Month: December 2006

Heatherdale Community Action Group (HCAG) End of Year Celebrations for 2006

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The Heatherdale Community Action Group (HCAG) has had a tremendously successful year through forging ongoing dialogue between residents, council and myself as the ward councillor for Loughnan’s Hill (which includes the eastern side of Heatherdale Road).

In particular the successful prosecution of Southern Rocycling for violations of the Health Act and the Planning and Environment Act by Maroondah City Council has demonstrated that the amenity of Heatherdale must be respected. While this prosecution has sent a strong message monitoring will continue and further potential noise violations will be investigated.

Outer East Citizens Advocacy (OECA) End of Year Function for 2006

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The Outer East Citizens Advocacy (OECA) provides support and referral services for people with disabilities and the elderly. Based in Greenwood Avenue, OECA held its end of year celebrations with a barbeque.

The strength and vitality of a community is only as strong as its volunteers and OECA in roles such as supporting the Maroondah Mobility Expo and people with disabilities provides crucial a role for Maroondah.

Maroondah Partners in Health, Safety and Wellbeing Committee

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The Maroondah Partners in Health, Safety and Wellbeing Committee is a council committee that involves key health and safety agencies, such as Victoria Police, Connex, VicRoads, Eastern Access Community Health and General Practitioners.

The committee meets on a quarterly basis to serve as a forum to discuss health, safety and wellbeing initiatives within Maroondah and to resolve any issues that may emerge. In this regard the safety of the Maroondah Highway/Ringwood Station pedestrian crossing was raised due to a recent pedestrian fatality.

Due to a lengthy traffic cycle, that prioritising cars over the needs of pedestrians, this crossing fails to be responsive to pedestrian needs resulting in up to a two minute wait to cross the road. With over 5000 pedestrians per day, as serving as the key crossing between Ringwood Station and the retail centre of Ringwood, the signals need to be more responsive to pedestrian needs.

Ringwood Chamber of Commerce: End of year function for 2006

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The Ringwood Chamber of Commerce held its end of year function at O’Connors Restaurant in Ringwood North.

Throughout this year the Ringwood Chamber of Commerce has been actively involved in the planning for the Ringwood Transit City and it is encouraging to see that businesses in Ringwood want the best possible outcome for Ringwood.

2007 should mark the beginnings of the physical transformation of Ringwood into a vibrant community supported by a range of business and recreational opportunities. Community engagement is critical to ensuring the success of Ringwood and as such the involvement of the Ringwood Chamber of Commerce will continue to be welcomed.

Enjoying Planned Retirement (EPR) End of Year Celebrations

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Enjoying Planned Retirement (EPR) is a vibrant community group based at the North Ringwood Senior Citizens Centre at Norwood Park. EPR aims to provide a range of activities for senior citizens and retirees.

To celebrate the end of 2006 EPR provided a barbeque as well as a game of bocce. With 490 members, EPR is one of Maroondah’s largest senior citizens groups and provides a diverse range of activities ranging from theatre, music, craft, sports and day trips.

What makes EPR remarkable is that a significant proportion of its membership base is actively involved within the organisation. This means that a wide variety of activities can be supported and that the burden of planning events does not rest with just a few committee members.

The cooperation and dedication of EPR’s membership base distinguish it from many other organisations. With such a vibrant membership, EPR is bound to flourish in 2007.

Maroondah Leader: basic skills at clinic for skaters

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The Ringwood Skatepark has been an overwhelming success and as a result Maroondah City Council is providing free skate clinics designed to teach 12 to 16 year olds the skills necessary to safety enjoy skateboarding.

Councillor Alex Makin said an accredited skateboard coach would help those looking to start skating or others wanting to brush up on the fundamentals.

“Safety is a big issue, so learning the correct stance on the board and . . . the correct way to fall and stepping off the skateboard is very important,” Cr Makin said. “Once these are mastered, then they can move onto some exciting elements such as turning, transition skills and an introduction to ollies.”

It is also imperative that all users of the Ringwood skatepark treat the surrounding community with courtesy and avoid using skateboards in areas other than the Ringwood Skatepark.

For details on the clinic contact Youth Services on 1300 882 233.

Maroondah Journal: Expo takes mobility issues to next level

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The Maroondah Journal has reported on the success of Maroondah’s inaugural mobility expo, which attracted well over 300 attendees, and exceeded all expectations.

Maroondah councillor Alex Makin said mobility and accessibility were huge issues facing local government.

“It was encouraging people were now feeling empowered to speak out and better services. Many people got so much out of these sessions. It is important they can participate in society with confidence.”

Alex Makin launching the Maroondah Mobility Expo
Maroondah’s Mobility Expo and the Scoot Wheel ‘N’ Move working group have provided a model for strengthening community engagement and encouraging to speak out of issues of concern.

Strengthening community engagement and participation in council decisions will result in better outcomes that reflect genuine community needs.

Maroondah Journal: Mayoral flap – Peter Gurr voted in as leader at 'open' election

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The Maroondah Journal has reported on the events surrounding Maroondah’s mayoral election, where for the first time in Maroondah’s history there was an open process for the position of mayor.

A dispute about the openness and accountability of Maroondah Council spilled into the council chamber last week as two councillors battled for the mayoral position.

Newly elected Mayor Peter Gurr needs to be commended for understanding the reasons behind Councillor Maureen Naylor’s nomination for mayor within the council chambers. Public debate and openness is the key to ensuring wider community participation and engagement within council decisions.

The council chamber since it is viewable by the public must become the forum for open debate rather than simply being a rubber stamp for decisions.

First-term councillor Alex Makin thought it was good to see some openness and transparency in the council chamber. “This acknowledges that there could be more discussion in the main chamber. Maureen needs to be congratulated but this is not about dividing a council, it is about having a difference of opinion and working together as a unified group.”

ALGA and the Maroondah Mobility Expo: Empowering the Community

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I will be tabling my report but would like to elaborate further on two items, those being the National General Assembly of Local Government and the Maroondah Mobility Expo.

From the 26th through to the 30th of November I along with Cr. Gurr and Cr. Willmott participated in the National General Assembly of local government in Canberra. The National General Assembly convened by the Australian Local Government Association (ALGA) allows councils to raise issues within a national context., allowing ALGA to make representation on behalf of local councils to the Federal Government.

In this regard I am particularly pleased that Maroondah’s motion in relation to sustainable transport was passed by the general assembly. This will empower ALGA to advocate for federal involvement in sustainable transport.

I will be tabling a written report, which provides further details on the conference. View the written report on the 2006 National Assembly of ALGA

On the 5th of December I was invited by the Scoot Wheel ‘N’ Move to officially launch and MC the proceedings of Maroondah’s first mobility expo.

The expo provided a full day program that included:

  • Free scooter and wheelchair safety checks;
  • Trials of a low-floor bus;
  • Information sessions on topics such as:
  • Accessing public transport safely;
  • Road rules for motorised scooters and pedestrians;
  • Advice from occupational therapists;
  • Scooter etiquette to ensure safe usage of motorised scooters and wheelchairs;

The expo, which attracted over 250 attendees, was an overwhelming success and demonstrates the results that can be achieved with strong community partnerships.

The expo coincided with the launch of the booklet, Maintaining Your Mobility in Maroondah, which contains valuable tips and etiquette on using mobility aids with Maroondah.

Both the expo and the booklet were only possible due to the strong partnerships that exist between Maroondah City Council and the Maroondah’s Scoot Wheel ‘N’ Move Working Group.

The Scoot Wheel N Move working group comprises of local residents who are passionate volunteers and dedicated to improving mobility within Maroondah. The empowerment of the Scoot Wheel N Move and the strong cooperation with Maroondah resulted in the mobility expo exceeding all expectations.

The community members of the Scoot Wheel ‘N’ Move working and staff from Maroondah City Council, in particular Katie Goodrope Maroondah’s MetroAccess and Trisha Matthes, must be congratulated on working tirelessly to ensure the success of the expo.

The Mobility Expo coincided with the International Day for People with Disabilities and it was therefore fitting that the aim of the expo was to help ensure that all members of the Maroondah community could participate confidently and fully in society.

Given the positive it is clear that the Mobility Expo succeeded in its aim of empowering people within Maroondah. The success of the Expo and Scoot Wheel ‘N’ Move provides a framework to ensure further engagement and empowerment of our community.

Precinct Plans – Ringwood Town Centre

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The precinct plans for the Ringwood Town Centre were passed at this evening’s council meeting. The passing of these plans will establish a clear framework for the future development of the Ringwood Town Centre and as such will facilitate investment and employment growth within Ringwood.

The plans, which broadly cover the area bound by Ringwood Street, Warrandyte Road, Maroondah Highway and Plaza Centre Way (also known as the Bond Street extension), will attract a variety of land uses (including retail, civic commercial and residential) and will assist in creating a sense of community and pride for Ringwood.

In particular the plans will include a new Town Square for Ringwood and allow for easier pedestrian access between Ringwood Station and the retail precinct of Ringwood and improve the overall amenity and walkability of Ringwood.

Given the significance of the precinct plans, there was a widespread effort to encourage community involvement and submissions. I am encouraged by the fact that 14 submissions were received, all of which were generally supportive of the concepts identified within the precinct plans.

The relatively high volume of submissions demonstrates wider community involvement within the Ringwood Transit City project and the overall supportive tone highlights a shared vision for the future of Ringwood and the Ringwood Transit City project.

I encourage the community to continue its involvement in the Ringwood Transit City project; the success in creating a vibrant town centre will depend largely on ongoing community engagement.

Tonight’s council meeting also marked the last meeting for 2006. I look forward to further representing as we enter the new year and beyond.