Posts related to 'minister'

Eastern Transport Coalition - securing public transport improvements for eastern Melbourne

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

Tonight’s Eastern Transport Coalition discussed the recently held public transport summit and the State Government’s new transport plan which is due in November of this year.

Following from the public transport summit, The Eastern Transport Coalition recently presented its priorities to the Premier John Brumby and the Minister for Public Transport, Lynne Kosky. This briefing reinforced the need for new rail extensions, upgraded public transport interchanges, such as the redevelopment of Ringwood Station, and vastly improved bus services.

The Government is now seeking a list of projects from the Eastern Transport Coalition which will hopefully form part of the State Government’s new transport plan. The Eastern Transport Coalition is calling on the State Government to invest heavily in public transport so as to provide relief for rising petrol prices and mitigate worsening traffic congestion. It is critical that the State Government delivers a plan that commits to the target of improving public transport patronage and delivering a level of service that meets the needs of Melbourne.

The recently released Emissions Trading Scheme green paper was also discussed, with the Eastern Transport Coalition calling on the Federal and State Governments to work together over the next five years to ensure that public transport services are improved. Federal leadership is required to reduce car dependency and to tackle the rising levels of greenhouse emissions that are caused by the transport sector.

The Eastern Transport Coalition’s public transport summit served as a call to action to State and Federal Governments. It is imperative that governments listen to this message and deliver the public transport improvements demanded by the community.

Local Government Minister accepts VEC recommendations

Published by Alex Makin on Thursday 10th of July, 2008

Richard Wynne, the Minister for Local Government, has accepted all the recommendations from the Victorian Electoral Commission’s (VEC) review into the ward structure and representation of Maroondah City Council.

This means that the number of councillors within Maroondah will increase to nine and the current seven ward structure will be replaced by three wards, Mullum, Arrabri and Wyeena, each electing three councillors. Loughnan’s Hill Ward will be incorporated within the new Mullum ward, which also includes the Ringwood sections of Clocktower and parts of Ringwood North, which were formerly within Yarrunga Ward.

While Maroondah City Council attempted to seek Ministerial intervention to refuse the VEC’s recommendations, it is encouraging that the Minister has respected the independence of this statutory authority. It is clear that both the Minister and the Victorian Electoral Commission have rejected the tactics of Maroondah City Council, in its vain attempt to retain the unrepresentative status quo.

These changes mean that councillors will be elected using proportional representation rather than preferential voting. This will lead to fairer election outcomes and minimise the undemocratic practice of running mates. While proportional voting alters the way preferences are distributed, the method of voting, namely numbering each candidate remains the same.

For details on proportional voting and how it works, the VEC has prepared a slideshow which is available from www.vec.vic.gov.au/prslideshow.html. These changes which will take effect from the November Council election will lead to fairer and more equitable representation within Maroondah Council.

I would like to thank members of community who supported my stance in seeking changes to Maroondah’s ward structure. These changes will ensure a holistic approach to council issues and will lead to a higher standard of democracy and governance.

Eastern Transport Coalition - standing united over the Ringwood Transit City

Published by Alex Makin on Thursday 15th of May, 2008

Tonight’s Eastern Transport Coalition (ETC) meeting included discussions with Gary Liddle (CEO) and Robert Freemantle (Executive Director - Network & Asset Planning) from VicRoads. A number of questions were directed towards VicRoads particularly in regard to management of an integrated transport network.

Specifically I asked about the VicRoads plans for Maroondah Highway given that the State Government failed to provide funding for the redevelopment of Ringwood Station. While it was understood that VicRoads agreed to the need of calming Maroondah Highway in the context of the station redevelopment, it was unclear whether this would be undertaken separately.

Perhaps unsurprisingly VicRoads is unwilling to consider calming of Maroondah Highway without a commitment from the State Government in regard to Ringwood Station. This will severely impact on the ability to revitalise Ringwood and businesses along Maroondah Highway and while VicRoads stated that they will consider interim solutions no details were discussed as to what options would be considered.

While the government had a tremendous opportunity to ensure an integrated transport approach through its creation of the Department of Transport, it has failed to incorporate VicRoads within this structure. VicRoads will still remain a statutory authority with direct reporting lines to the Minister for Roads. This added advantage for VicRoads, with its own separate operating budget, leaves public transport as well as other forms of sustainable transport, such as cycling and walking, at a disadvantage.

Likewise there is still a disconnect between transport and planning. The failure to announce funding for Ringwood Station is indicative of this since it jeopardises the future of the Ringwood transit City and the creation of a vibrant town centre.

The Eastern Transport Coalition recognises the regional significance of the Ringwood Transit City and the importance of creating an accessible and safe station. The strength of the Eastern Transport Coalition, through its representation of seven councils and one million residents, will assist in ensuring funding for the redevelopment of Ringwood Station.

The strength of the Eastern Transport Coalition was recognised when it successfully led a campaign to abolish zone three and this influence will be recognise once again with the group standing united on the need for the redevelopment of Ringwood Station.

The Eastern Transport Coalition is preparing a public transport summit for Friday the 4th of July. This summit will include details on the public transport needs in the outer eastern suburbs.

First Heatherdale Community Action Group meeting for 2008

Published by Alex Makin on Wednesday 13th of February, 2008

Tonight I attended the first Heatherdale Community Action Group meeting for 2008. The action group represents the residents and businesses along Heatherdale Road, a community which is split between the two municipalities of Maroondah and Whitehorse.

The guest speaker for tonight’s meeting was Matthew Guy, the Shadow Minister for Planning. Matthew listened intently to the concerns of the community particularly in regard to the deficiencies that currently exist under State legislation. In particular there is a need to strengthen the Environmental Protection Authority, so that they act upon the noise, dust and amenity complaints that are being received.

The EPA has wider scope to investigate these matters than local councils. While Maroondah has sought two successful prosecutions in regard to noise issues, the EPA is able to investigate these matters and seek genuinely punitive measures. Unfortunately the current Helath Act prevents councils from fining a company more than a $1000 a day for matters that are declared a nuisance. The EPA does not have such limitations and must finally take an interest in this matter. It is unfortunate that when the EPA did act, it awarded Manningham Council the fines that were successfully levied against Southern Rocycling, despite the fact that Maroondah City Council had attempted to work closely with the EPA in regard to these amenity issues.

Planning scheme definitions were also discussed, since this is a matter that directly affects Heatherdale Road. Currently a waste transfer facility does not require a permit within an industrial zone and this hampers the enforcement of effective hours of operation. This is in contrast to a recycling facility, which does require a permit and hence allows councils to impose suitable conditions on these operations. The State planning scheme definitions must be reviewed so that councils are able to protect the amenity of the local community.

The State Government has stated it will review both the Health Act and the defintions defined in the Planning and Environment Act. Unfortunately both initiatives seem to have stalled, Matthew Guy as the Shadow Minister for Planning can assist in ensuring that the State Government honours this commitment.

Eastern Transport Coalition - Meeting the Minister

Published by Alex Makin on Thursday 13th of September, 2007

This evening’s Eastern Transport Coalition (ETC) meeting included a discussion with Lynne Kosky, the Minister for Public Transport. While the chair of the ETC, Cr. Mick van de Vreede, met the Minister earlier this year, tonight’s meeting marked the first occasion where the Minister addressed the entire organisation.

Encouragingly the Minister acknowledged the current difficulties with Melbourne’s public transport system and in this regard the Minister stated that work is being undertaken to accelerate the projects listed within Meeting Our Transport Challenges. While this is welcome news the Minister did stop short of agreeing to undertake a detailed assessment of the infrastructure needs of the region., meaning that the detailed planning required to ensure the sustainability of Melbourne’s east is still sorely lacking.

I asked a question in regard to the State Government’s support for the Ringwood Transit City Project and the need for the redevelopment of Ringwood Station. The Minister replied that Ringwood is one of a number of projects supported through the Transit City initiative meaning that funding should hopefully be forthcoming. The redevelopment of Ringwood Station is critical to the success of the Transit City given that Council has invested heavily in the concept and is actively encouraging sustainable forms of transport through footpath construction with new developments. Likewise there is also a need to further improve the bus network so that public transport becomes the mode of choice within Transit Cities such as Ringwood.

While the Minister didn’t provide too many details, it was encouraging to see the establishment of dialogue between the ETC and the current Minister for Public Transport. The Eastern Transport Coalition will be pursuing a number of these issues in its submission to the Melbourne 2030 Audit. This will help ensure that these issues continue to be raised with the State Government.

Likewise the ETC will be continuing its campaign to focus on the infrastructure needs of the Eastern region, including the need for additional rail services from Ringwood. An event is scheduled for early October and will mirror the campaign that led the successful removal of zone three.