Month: May 2007

Media Release: What are you doing with your snaps?

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This year’s Maroondah City Council Photo Competition is well underway, with many wonderful entries coming in each day.

However, if you haven’t entered your favourite photo of Maroondah yet, then Councillor Alex Makin would encourage residents and visitors to Maroondah to do so very soon.

“We’re about half way through the annual competition period, so there is still plenty of time to take a photo of your favourite place or special landmark in Maroondah,” said Cr Makin.

“Don’t forget to look at photos you may have taken over last summer, special moments enjoying Maroondah’s parks and waterways, happy families or sporting shots. As long as they were taken in Maroondah and after 1 July 2006 they can be entered,” said Cr Makin.

The competition sections are across three age groups and offer a range of great prizes including cameras from Croydon Camera House, movie passes to Hoyts and Hoyts La Premiere and an Eastland shopping voucher.

Up to three photos can be entered per person with the closing date for entries being 30 June 2007.

Entry forms are available from Croydon and Ringwood Libraries, Croydon Camera House, Eastland Shopping Centre and Council’s Service Centres at Braeside Avenue, Ringwood; Civic Square, Croydon and Level 2, Eastland Shopping Centre, Ringwood.

“So whether your camera is high-tech digital or low-tech disposable, get out there and start snapping!” said Cr Makin.

– ENDS –

Maroondah Journal: Safety boost as police push for cameras in Ringwood

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The Maroondah Journal has reported on a Ringwood Police initiative to see live security cameras installed within the centre of Ringwood. This proposal is similar to the cameras that have been installed at Lilydale, which has seen a 70 percent reduction in crime.

Public Transport Users Association spokesman Alex Makin said the cameras “were certainly a good idea. Statistics in Lilydale has showed how it has deterred crime.”

The Ringwood Police are planning to request four cameras which will monitor the station, the nightclub precinct and the Ringwood Skatepark. Funding for the proposal, similarily to Lilydale, would be dependent on a successful grant from the Federal Government.

Delegates' Report: Examples of Leadership and Passion

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On the 29th of April until the 1st of May I attended the Local Government Managers Association Conference in Hobart. The conference was themed the Power to make a difference and the Passion to lead and this was reinforced through the focal points of People, Process and Place, to reflect the foundations of local government.

The conference covered the challenges facing local government including skills shortages, the need for triple bottom line sustainability and pressures such as cost shifting from other layers of government. Case studies were presented to highlight best practice examples and to reinforce the need for passion and leadership within local government.

I have prepared a written report outlining the conference, which I will be tabling with my report.

The passion to lead and the power to make a difference rings true within local government as well as the broader community and this has been seen through a number of examples in the previous month.

On the 7th of May I attended the Maroondah Environment Forum, this forum which attracted over 150 attendees demonstrated the passion our community has for the environment and our council staff, through the Planning and Sustainability Department, must be congratulated for delivering such an excellent forum. A number of broad topics were raised at the forum including, water, energy, biodiversity and transport and it was great to see such a wide section of our community being able to have a say and raise the issues that are important to them. As a council we must lead by example and recognise the importance the community has for our natural environment.

Groups such as the Croydon Conservation Society and the newly formed Maroondah Climate Change Action Group must also be congratulated for their leadership in distributing fliers and posters of the meeting. The environment forum showed the power that can be created through the community and council working together and I trust that this will mark the continuation of further collaboration between us as a council and the community groups and individuals that have a passion for the environment.

Leadership comes in many forms and on the 11th of May I had the pleasure of attending the Youth Volunteer Recognition Function. This event held in the youth space known as EV’s and prepared by the council’s Youth Services Team provides an opportunity to congratulate the many young volunteers that dedicate their time and service to the community. These people are filled with passion and are becoming leaders in creating a better society. I hope that their efforts will serve as inspiration to future volunteers.

There have been many examples of passion and leadership throughout the past month and there are many more examples throughout our community.

Eastern Region Client Network

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The Eastern Region Client Network aims to provide a voice for people with disabilities through encouraging and information sharing on the issues facing their members.

I was invited to the May meeting of the network to explain the role of the Public Transport Users Association and to discuss transport issues affecting people with disabilities. Concerns raised include the difficulty in using the current ticketing system, difficulties in signalling drivers for access to trains, the poor frequency of bus routes and lack of service coordination.

Public transport provides not only an economically and environmentally sustainable form of travel but also helps enhance social inclusion through providing a network that is accessible for people of all abilities. While positive improvements are being made in terms of the physical access for public transport, service standards are still too poor to provide most of Melbourne with a real transport. This can be quite detrimental to people with disabilities, who often do not have access to a car to accommodate their transport needs.

The Eastern Region Client Network meets on a monthly basis at Forest Hill and is supported by Activate Communities and VALID Inc.

Outer East Citizens Advocacy 21st Anniversary

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This evening I was invited to attend the Outer East Citizen’s Advocacy 21st anniversary to celebrate the accomplishments of the organisation in providing a voice for people with disabilities and the frail aged.

The Outer East Citizens Advocacy located in Greenwood Avenue, Ringwood provides training and referral services to some of eastern Melbourne’s most vulnerable residents. The Outer East Citizens Advocacy is managed and operated by volunteers who have worked tirelessly to provide the service over the past 21 years.

This dedication will no doubt continue to ensure that this important voice for Melbourne’s outer east continues into the future.

Eastern Transport Coalition May 2007 Meeting

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The Eastern Transport Coalition’s campaign for federal involvement in urban transport infrastructure is continuing with an invitation being extended to MPs and Candidates to discuss these needs. There is a need for the Federal Government to formally respond to the 2004 Sustainable Cities Inquiry, which cited a number of concerns in regard to Australia’s urban centres, including the lack of readily available public transport.

Discussions are also continuing at a State level to ensure a renewed focus on the transport needs of the eastern region. The ETC has recently met with a number of Ministers and senior officials to state the need for action in improving sustainable transport. It is hoped that the Melbourne 2030 review process will finally ensure stronger integration between land use planning and the transport needs for Melbourne.

Media Release: Eastern Transport Coalition responds to Federal Budget

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The Eastern Transport Coalition (ETC) says that the failure of the Federal Government to fund significant public transport projects in the budget represents a missed opportunity to develop a truly sustainable transport system.

Councillor Alex Makin represents Maroondah City Council on the Eastern Transport Coalition and says the Coalition are disappointed with the short sightedness of the Federal Government.

“The Eastern Transport Coalition believes that the Federal Government should be taking a holistic view and fund all transport modes, not just roads. Directing funding into public transport infrastructure projects would reduce the need to fund and build more roads, while providing the added benefit of assisting our environment,” said Cr Makin.

“The Eastern Transport Coalition is made up of seven Councils in Melbourne’s east, representing over 940,000 residents, with a primary focus on advocating for improved transport choices in the east,” said Cr Makin.

2007 Youth Volunteer Recognition Evening

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As part of Volunteer Week, the City of Maroondah held its Youth Volunteer recognition evening to acknowledge the many young people in Maroondah that volunteer to their time to community causes.

People of all ages are able to volunteer and contribute their skills and talents to making their community a better place to live. Examples undertaken by these young people included; tutoring new immigrants, supporting events like Make Poverty History and assisting other young people within Maroondah.

Alex Makin at the 2007 Youth Volunteer Recognition Evening

There is an ever increasing need for volunteers so I hope that the young people acknowledged tonight will continue in their efforts.

Transport Information Workshop at Glen Park Community Centre

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Today I was invited to speak at a transport workshop organised by the Women’s Learning Centre at Glen Park Community Centre at Bayswater North. The transport workshop included representatives from Invicta Bus Company, David Hodgett State Member for Kilsyth. Katie Goodrope Maroondah’s MetroAccess worker and myself, as a Councillor for Maroondah and Vice-President of the Public Transport Users Association (PTUA).

The workshop was held as an open discussion to allow the participants to discuss the transport issues facing them. Concerns included safety, the poor condition of Ringwood Station and the lack of frequent and readily available bus and train services.

Invicta Bus Company has worked closely with the community to provide bus services but ultimately the capacity of Invicta to deliver improvements is limited until the State Government improves the minimum service standards of Melbourne’s bus network.

Local government, like advocacy groups such as the PTUA, have a key role in holding the State Government accountable in delivering much needed improved public transport services across Maroondah and the outer suburbs of Melbourne.

Local government, however does have responsibility for the construction and maintenance of footpaths and this an area council is currently is examining through its draft Pedestrian Strategy. All trips, whether taken by cars or public transport, involve some form of walking and it is crucial that Maroondah’s footpath network is accessible and safe.

Maroondah Journal: Pool: state dips in

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The announcement of State Government funding for the Croydon Memorial Pool has been covered by the Maroondah Journal:

Maroondah councillor Alex Makin called it a “fantastic announcement. It is great to see rally and the State Government honour their commitment.”

The State Government has honoured its election commitment to provide $250,000 to help rectify the leaks that forced the closure of the Croydon Memorial Pool back in January. Combined with funding from Maroondah Council, the pool should be reopened by next season, allowing the retention of this unique Croydon facility.