Category: Speeches and Presentations

Speaking to the Croydon Historical Society

Posted on by alex

This evening I was invited to speak to the Croydon Historical Society about my family history and my role as a local Councillor for the Mullum Ward in Maroondah.

Maroondah’s historical societies document the history of the suburbs located within the municipality. This local history helps foster civic pride resulting in stronger community awareness and inclusion.

While Ringwood and Croydon may appear to be largely homogeneous, they do in fact have unique histories. While the Borough of Ringwood achieved severance from the Shire of Lillydale in 1924, the Shire of Croydon was not proclaimed until 1961, one year after Ringwood was declared a City.

The fact that Croydon did not achieve severance until forty years after Ringwood, demonstrates the differing pace of urbanisation. The City of Croydon was proclaimed in 1971 and was merged with the City of Ringwood to form the City of Maroondah in 1994.

An appreciation for local history is something I view as important for local Councillors. Just as the decisions of the past influence the choices we have today, the decisions we as a council make will continue to be felt into the future.

As an example, Ringwood’s initial growth was largely due to the railways, with the opening of the Lilydale rail line and Ringwood Station in 1882. Due to the station requiring flat land it was sited in its current location between Ringwood Streets and Warrandyte Road. This was despite the fact that the township of Ringwood was largely formed around the antimony mining of Ringwood East.

As a result the centre of Ringwood shifted around the rail station, with substantial residential subdivisions taking place from the 1920s due to the electrification of the rail line.

This decision made well over 100 years ago still has ramifications for Ringwood today. The location of Ringwood Station, as well as serving as the junction for the Belgrave and Lilydale lines shaped Ringwood into a major commercial precinct. The challenge now is to improve its walkability and accessibility through improvements to pedestrian crossings and better linkages between the residential and retail parts of Ringwood and the station.

Not all decisions made in the past are of benefit to us today. The decision by the former City of Ringwood to demolish the former Ringwood Town Hall in 1970 removed a prominent civic building from the heart of Ringwood and denied future generations with the possibility of utilising community space within the centre of Ringwood.

This decision is one that is still felt today, with a shortage of community space within Ringwood and a lack of an historic building to create a sense of identity. The redevelopment of Eastland and the creation of a new town square provide a once in a generational opportunity to correct this mistake and enable us to restore a civic and community heart to Ringwood.

In contrast, Croydon will be celebrating the 100 year anniversary of the Croydon Town Hall, which is located on Mount Dandenong Road and now houses EV’s Youth Centre.

I have lived in Ringwood since I was two years old, previously in Carruthers Court in Heathmont (near Wantirna Road) and then in Mundara Drive in Ringwood North and now in Bond Street within the middle of Ringwood.

Over these years Ringwood and Croydon have still experienced significant changes, such as the development of Croydon Hills which was still taking place during the 1990s while I was a high school student.

Ringwood and Croydon have unique and detailed histories and as a Councillor it is important to be mindful of the past so that we make the best decisions for the future.

National Reconciliation Week 2009

Posted on by alex

National Reconciliation Week is held between the 27th of May and the 3rd of June to celebrate indigenous culture and to advance the cause of reconciliation.

These dates were chosen to coincide with the 1967 Referendum, which removed discriminatory clauses from the Australian Constitution and the anniversary of the Mabo decision which was declared on the 3rd of June 1992. The Mabo decision was decided by the High Court of Australia and reversed the concept of terra nullius hence recognising that indigenous Australians had a system of law prior to European settlement.

This morning I had the honour of being able to officiate Maroondah’s Reconciliation Week event which was held at Maroondah Federation Estate.

This year Maroondah organised a series of workshops providing school students and the community with the opportunity to learn about indigenous culture, including storytelling, basket coiling, art and dance.

The theme for Reconciliation Week 2009 is Reconciliation: Turning Words into Action and this was displayed in the foyer of the Maroondah Art Gallery through collaborative artwork undertaken by students from the Monkami Centre and Kalinda Primary School in conjunction with indigenous artists.

Alex at the 2009 Maroondah Reconciliation Week proceedings

This theme is further reinforced through the launch of Maroondah’s Reconciliation Policy, which focuses on partnerships and council initiatives to improve equity for Indigenous Australians.

A traditional smoking ceremony, which cleanses the presence of bad spirits, accompanied the Welcome to Country and the event concluded with a performance by the internationally renowned One Fire Aboriginal Dance Troupe.

Please continue reading to view a copy of the speech delivered for Maroondah’s 2009 Reconciliation Week proceedings.

Continue reading “National Reconciliation Week 2009”

Inaugural Eastern Volunteers Community Conference – Day Two

Posted on by alex

The second day of the Eastern Volunteers Community conference explored the themes of managing volunteers, volunteering diversity, as well as supporting people with mental illness and engaging community engagement.

The conference opened with an address by the Victorian Council of Social Services, which explored the challenges in creating social inclusion during economic uncertainty. The presentation highlighted the difficulties the community sector is facing, particularly in regard to ensuring funding certainty and maintaining a focus on the core vision of an organisation.

I delivered a plenary session focused on harnessing the changing times faced by community organisations through embracing technology and building capacity through governance and professional development.

There is a need for strong governance and consistent policies that are supported through the adherence of procedures. All levels of government, as well as many philanthropic organisations, are expecting increasing levels of governance and accountability from the not-for-profit sector.

Strong governance is critical to creating an environment that harnesses the potential of an organisation and fosters its development. This creates a positive environment for volunteers, as well as staff and board members.

Data compiled by the Australian Bureau of Statistics demonstrates that less are volunteering on a per capita basis and that they are volunteering less of their time. In addition, there is a substantial gap between the rate of volunteering within rural areas versus our capital cities, with volunteering being less common in urban centres.

This demonstrates the strength of community identity, which is more commonplace within rural areas. Given that establishing this sense of community is more difficult within largely homogeneous urban centres, there is a need for innovation.

This is where community organisations need to explore the use of technology, such as interactive websites, using Web 2.0 technology like blogs and Facebook, to establish a new sense of community. Virtual communities are particularly useful in recruiting younger volunteers, who are often seeking opportunities to further their experiences within particular projects.

Younger people tend to be project focused rather than organisational focused and as a result community organisations need to tailor the way they attempt to recruit volunteers.

Technology such as wikis, which allows editable content, can be utilised to retain knowledge within an organisation through encouraging staff and volunteers to document their experiences and freely share information.

The use of technology should not increase the workload of an organisation, but instead should help automate some tasks. As an example, web based content management systems, can replicate web-content onto social networking tools such as Facebook, encouraging interactivity without requiring duplication or increasing workloads.

The conference concluded with positive feedback and a desire from participants for further events. There is strong interest in the sharing of knowledge and it was great that the participants found the conference to be informative and useful.

I have recently formed a consultancy service to assist organisations in meeting the challenges of these changes times. For a copy of the presentation I delivered at the Eastern Volunteers Community Conference please visit my consultancy site at www.alexmakin.org.

Ringwood Bowls Club – Water Reclamation Facility Launch

Posted on by alex

The Ringwood Bowls Club began 1929 and has had a long association with Ringwood. The club has recently focused on sustainability and embarked on a water reclamation project aimed to increase its water self-sufficiency.

The Club began the project two years ago, through securing Council, State and Federal grants for the installation of three water tanks and a pumping system to collect water from its roof, car park, greens and adjoining roadways.

The system was officially launched this morning and has a capacity of 280,000 litres and is anticipated to reduce mains water usage by approximately 1,500,000 litres.

The Ringwood Bowls Club is to be commended for its strong emphasis on future sustainability and for being one of the first bowls clubs to embark on a project of this scale. In addition, the club has further plans to reduce its water usage, including the conversion of one of its grass greens to a type that uses 30 to 50% less water.

I worked closely with the club over the past few years to assist in the application of grants and was invited to speak at the launch this morning.

Alex at the launch of the Ringwood Bowls Club Water Reclamation Facility

Please continue reading to view a copy of the speech delivered at the launch.

Continue reading “Ringwood Bowls Club – Water Reclamation Facility Launch”

North Ringwood Community House 2009 AGM

Posted on by alex

This morning North Ringwood Community House held its Annual General Meeting to elect committee members for the next two years. The community house appoints a two-year term for its committee members to provide continuity, while still providing flexibility for new members to get involved.

I have been re-elected onto the Committee of Management so that I can continue to provide advice in regard to advancing the aims of the new Community House for Ringwood North.

While changes to the Local Government Act may unnecessarily complicate a councillor’s involvement in community organisations, I believe that my inclusion on the committee assists the house in being able to achieve its goal of new premises. The relocation of North Ringwood Community House will allow for the expansion of its services and to meet the growing needs of an increasingly diverse Ringwood North and Ringwood community. In particular it would provide for an accessible community house within a location that can be accessed by people residing in both Ringwood and Ringwood North.

I was also the guest speaker at the AGM and discussed the transformation of Ringwood as a designated Central Activity District and the need for community facilities to be at the forefront of this project.

Recent improvements to Ringwood include the construction of footpaths throughout the residential precinct, including Nelson Street, Bourke Street, Bond Street, Browns Avenue, Churchill Street, Montgomery Street, Sherbrook Avenue and Burwood Avenue. These footpaths were constructed through development contributions and will assist in creating an accessible environment that encourages sustainable forms of transport, such as walking.

The redevelopment of Eastland and the creation of a new town square for Ringwood is expected to begin at the start of next year and will restore a civic heart to Ringwood through delivering new public open space and a new library and community complex.

The creation of a forecourt and bus interchange for Ringwood Station is expected through State Government funding of $39 million. This work is expected to begin either late this year or early next year.

While this funding will improve the appearance of Ringwood Station and make it easier for pedestrians to access the transport interchange, it will not improve the accessibility of the station itself, meaning that further work is required to ensure that the standards meets the needs of people with disabilities.

It is imperative that State Government funding is received for these further works to create an accessible, safe and integrated transport interchange.

The major challenge facing both Ringwood and the North Ringwood Community House is the need to deliver new community services within Ringwood while still providing facilities for the Ringwood North community. In this regard a proposed location for the community house will need to retain its connection to Ringwood North while being accessible to the Ringwood community.

The feasibility study which is designed to identify potential sites will explore this criteria to ensure that the most suitable location is found.

I look forward to my continued involvement in the North Ringwood Community House as we advance the aims of providing a community focus for the Ringwood and Ringwood North communities.

For further information on North Ringwood Community House please visit www.nrchi.com.

Eastern Transport Coalition Presentation on Train and Tram Refranchising

Posted on by alex

As the Deputy Chair of the Eastern Transport Coalition I was invited to present the ETC’s views on the re-franchising arrangements for the rail and tram network. The presentation provided an opportunity to highlight the needs of Melbourne’s outer suburban residents and opportunities that can be pursued through the new franchise arrangements for more a frequent, reliable and accessible public transport system.

The Eastern Transport Coalition (ETC) as a regional body representing one million residents within its seven outer eastern councils is well positioned to understand the requirements of its communities and to demonstrate the need for efficient public transport operations.

The survey data compiled by the Australian Research Group for the ETC clearly demonstrates that residents of Melbourne’s outer east would be more than willing to use public transport if services are frequent, readily available and easy to understand.

In particular the ETC believes that there is considerable scope to improve off-peak and interpeak services, as a way of shifting travel demand and mitigate worsening overcrowding during peak times. Frequency of service is a key driver to attracting passengers onto public transport at times other than peak periods. Likewise there should also be the opportunity for express services outside the traditional peak periods.

More frequent services will also assist in delivering a more reliable system since it will assist in more evenly distributing demand across the network. Likewise all rail lines should operate at a consistent service frequency and operating span to provide consistency across the network.

While bus services are outside the scope of the train and tram re-franchising proposals there is a need to improve coordination across the entire public transport system, as such the new franchising arrangements must trigger a review of connecting bus services whenever there is a modification of rail and tram timetables. Bus services generally require at least a three month lead-time to implement changes and ample time is provided so that all modes can operate in a coordinated manner.

Accessibility is also a critical factor with the State Government failing to meet targets for disability compliance on the rail network. There would be a considerable opportunity to provide the franchisee with the scope to redevelop nominated stations in exchange for commercial rights. This would provide the operator with an incentive to modernise Melbourne’s rail stations through the creation of mixed use transit hubs and also ensure higher cleanliness and safety standards.

Likewise it is also critical that the new franchise arrangements include scope to extend the rail network, such as the much needed rail extensions to Rowville and Doncaster and the tram extensions that are required to Knox and Doncaster Hill.

Local Government both individually and collectively as a region would welcome the opportunity to engage the new rail and tram operators so that services meet the needs of our community. As an example, we have actively engaged Connex through the Health, Safety and Wellbeing Committee, which has led to the reduction of vandalism along Maroondah’s rail network. Public transport is critical to the mobility of our communities and local government should be actively engaged over initiatives and timetable changes.

The new franchise arrangements for the train and tram network will begin on the 1st of December of this year. It is imperative that the new agreements assist in delivering a service that meets the needs of our community.

VLGA: Discussing advocacy within local government

Posted on by alex

VLGA: Discussing advocacy within local government

The Victorian Local Governance Association (VLGA) is a peak body for councillors, local government and community leaders with an emphasis on governance and sustainability.

As the Deputy Chair of the Eastern Transport Coalition I was invited to speak at the VLGA’s Essential Mayors Weekend, a conference designed to assist newly elected mayors throughout their mayoral term.

The topic was ‘kicking above our weight’ with an emphasis on advocacy within local government. Three organisations formed part of a panel discussion, including the Eastern Transport Coalition, the White Ribbon Day and Regional Cities Victoria.

My presentation covered the background of the Eastern Transport Coalition and the diverse geography and demographic that it covers.

I discussed the importance of policies and procedures to ensure that transparency, such as providing ample time is provided for feedback. The composition of the ETC is also a contributor to its success whereby each council provides an elected councillor and council officer. Council officers provide the day-to-day support for the group as well as undertake research and submission development and it is therefore important that both council officers and councillors are actively involved within the organisation.

I also mentioned the need for a united approach and the strength in advocating as part of a region, since this prevents other tiers of government from trying to divide local governments. This also ensures that projects are viewed in a regional context whereby the benefits are demonstrated across local government areas thus making it easier to advocate to other tiers of government.

I presented the removal of zone three as a case study that demonstrated a number of critical success factors, including a united stance on the issue, a strong presence within the media, proactive advocacy with election candidates and the need to engage all sides of politics. Zone three fares were abolished in March 2007 after there was bi-partisan support for its removal during the 2006 State Election.

While each organisation had a different emphasis a number of common success factors emerged including the need for unity, a positive engagement with the media and constructive advocacy across the political spectrum.

Maroondah Council Inauguration

Posted on by alex

This evening the nine Councillors for Maroondah City Council were officially inaugurated to serve the community over the next four years.

As part of the proceedings each Councillor is invited to speak at their confirmation and outline their vision for the council term.

Alex speaking at the 2008 Maroondah City Council Inauguration

The following is a copy of the speech I delivered during the evening:

It is a great honour and privilege to have been returned as a Councillor for Maroondah, representing the businesses, ratepayers, residents and community groups of the Mullum Ward.

I would like to thank the people of Mullum Ward for their confidence in me, where I was returned with a clear mandate and the highest primary vote within Maroondah. I believe we should continually question the commitment, dedication and time that is for required public office but with such a clear result, whereby one in five voters directly supported me, it is evident that our community believes I am indeed making a difference.

I believe that the enemy of public office is complacency and while I cherish the clear mandate I received, I assure you that I will continue in making a difference to the community whereby we deliver a municipality that is accessible, sustainable and underpinned by good governance.

Alex speaking at the 2008 Maroondah City Council Inauguration

While we together look forward to the future, it would be amiss of me to not recognise the people that assisted me throughout the past three years during what was my first term on council. Thank you to the many people that supported me throughout this time, including my family and the many individuals and community groups I have met over that time. I look forward to us working together so we can continue making a difference.

In particular I would like to thank two people, former Councillors Jo-anne Taylor and Maureen Naylor, both who provided a major source of inspiration to me. When I was first elected Maureen gave me the advice of ‘stay true to yourself and to the people that elected you’, these are words of wisdom that I have never forgotten and I thank Maureen for her friendship and for taking the time to offer her assistance and support. I am truly fortunate to have been able to know someone with such integrity as Maureen.

Jo-anne Taylor was someone I came to know closely over the past three years, people would always remark how the two of us made quite a good team and I commend her for the support she offered me. While Jo-anne was not returned to council, I would like to publicly acknowledge the dedication she provided to the Mullum Ward over the past six years. Jo-anne would always speak her mind and stand up for what she believed in and she serves as a true inspiration to me.

I would also like to acknowledge another one of my former colleagues, Tony Dib. While Tony and I did not always agree with each other, there was mutual respect and appreciation. It is a shame that I was not given the opportunity to get to know Tony further during my time on council but I would like to thank him for his time over the past three years.

As we enter a new council term, I would like to extend the offer of support and friendship to all of my eight colleagues, old and new alike.

There is much we have to achieve over the next four years, including the relocation of North Ringwood Community House, upgrades to facilities such as Ringwood Aquatic Centre, providing footpaths, advocating for the redevelopment of Ringwood Station and transforming Ringwood into a vibrant and thriving urban community. In addition we need to foster our community and find new homes for the many groups that are struggling for space within this municipality.

A stronger community leads to a more inclusive and accessible society, whereby more people can partake in economic and social opportunities within a sustainable environment.

One of the most rewarding aspects of being part of council has been serving as a conduit between community groups and individuals. Early in my last council term I met a person with a disability who was attempting to volunteer and participate in society, only to be continually presented with barriers limiting their involvement. Through the community groups, I knew I was able to organise opportunities for this person to demonstrate their skills and talents leading not only to volunteer work but ultimately onto paid employment.

Alex speaking at the 2008 Maroondah City Council Inauguration

This is the joy of being a Councillor, of being someone who can assist members of the community, whether it be to assist in better planning outcomes, delivering new initiatives, or being able to reconnect people with their broader community.

These are the joys and the challenges over the next four years, there will be highs and there will be lows but together we can continue making a difference. Thank you for your support.

Sustainable Melbourne Transport Forum

Posted on by alex

As the Deputy Chair and Maroondah delegate of the Eastern Transport Coalition I was invited to present to a transport forum organised by the Australasian Centre for the Governance and Management of Urban Transport (GAMUT).

The forum was organised in response to the Government’s Victorian Transport Plan to identify common areas of agreement and discuss any particular aspects of concern. Each speaker discussed the need for further investment in public transport, particularly in regard to further suburban rail extensions and bus improvements.

On behalf of the Eastern Transport Coalition I discussed the need for planning around rail improvements in the eastern suburbs, namely the Rowville and Doncaster rail lines.

I also discussed the need for certainty around the infrastructure investments in the Central Activity Districts, particularly in regard to the public transport improvements that are required for Box Hill and Ringwood.

In addition I raised concerns over a reduction in the commitments made to the SmartBus network, despite the overwhelming response it has received through significant increases in patronage.

The SmartBus network was a key feature of the State Government’s 2006 transport plan, Meeting Our Transport Challenges. While Meeting Our Transport Challenges had its faults, the SmartBus network, which provides more frequent and longer operating bus services was positively received and record patronage increases have confirmed this.

In addition there has been a lack of further commitment towards upgrading bus frequencies and service spans. While investment and expansion of the rail network is important and definitely required it must be recognised that two thirds of Melbourne, including large parts of the outer eastern suburbs resides, beyond the rail network.

Lastly, I spoke about the Dandenong rail corridor and the lack of further commitment towards triplication of the Dandenong rail line. While debate exists about capacity constraints on the rail network, this project was seen as imperative just two years ago. If this situation has changed it is important that the government outlines how the Government has resolved these constraints and whether short-term improvements are possible.

While there are some positive steps in the State Government’s Victorian Transport Plan there is certainly a need for further commitments towards sustainability and public transport.

2008 Maroondah FReeZA Group Graduation

Posted on by alex

The Maroondah FReeZA program is designed for young people aged between 15 and 21 years. The program focuses on personal development and group skills through the organisation of all ages live music events.

The program is organised through Maroondah’s Youth Services Team and is jointly funded through Maroondah City Council and the State Government through the Department of Planning and Community Development.

I was asked to officiate the proceedings of the graduation evening and speak about the positive influence the FReeZA program has had on the graduates.

A transcript of the speech I delivered is available below:

Continue reading “2008 Maroondah FReeZA Group Graduation”