex Makin and Cr Joanne Taylor. Both are thrilled with their achievements to date, which have included the prevention of the sale of parkland and the removal of zone three, through advocacy that involved local council.
With it being compulsory for residents and ratepayers over the age of 18 to vote from Wednesday 12 November to Sunday 29 November, it is important that Maroondah is represented by councillors that are committed to making a difference.
For further information on Cr Alex Makin and Cr Joanne Taylor please visit their websites at www.alexmakin.com.au and www.jo-annetaylor.com.au.
School Crossing Supervisors are largely funded through local government and provide safety for schoolchildren within streets and roads located near schools.
The morning tea provided an opportunity to recognise the many crossing supervisors that work throughout the City of Maroondah and to acknowledge the services they provide for schoolchildren.
Most of Maroondah’s school crossing supervisors were in attendance this morning and it was great to meet a number of supervisors, including the supervisor who still looks after the crossing near my former high school in Croydon Hills.
Maroondah Hospital, located in Ringwood East, holds an annual recognition and awards ceremony to highlight long serving staff and those with outstanding achievements. The ceremony provides recognition for the staff and volunteers who work within the hospital, in what is often a stressful and fast paced environment.
The afternoon also included a presentation on a probe that received funding from Maroondah City Council. The probe allows surgeons to trace nodes that that have been affected with cancer and thus minimise the need for invasive surgery.
Maroondah Hospital is a community based hospital which receives considerable funds through fundraising efforts and donations. It is great that Maroondah Council is able to assist in providing much needed medical equipment for the hospital and support its efforts in promoting the wellbeing of our community.
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.
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Maroondah Climate Change Action Group - discussing climate change , Maroondah Climate Change Action Group , Maroondah Environment Workshop: Climate Change and the Community , Maroondah Leader: Go carbon neutral by 2012 , Eastern Region Climate Forum
Category: Community Engagement, Maroondah, Sustainable Transport, Urban Sustainability
This evening, after a meeting at Maroondah Council, Cr. Jo-anne Taylor and I attended a Maroondah Movement for Reconciliation (MMR) meeting.
Maroondah Movement for Reconciliation is one of two local groups that aim to raise awareness about Indigenous communities and culture. Tonight’s meeting included a presentation from the Mullum Mullum Indigenous Gathering Place to discuss the aims of the organisation.
The Mullum Mullum Indigenous Gathering Place is committed to the social, cultural and economic development of the Indigenous community. The Gathering Place operates on a community house based model and provides early childhood, youth, elderly, women’s and men’s programs.
The Gathering Place has recently leased a building at 47 Patterson Street in Ringwood East. In 2004 Wurundjeri Elder, Aunty Joy Murphy-Wandin named the property and its community Djerrnong, which means “many feet walking together”.
The name describes the journey that this community is undertaking to purchase Djerrnong to provide a permanent meeting place for Indigenous communities and to promote cultural understanding and respect.
For further details on the Mullum Mullum Indigenous Gathering Place please visit www.mmigp.org.au.
Alex Makin is a candidate for Mullum Ward in Maroondah City Council. Alex has been a councillor since 2005, representing ratepayers, businesses, community groups and residents.
I aim to provide an active voice for the community and welcome any thoughts you may have in regard to life and business in Maroondah.
Phone: (03) 9812 2337 or 0409 136 213
Email: alex@alexmakin.com.au
