Month: March 2009

Tour of Maroondah's Community Facilities – Croydon

Posted on by alex

Maroondah is currently undertaking a series of tours of its community facilities, such as Community Houses, libraries, parks and leisure facilities, to ensure that Councillors are aware of the services available within the municipality.

This evening Councillors viewed facilities within Croydon beginning with EV’s Youth Centre. EV’s provides a range of activites for Maroondah’s youth, including a drop-in centre, a short-film festival and regular musical events organised by young people as part of the FreeZA program.

Afterwards Councillors visited Croydon Library, which is experiencing strong patronage growth particularly during weekends and evenings. This was followed by Croydon Town Park, which includes the newly refurbished athletics track and a range of sporting facilities.

Both the Croydon Leisure and Aquatic Centre and Croydon Memorial Pool were part of the tour and it was encouraging to see these facilities being strongly utilised by the public. Dorset Golf, which reverted back to council ownership a few years ago, was the last stop of the tour.

Wyreena Community Arts Centre, located in Hull Road, is one of two arts facilities within Maroondah and the tour included the studios of Eastern FM, as well as the art gallery and meeting rooms within the Centre.

The tour will continue next week with the facilities based in Ringwood, all of which are now part of the new Mullum Ward.

Disability Action Group – community based advocacy for people with a disability

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The Disability Action Group Eastern Region is a community based advocacy group for people with disabilities. The group meets on a monthly basis to discuss accessibility issues and focuses on the needs of Maroondah and the outer eastern suburbs.

Today’s meeting provided further discussion around Council’s Disability Policy and Action Plan, with the group supporting the development of a Disability Advisory Committee.

A Disability Advisory Committee would provide strategic advice to council on matters relating to accessibility and would complement the quarterly forum for people with disabilities.

At the last council meeting of last year, I successfully passed a resolution calling on council to investigate the establishment of a Disability Advisory Committee. Council is currently discussing this proposal with the community to gain further insights into the needs of people with disabilities.

The next meeting of the Disability Action Group Eastern Region will be held on Monday the 6th of April from 1pm at Room Four in Federation Estate. This meeting will include a formal discussion on the proposed Disability Advisory Committee with the feedback being considered by council.

Using Linux – free software alternatives to Windows

Posted on by alex

To my knowledge I am the only elected representative within Australia to use Linux and open source software such as KDE, Kontact, Openoffice.org and Firefox for my day-to-day computing requirements.

I choose to use Linux and open source software since I find it more responsive and stable than a Windows based system. Linux is an open source operating system that is available in various forms known as distributions.

Linux and the majority of software that operates on it are provided free of charge and are designed as well as supported through active community participation.

While there is undoubtedly a learning curve when trying anything new, Linux distributions such as OpenSUSE and Kubuntu tend to be extremely user friendly. Linux support for hardware continues to increase and there are many free programs that can easily replace existing Windows based software.

In addition, Linux tends to not have the security and virus issues that are far to commonplace within a Windows based environment.

While Linux and open source software may not be for everyone, I believe there is tremendous opportunity for the non-profit and community sector to investigate the use of Linux within their organisations.

The free cost of Linux and associated programs combined with the fact that it can still easily and efficiently operate on older computer hardware means it has the potential to reduce IT costs.

While there may be a requirement for initial training and configuration, this can be offset by reducing the cost of purchasing new software and hardware.

Free software such as Openoffice.org provides an easy to use Office suite and is largely compatible with Microsoft Office. Mozilla Firefox provides a more secure Internet browser than Internet Explorer and Kontact provides a full suite of information services, including a calendar, notes, email and address book features.

Linux provides a choice of graphical desktop environments and KDE with its associated applications exceeds the features and stability found within Windows XP and Vista. XFCE is another desktop environment and is well suited towards older computers that may still be present within an organisation.

If there are Windows based programs that an organisation is reliant upon, there is a program known as WINE which can allow such software to still operate within Linux.

I recently switched from OpenSUSE to Arch Linux, which is a distribution designed to be highly flexible and customisable. While Arch Linux requires more time to customise than other distributions, it does have the advantage of being extremely fast and stable.

Alternatively, distributions such as OpenSUSE and Kubuntu provide an easy to install and operational Linux environment with minimal need for customisation.

The use of Linux with its potential to reduce IT costs is certainly worth exploring.

Eastern Transport Coalition – discussing strategies

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Tonight’s Eastern Transport Coalition meeting focused on discussing strategies to ensure that public transport remains a key issue in the upcoming year and into the State and Federal elections which are due in 2010.

Maroondah has three key priorities for the municipality, including the redevelopment of Ringwood Station into an accessible, integrated and safe transport interchange, rail improvements and better bus services, including more frequent and readily available bus services.

These priorities were conveyed at tonight’s meeting to shape the priorities of the Eastern Transport Coalition. An action plan will be presented at the next Eastern Transport Coalition which will assist in achieving these objectives.

Media Release: Supermarket tantrums at puppet theatre

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Entertain the children these school holidays with a visit to the Karralyka Theatre and enjoy a slapstick puppet show that will make sure that a trip to the supermarket will never be the same again.

Councillor Alex Makin urged families to book soon for the Thursday 9 April School Holiday Entertainment show Check Out! by the Polyglot Puppet Theatre.

“Their puppet tale is about the remarkable adventures of a tantrum throwing baby who is determined to get what she wants,” said Cr Makin.

“Filled with puppetry at its most inventive and cheeky, Baby meets shelf products which come to life, and a mischievous toddler, Speedy, who helps her discover that you need more than just ‘stuff’ to see you through,” said Cr Makin.

Check Out! is a muzak-filled slapstick puppet tale which will ensure that a trip to the supermarket will never be the same again.

Check Out! will be performed at the Karralyka Theatre, Mines Road, Ringwood East (Melways Map 50 A6).

Tickets are $13.50 per person or $45 for a family of four.

For more information or to make a booking contact the Karralyka Centre Box Office on 9879 2933, email karralyka@maroondah.vic.gov.au or visit www.karralyka.com.au

– ENDS –

Media Release: Council establishes public transport priorities

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Maroondah City Council has confirmed the priorities for public transport issues to be advocated through the Eastern Transport Coalition.

Councillor Alex Makin is Maroondah City Council’s representative on the Eastern Transport Coalition, a group of seven outer Eastern metropolitan Councils.

“The Eastern Transport Coalition is an ongoing collegiate of seven Councils that advocates to the Federal and Victorian Governments for sustainable and integrated transport services in Melbourne’s outer East,” said Cr Makin.

“Each year the Eastern Transport Coalition seeks to set objectives for advocacy regarding improved bus services, more rail services and better coordination between modes of public transport,” said Cr Makin.

“At the formal meeting of Council on Monday this week, Council confirmed Maroondah’s public transport advocacy priorities for 2009,” said Cr Makin.

The three priorities are:

  • The triplication of the rail line from Box Hill to Ringwood;
  • The upgrade of Ringwood Railway Station and the bus interchange, and
  • The continued improvements to coverage and service frequency for the bus network within Maroondah.

“As Council’s representative on the Eastern Transport Coalition, I will be ensuring that these priorities are uppermost in the minds of the Coalition and in our advocacy to the State and Federal Government,” said Cr Makin.

Please continue reading to view some background information on these three priorities:

Continue reading “Media Release: Council establishes public transport priorities”

Business Expansion and Retention Program – continuing for 2009

Posted on by alex

This afternoon I participated in the continuation of the Maroondah Business and Retention Program, a council initiative designed to receive qualitative feedback into the state of businesses within the municipality.

The program involves one-on-one interviews with business owners and employers to gain an insight in the challenges and opportunities facing businesses that are based within Maroondah.

Today’s interviews, which included a home-based business and a large employer, provided a contrast between the diverse needs of businesses across the municipality.

Given the growing economic uncertainty, it is imperative that Maroondah is aware of the needs of its business community and acts where it can on impediments to the sustainability and growth of our business sector.

The business expansion and retention program provides an opportunity to hear first-hand the needs of our business community to assist in promoting the economic growth within our municipality.

Delegates' Report: advocacy, fundraising and annual general meetings

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Firstly, I would like to report that the Maroondah Partners in Health, Safety and Wellbeing Committee has been reconvened for this year and held its first meeting on the 17th of February.

The primary objective for this year is to oversee the development of Council’s new Wellbeing Plan, which will guide Maroondah’s approach to health, safety and wellbeing initiatives within the municipality. The committee involves a broad cross section of organisations and is well positioned to provide this input.

On the 19th of February I attended a forum on bus services, convened as part of the State Government’s review into bus routes across Metropolitan Melbourne. It is encouraging that the Government is investigating bus routes within Maroondah as there is a need for more frequent bus services and better connectivity across the network. The government has called for public submissions and has extended the deadline for submissions until the 3rd of April. A second workshop will be scheduled for later this year.

I attended two annual general meetings over the past month, including Maroondah Homebiz on the 3rd of March where it is encouraging to see the organisation continuing to strongly represent the growing numbers of small and homebusiness owners within Maroondah. I also attended the Croydon Conservation’s Society AGM on the 12th of March. The organisation is enthusiastically entering its 45th year and maintained a budget surplus over the past twelve months.

Lastly, I participated in a fundraiser for the bushfire appeal through the Rotary Club of Ringwood on the 20th of February, collecting coin donations at the Maroondah Highway and Mount Dandenong Road intersection. I am pleased to say that Rotary raised in excess of $10,000 and would like to thank our community for giving so generously.

Croydon Conservation Society 2009 AGM

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Tonight’s annual general meeting of the the Croydon Conservation Society marks its 45th year of community service.

The Croydon Conservation Society (CCS) was formed in 1964 by residents who acted to protect eucalyptus trees near Croydon Railway Station, which were going to be removed to make way for a service station.

The group began as the the Croydon Tree Preservation Society and later renamed itself to the Croydon Conservation Society to better encompass its aims as a broader environmental group.

Highlights over the past year include the construction of a new website, which enables the CCS to email latest news to its membership and the continuation of its annual film nights designed to both educate and entertain the community in regard to environmental issues.

I had served as Treasurer of the CCS over the past twelve months and was pleased to deliver a surplus over the course of the year. While costs such as insurance continue to rise, the CCS is in a healthy financial situation. In particular costs such as its newsletter production will reduce in future years due to the new website functionality.

Unfortunately due to changes in the Local Government Act I have been required to resign as Treasurer and therefore did not seek re-nomination at the AGM.

These legislative changes mean that if a Councillor is a committee member of an organisation they cannot vote or discuss issues of direct relevance to that organisation. Given that sustainability is a personal interest of mine, this could potentially jeopardise my ability to strengthen council’s approach to the environment.

It is a shame that these changes to the Local Government Act have the perverse implication of reducing a councillor’s involvement within the community. While I may no longer be a committee member of the CCS, I will certainly continue to attend their meetings and maintain my strong stance for improving the environmental sustainability of Maroondah.

The CCS faces a number of challenges as it enters its 45th year, primarily in developing new activities to engage the community. I trust that the CCS will continue to be a prominent voice within the community.

Sustainable Living Space – discussing future activities

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The first round of funding for the Sustainable Living Space projects requires the compilation of a report, which was discussed at this morning’s meeting.

The Sustainable Living Space aims to explore the feasibility of creating a sustainable space within the outer eastern suburbs and is a partnership between Eastern Volunteers, North Ringwood Community House, Park Orchards Learning Centre, as well as Maroondah and Manningham Councils.

The project has received a second round of funding, which aims to expand upon the community interest that has emerged for the project and to further refine potential sites and funding opportunities for the creation of a sustainable community space. Some preliminary sites have been identified and these need to be further refined during the next phase of this project.

A project worker will continue to oversee the second phase of the project and to deliver upon these outcomes.