Posts related to 'Urban Sustainability'

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.

Delegates’ Report: Community sustainability through involvement

Published by Alex Makin on Monday 21st of April, 2008

On the 18th of March I attended the North Ringwood Community House Annual General Meeting. North Ringwood Community House, located at 120 Oban Road, provides a remarkable facility for our community. Sue McDermott is the new coordinator of the house and she spoke extensively about their services into the future.

North Ringwood Community House is in a unique situation where the facility is located on parish land within the Holy Spirit Primary School. The fact that the house does not own either the building or the land they are on curtails their growth and the ability to offer services and courses to Maroondah residents. North Ringwood Community House is a unique community asset and has moved beyond the traditional role of community houses by offering TAFE accredited courses in areas such as Palliative Care and Aged Care. It is it critical that the house is able to secure a solid future within Maroondah.

On the 25th of March I attended one of Enjoying Planned Retirement’s bocce afternoons. Bocce, which is conducted between December and April, is one of the many activities organised by EPR. This afternoon marked a special occasion since it included the unveiling of a new barbecue for the group. This barbecue was donated by a local Croydon resident, who is a Sales Manager for Rinnai after EPR’s original barbecue was stolen on the 12th of February and subsequently featured in a local newspaper. The strength of a community is always demonstrated during negative times and it was great to see our community rallying behind EPR to provide this new barbecue.

On the 4th of April I attended the Scoot Wheel n Move workshop. This workshop provided an opportunity to plan the future of this highly successful group, which is focused on the needs of people with mobility aids, such as wheelchairs and scooters. Scoot Wheel n Move has had a range of achievements over the past few years, including the highly successful recharge program and a number of public forums. With initiatives, such as the redevelopment of Eastland, it is imperative that accessibility is built into these projects and not merely considered as an afterthought. The feedback from the workshop will assist the future direction of Scoot Wheel n Move and ensure that these successes continue into the future.

On the 5th of April I attended a local version of the Rudd Government’s 2020 Summit as the Deputy Chair and Maroondah’s representative of the Eastern Transport Coalition. This event which was held at Monash University in Clayton provided an opportunity to include input for the summit that was held in Canberra. I attended the economic infrastructure, digital economy and future of our cities session, where the need for Federal leadership in regard to urban sustainability and public transport infrastructure was readily agreed upon. In fact, the need for public transport improvements was stressed in a number of different forum topics as it became clear that people require mobility and transport choice in accessing educational, employment and health services.

In fact, the ETC and hence by extension the City of Maroondah’s stance on public transport improvements has garnered respect far and wide, with Kelvin Thomson, the Federal Member for Wills, speaking favourably of the ETC’s approach within Federal Parliament. I will be tabling the extract of the members speech. It is clear that the approach the ETC has taken is generating results, just like when the grouping of seven councils led the successful abolition of zone three.

On the 8th of April I attended the 40th AGM of the Maroondah Citizens Advice Bureau. The Citizens Advice Bureau is another one of Maroondah’s hidden gems who are focused on assisting people in need within Maroondah through providing advice, referral services and emergency relief. Being in existence for 40 years is a testament for any volunteer and community based organisation but it is an even greater achievement for an association that is dedicated to assisting others.

Lastly, on the 15th of April I attended the Know Your Parks function at Lockhart Road Reserve. Lockhart Road Reserve is a park situated in Ringwood North next to a kindergarten and it was great to see such a strong interest in our community with this park. Over 250 people and families enjoyed the festivities and children were able to partake in the jumping castle and face painting. The sausages and balloons were a tremendous success and it was great to be able to enjoy a sunny Autumn afternoon in one of our wonderful parks.

I will be tabling the rest of my report.

Maroondah Leader: Go carbon neutral by 2012

Published by Alex Makin on Tuesday 8th of April, 2008

Amid further concerns in regard to the environment, the Maroondah Leader has reported on the need to reduce energy usage and achieve carbon neutrality.

Councillor Alex Makin said the council needed to become a leader in combating climate change and to take immediate action.

It is important that council not only reduce its own emissions but also educate the community in how our municipality can collectively improve its urban sustainability.

“Victoria’s carbon emissions are spiralling out of control and we need to take action,” Cr Makin said. “The State and Federal governments are procrastinating and we at a local government just get on with the job.”

Victoria has seen a 30% increase in greenhouse emissions since 1990, largely due to a dependence on coal and a failure to provide transport choice and sustainable forms of transport for Melbourne’s outer suburbs. Meanwhile the Federal Government is awaiting the results of the Ross Garnaut report before announcing any interim reduction targets.

It is therefore important that Maroondah, as a form of government, undertake steps to reduce greenhouse emissions and to demonstrate that proactive change is possible.

“I do hope my colleagues view this as seriously as I do, because we need to acknowledge the seriousness of climate change.”

All councillors within Maroondah must view the need for reducing greenhouse emissions as a priority. It is imperative that we improve our urban sustainability so that we can ensure that future generations inherit a planet that is economically, environmentally and socially prosperous.

Delegates’ Report: 2008 has begun

Published by Alex Makin on Monday 18th of February, 2008

Thank you, there are several events that I wish to comment upon to keep council and the community informed.

On the 24th of January I attended the first Eastern Transport Coalition meeting for 2008 as the delegated Maroondah representative. This meeting included a workshop to determine the ETC’s priorities for this year. The ETC has had a tremendous success over the past few years and Maroondah has been front and centre in the advocacy for public transport improvements. In 2006 the ETC successfully advocated for the abolition of zone three, saving outer eastern residents, including people in Maroondah up to a $1000 per annum. Last year the ETC was focused on the need for federal funding of urban public transport. While the Federal Government still has not accepted its role in the provision of urban public transport infrastructure; the calls for national leadership in urban sustainability are growing stronger, with the ETC joined by other transport and planning groups, the business community and the local governments across Australia.

This year the ETC will be focusing on both the Federal and State Governments, particularly since the Ringwood to Frankston SmartBus will begin operating in late March. This improvement, which will provide a fast, frequent and direct service between Ringwood, Knox, Dandenong and Frankston provides the ideal foundation for further public transport improvements.

The need for federal leadership in urban sustainability was recently conveyed in a recent Committee for Economic Development of Australia (CEDA) discussion on national priorities for transport. This forum, which was also attended by Cr. Naylor, expressed the need for a national transport strategy that encompasses people and freight across all modes, including public transport.

As the two well renowned speakers explained, Australia is currently unsustainable with the continued major road building not being economically viable or environmentally prudent. If Australia is serious about meeting greenhouse reduction targets we need Federal leadership to curb rising pollution due to the transport sector, the fastest growing source of greenhouse emissions.

On, the 12th of February I was invited to Enjoying Planned Retirement’s bocce afternoon. EPR organises a number of activities and provides bocce and a barbecue at Norwood Park in Ringwood North, every second and fourth Tuesday from January through to March. Unfortunately the occasion was marred by the theft of EPR’s barbecue. It is dismaying that someone would choose to steal from one of our community groups, particularly since the barbecue was dedicated to Ron Ginger, a former President and committed EPR member who unfortunately passed away a few years ago. While EPR, in their typical jovial fashion, made the best of the afternoon it is disappointing that this theft occurred.

On a lighter note, I would also like to take this opportunity to congratulate the many community stall holders and the dedicated council staff at Sunday’s Maroondah Festival. I did not receive a single negative comment about this year’s festival and council staff must be commended for organising such an awesome event.

Activating Communities: Communities for Public Transport at the Sustainable Living Festival

Published by Alex Makin on Sunday 17th of February, 2008

Melbourne’s Sustainable Living Festival, held at Federation Square, is Victoria’s premiere festival celebrating and promoting urban sustainability.

As part of the proceedings, I delivered a presentation on the aims of Communities for Public Transport and the need for grassroots advocacy for public transport improvements. Ultimately a lack of public transport affects local communities, through failure to deliver the necessary infrastructure to ensure urban sustainability.

The lack of public transport infrastructure within the growth areas of Melbourne, such as South Morang, Werribee, Cranbourne and Pakenham, is a major concern since until these areas are provided with the necessary public transport improvements, Mellbourne will always face a losing battle in regard to sustainability.

It is inexcusable for the State Govenrment to deprive growth areas of public transport, given the widely acknowledged costs of congestion, social isolation and greenhouse emissions. A lack of public transport ultimately affects all of Melbourne, with cars from the outer suburbs flooding inner city roads. As a result local communities right across Melbourne need to find their voice to ensure action from all levels of government.

• View presentation: Activating Communities - Launch of Communities for Public Transport