Month: April 2010

Media Release: Council to present three motions at ALGA conference

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Maroondah City Council will present three motions to the Australian Local Government Association (ALGA) National General Assembly in Canberra from 14 to 17 June.

Mayor of Maroondah, Cr Alex Makin, will make the presentations on Council’s behalf.

“The three motions to be presented on behalf of Maroondah are seen to be of national significance, particularly as issues such as population growth and climate change need to be approached at the national level in the interest of all Australians,” Cr Makin said.

At its meeting of Monday 19 April, Council approved the three motions for submission.

“The first motion calls on the ALGA National General Assembly to encourage the Federal Government to financially support the upgrade of infrastructure within large metropolitan activity centres to cater for the projected increase in Australia’s population by 2050,” Cr Makin said.

The second motion requests that the ALGA National General Assembly call on the Federal Government to ensure that any possible changes to the funding of health care services, particularly in the area of Home and Community Care and Maternal and Child Health services, does not impact on current funding arrangements with local government.

“As Victorian councils are involved with the delivery of these services, the Commonwealth must be alerted to the need to protect their financial interests in any changes to the system,” Cr Makin said.

Cr Makin said the third motion requested that the ALGA National General Assembly call on state and federal governments to provide financial assistance for the roll-out of energy efficient street lighting.

“Implementing energy efficient street lighting is the single biggest issue for Councils trying to reduce greenhouse emissions and meet greenhouse reduction targets,” Cr Makin said.

“There are substantial changeover costs associated with the introduction of new energy efficient street lighting and this presents a significant barrier to the uptake of this technology,” Cr Makin said.

– ENDS –

Media Release: Lifting the lid on Victoria’s wartime history

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A new guide released by the State Government will produce hours of enlightening reading for those who have an interest in Victoria’s wartime history.

Mayor of Maroondah, Cr Alex Makin, said Remember Them: A guide to Victoria’s wartime heritage included the stories of three Ringwood and Croydon soldiers who had served in various theatres of war.

“This guide provides a fascinating glimpse into the lives of some of those who bravely served their nation during times of war,” Cr Makin said.

“Remember Them: A guide to Victoria’s wartime heritage tells the stories behind the 1000 war memorials and 700 communities across the state. It brings together tales from conflicts including the Boer War, the first and second world wars, Korea and Vietnam, and it’s well worth a read,” Cr Makin said.

The State Government will distribute the guide to all Victorian secondary schools, ex-service organisations and peak bodies.

For more information about the guide, visit www.veterans.vic.gov.au

– ENDS –

April BizConnect Business Breakfast – Assessing Australia’s Economic Conditions

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The BizConnect Maroondah Breakfast Series provides an opportunity to hear from prominent business speakers, with the aim of assisting businesses within the municipality.

The guest speaker this morning was a specialist on foreign exchange and international Economics who discussed Australia’s current economic situation relative to the global economy.

Topics included Australia’s relatively stable economic activity, relative to major global economies and the increasing importance of China as a major trading partner to Australia.

The BizConnect Breakfast Series is one of several events, including networking and training sessions which are designed to assist businesses within Maroondah.

For further details please visit the BizMaroondah website: www.bizmaroondah.com.au.

Please continue reading to view the speech delivered as the opening address for the morning:

Continue reading “April BizConnect Business Breakfast – Assessing Australia’s Economic Conditions”

Speaking at the PTUA Outer East Branch meeting

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The Public Transport Users Association (PTUA) was founded in 1976 and advocates for public transport improvements across Melbourne and Victoria.  The organisation has two branches, one located in Geelong and the other covering the Outer East of Melbourne.

The PTUA Outer East Branch was founded in 200, where I was one of its founding members and the initial branch convenor.  While I left the PTUA in 2007, the Outer East Branch has continued to grow and this evening I was invited to speak to the members to discuss public transport issues within Maroondah and the outer eastern suburbs of Melbourne.

The top priority for Maroondah is securing a commitment for the redevelopment of Ringwood Station, which currently fails disability compliance standards and lacks integration with bus, pedestrian and cycling facilities. The Council will be calling on all political parties to commit to the redevelopment of the Station, so as to complement the works that will be undertaken for the bus interchange.

In addition, there is also a need to accelerate the implementation of the bus service reviews.  While the review into the bus routes serving Maroondah, Knox and the Yarra Ranges was recently released, timeframes have not been provided for the implementation of the longer-term recommendations.

Public transport improvements are essential in improving the amenity and wellbeing of Maroondah, through reducing greenhouse emissions, improving accessibility and mitigating traffic congestion.

Maroondah Leader: bus routes upgrade on agenda

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The State Government has finally released the Knox/Maroondah and Yarra Ranges bus review, which covered a total of 57 bus routes, serving a population of almost half a million people.

The review includes a number of short-term initiatives, including more frequent services for route 670, which will also be extended to Swinburne University in Lilydale.  This bus route, which is one of Maroondah’s highest patronised services, runs along the Maroondah Highway, serving Ringwood, Croydon, Chirnside Park and Lilydale.

The Maroondah Leader has followed up on the release of the review and what it means for the City of Maroondah:

Maroondah Mayor Alex Makin said the improvements were positive, but new services were needed “sooner than later” to plug gaps along Canterbury Road and Mount Dandenong Road.

“We welcome the extension of route 670 along Maroondah Highway, which is long overdue,” he said.

“But the lack of a timeframe on the other projects is a concern.”

While these short-term improvements are welcomed, there is concern over the lack of timeframes for the longer-term initiatives, many of which will improve availability of bus services to residents in Maroondah.

The City of Maroondah issued a submission as part of the consultation into the bus service reviews, recommending frequency and operating span improvements. In addition Maroondah’s submission suggested  new services along Canterbury Road connecting the Maroondah Indoor Sports Stadium and providing a service between Ringwood and Box Hill, as well as a new route running direct along Mount Dandenong Road from Ringwood to provide an accessible service to Karralyka, the Maroondah Civic Centre and Maroondah Hospital.

While these new bus routes were included as recommendations within the review, a timeframe for their implementation has not been provided.  It is imperative that the State Government commit to the implementation of the bus service reviews to provide accessible and frequently available public transport within Maroondah.

Delegates’ Report: Annual general meetings, art exhibitions and launching Maroondah’s Community Wellbeing Plan

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There are several items I’d like to discuss this evening:

On the 23rd of March I attended the North Ringwood Community House annual general meeting, which coincided with the graduation ceremony of their Certificate III and IV students.

North Ringwood Community House is the only community house in Maroondah that has Registered Training Organisation status, meaning that they are able to offer Certificate level courses. As part of the AGM the House discussed its new business plan and it is great to see that they are planning on expanding their accredited courses into the future.

On the 29th of March I attended the first meeting of the Maroondah Partners for Community Wellbeing Committee along with Cr Ann Fraser. This committee is tasked with the responsibility of overseeing the implementation of Council’s Community Wellbeing Plan and incorporates a number of different agencies, including Eastern Volunteers, Eastern Access Community Health, the Primary Care Partnerships and others.

So what is Council’s Community Wellbeing Plan, it’ll be discussed later in this report.

On the 13th of April, I attended a community meeting hosted by Common Equity Housing Limited (CEHL), the managers of the 80 unit affordable housing development in Larissa Avenue. While Council and the community were understandably concerned about the State Government overriding Maroondah Council as a planning authority, it is encouraging to see the CEHL holding discussions with the community to help explain and demystify this development.

On the 15th of April I had the pleasure of opening two exhibitions, Konrad Winkler’s Moments of My Life and the Ringwood Art Society’s Artist of the Year. Konrad’s work highlights the changing nature of photography and the Art Society’s exhibition showcases the talents of one of Victoria’s oldest and largest arts societies.
The Artist of the Year was judged by an independent adjudicator but the community also has the possibility of providing input, through the Community Choice Award.

As part of the proceedings I had the privilege of announcing that Council will be utilising the Mayoral Art Fund to acquire one of the artworks that was exhibited by a member of the Ringwood Arts Society and I look forward to formalising this announcement once it is finalised.

The two exhibitions are hosted at Maroondah Art Gallery at the Maroondah Federation Estate and are on display until the 8th of May.

On Sunday the 18th of April I attended the Anzac March in Croydon hosted by the Croydon RSL. I would like to commend the Croydon RSL for holding such a welcoming and friendly event, it was great to see them involve the wider community, including local Primary and Secondary Schools and I believe it reinforces the community atmosphere that is so prevalent at the Croydon RSL.

This morning I had the pleasure of launching Maroondah City Council’s Community Wellbeing Plan. The plan, which was adopted by Council in December in last year, identifies the key wellbeing priorities over the next four years, including:

  • Healthy Minds Healthy Choices
  • Engaged Resilient Communities
  • Accessible Safe Community
  • Lifestyle Opportunities and Choices
  • Targeting Equity and Social Inclusion
  • Healthy Sustainable Environments

The plan was developed through the former Maroondah Partners in Health, Safety and Wellbeing Committee of which Cr. Nora Lamont, Cr. Rob Steane and myself were members.

In addition, Council undertook extensive community engagement in the development of its Community Wellbeing Plan including a survey in the Maroondah Focus, where we received over 1000 responses.

This was a tremendous result given that there are 44,000 households within the municipality. These responses provided quantitative information and Council also undertook extensive consultation with community organisations and discussion sessions at locations such as Eastland.

The end result is a plan that was developed in partnership with the community and which will be overseen by the Maroondah Partners in Community Wellbeing Committee, which includes community organisations, Council staff, as well as two Councillors, Cr. Ann Fraser and myself.

I would like to commend the many people who were involved in the development of the plan. The implementation of the Community Wellbeing Plan depends on community partnerships and I look forward to this collaboration as we improve the health, safety and wellbeing of our municipality.

Launch of Maroondah’s Community Wellbeing Plan

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Maroondah Council formally adopted its Community Wellbeing Plan in December 2009, which outlines the initiatives that improve the health, safety and wellbeing of the municipality.

Councils are required to adopt a municipal health plan, which is aligned with the term of the council. These plans are developed in partnership with the community and the Maroondah’s Partners in Community Wellbeing Committee will be overseeing the implementation of Maroondah’s Community Wellbeing Plan.

Alex launching Maroondah's Community Wellbeing Plan
Alex launching Maroondah's Community Wellbeing Plan

This morning I officially launched Maroondah’s Community Wellbeing Plan, in an event that included the many organisations and community members that assisted Council in developing the strategy.

The speech delivered during the launch is included below:

In the spirit of Reconciliation, we acknowledge that we are meeting on land for which the Wurundjeri people have been custodians for many centuries, and on land which the Indigenous Australians have performed age old ceremonies.

We, Maroondah City Council, accept, respect and have shared with the Wurundjeri people in their customs of welcome.

The Wurundjeri people support the coming together of all people, respecting their individuality to focus on a unified and cohesive nation.

The Maroondah Partners in Community Wellbeing Plan was developed in partnership with the Maroondah community, local organisations and State Government.

The development and implementation of the Plan is a legislative requirement under the Public Health and Wellbeing Act 2008.

The Plan aims to improve the health and wellbeing for the Maroondah community, by addressing issues that impact Maroondah’s community.

Maroondah undertook extensive consultation in developing the plan, including a survey of households through the Maroondah Focus, as well as discussions at Eastland, community organisations and the Council’s know your parks program.

Part of this consultation included the involvement of Primary School students who provided drawings of what they like in Maroondah. Several of these drawings are available in the plan, as well as on display today.

Six priority areas were identified during this extensive consultation:

  • Healthy Minds Healthy Choices
  • Engaged Resilient Communities
  • Accessible Safe Communities
  • Lifestyle Opportunities to Support Health and Wellbeing
  • Targeting Equity and Social Inclusion
  • Healthy Sustainable Environments.

Each of these six priority areas have action plans involving specific objectives, strategies, and timeframes, which will be monitored by the Maroondah Partners in Community Wellbeing Committee.

Some of the action plans have already been implemented, including the forming of Maroondah’s new Partners in Safety Committee, which is a partnership between Council and agencies dedicated to improving safety within our municipality.

The development of the plan was made possible through the many organisations that provided input, including the members of Maroondah’s former Partners in Safety, Health and Wellbeing Committee and many of these participants are here today.

The implementation of Maroondah’s Community Wellbeing Plan will only be possible through partnership with community organisations. It gives me great pleasure to officially launch the plan and Council looks forward to working with the many members of our community to ensure how we can improve the health, safety and wellbeing of Maroondah.

Croydon RSL Anzac March

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Both the Croydon and Ringwood RSLs hold a march on the Sunday prior to Anzac Day. While iI previously attended the march in Ringwood, this year I decided to participate in Croydon’s march, as I am planning to attend the Dawn Service in Ringwood.

The march began on the corner of Hewish Road and Main Street in Croydon and was a genuine community event, with many participants either joining in the march or watching from the footpaths.

The march proceeded though Mount Dandenong Road and onto James Stevens Memorial Lawn at Civic Square in Croydon. The service included participation from the local schools and it was encouraging to see such a strong community atmosphere with the event.

As the Mayor of Maroondah I was invited to welcome the guests and to offer our respect to the many service men and women who have served this country.

The speech is included within this post:

Good afternoon and welcome here today on behalf on Maroondah City Council. This Anzac service enables us to remember the contribution of Australian soldiers and is an important reminder of Australia’s involvement in conflicts around the world.

Australian servicemen and women have made vital contributions to many conflicts and it is important that the community does not forget or discount this important aspect of our shared history.

ANZAC Day also offers families of servicemen and women who have made the ultimate sacrifice for their country an opportunity to recognise and remember that contribution.

It is heartening to see the strong community participation within today’s service and I would like to give thanks to the many people that support RSLs and organisations that preserve the memories of our fallen servicemen and women, and also to provide support for veterans and their families.

The Maroondah community gives thanks for the service of our fellow countrymen and women, and commits to preserve their memory forever.

Lest We Forget.

HE Parker Reserve – Tennis Club Lighting

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HE Parker Reserve located at the end of Heathmont Road in Heathmont is a major sporting facility within Maroondah and is home to Football, Cricket, Netball and Tennis.

This afternoon I launched the lighting upgrade for HE Parker Reserve Tennis Club, a project that was collaboratively funded through Maroondah City Council, the State Government and the tennis club.

The lights for the tennis courts means that the club is able to play night matches, extending the club’s ability to hold tennis sessions into the evening and thus assisting in further growing its membership.

Alex at the launch of new lights for the HE Parker Tennis Club in Heathmont
Alex at the launch of new lights for the HE Parker Tennis Club in Heathmont

The speech I provided at the opening of the HE Parker Reserve Lighting is available within this post:

Continue reading “HE Parker Reserve – Tennis Club Lighting”

Maroondah Art Gallery – Konrad Winkler’s Moments of My Life and Ringwood Arts Society’s Artist of the Year

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Tonight I launched the Maroondah Art Gallery’s latest exhibition, Konrad Winkler’s Moments of my Life and the Ringwood Art Society’s Artist of the Year.

Konrad is a Melbourne based photographer who explores the changing nature of photography and its relationship with extraordinary and everyday events.  Each piece is accompanied by a humorous recount of the event depicted in the photograph.

On display in the Muriel McGivern Room are the entrants from the Ringwood Arts Society Artist of the Year exhibition. The exhibition features work by twenty artists, who had to submit three pieces to enter the competition.

The entrants were assessed and judged by Walter Magilton, an independent adjudicator who announced the Artist of the Year and other works which were highly commended.

The Ringwood Art Society is one of Victoria’s oldest and largest art groups, with over 260 members.  The society was established in 1966 and provides art classes, outdoor painting excursions and highlights the strong interest in art and culture within Maroondah.

The Mayor of Maroondah is provided with an art acquisition fund and as Mayor I have decided that Council will be purchasing one of the artworks on display through the Ringwood Art Society.  Council is currently liaising with the artist but a full announcement will be made shortly.

The two exhibitions will be on display until the 8th of May. The Maroondah Art Gallery is based at Maroondah Federation Estate in Greenwood Avenue, Ringwood.

A copy of the speech I delivered at the opening of the exhibition is available within this post:

Continue reading “Maroondah Art Gallery – Konrad Winkler’s Moments of My Life and Ringwood Arts Society’s Artist of the Year”