croydon conservation society Archives

Croydon Conservation Society 2010 AGM

Posted on 18 March 2010 by alex

The Croydon Conservation Society was formed in 1964 and is Maroondah’s oldest environmental organisation. The Society covers a broad range of natural and urban sustainability issues, including environmental preservation and planning issues.

Tonight’s Annual General Meeting, including a presentation on the works being undertaken at Brushy Creek to prevent flooding that affects nearby residents. The project, which includes two phases totalling over $2 million, will restore Brushy Creek between Bellara Drive and Maroondah Highway and includes extensive re-vegetation.

The 2010 Committee for the Croydon Conservation Society is aimed to strengthen its ability to become a community resource for people interested in sustainability. This will see the Society strengthen the role of its website as it aims to deliver content for the community.

Maroondah Leader: New local law causes conflict

Posted on 21 July 2009 by alex

While it is critical that there is accountability and transparency within Local Government recent changes in the Local Government Act have had the unintended result of potentially restricting councillor involvement within community organisations.

The Maroondah Leader has reported on these changes and their repercussions.

Cr Alex Makin said he resigned from the Croydon Conservation Society committee after five years so that he could continue to vote on council environmental policy.

The changes to the Local Government Act now mean that a Councillor is stated to have a conflict of interest if they are a committee member of an organisation that makes a formal submission or request to Council.

He said he would otherwise have been excluded from debating or voting on motions where the society had made a submission.

Previously Councillors were still able to partake in discussing these items, even if they were precluded from voting due to a potential conflict of interest.

As a result this often means that the Councillor who is most aware of the issues brought forward is now eliminated from being able to formally discuss these matters within council.

This meant I had to resign as Treasurer of the Croydon Conservation Society so I could continue to debate and represent environmental concerns within Council unhindered by this legislation.

While I can certainly appreciate the State Government’s intent with the Legislation changes and I genuinely applaud measures that increase the transparency of local government, these changes have had unintended consequences.

Cr Alex Makin called on the State Government to review the laws and distinguish between commercial interests and community organisations. He proposed instead a public register of community groups councillors represented.

The community rightfully expects Councillors to take an interest in the community and work towards towards a better municipality. Likewise many community organisations welcome the involvement of a Councillor to assist them in achieving their aims.

Unfortunately these legislative changes make it difficult for councillors to remain involved within these organisations. A public register would improve transparency while ensuring that councillors can remain involved within the community.

Council and Sustainability – discussion with Our Lady of Perpetual Help Primary School

Posted on 27 April 2009 by alex

This morning I was invited to speak to Grade Five and Six Students at Our Lady of Perpetual Help, a Primary School located in Wilana Street, Ringwood.

The class is currently learning about the three tiers of Government and environmental sustainability. As a Local Councillor for the Mullum Ward, I was invited to provide an overview of being a Councillor, as well as discussing how local communities can act to improve the environment.

When I was a student at Primary School, the concept of recycling was just being introduced into the school curriculum. Today, almost twenty years later the environment is still a prominent topic for students, with a strong focus on taking action to reduce greenhouse emissions.

I also discussed the steps Maroondah Council has taken to reduce its greenhouse emissions, including the Water Sustainability Fund and the benefits this has provided for our sporting clubs.

The calibre of questions and the strong interest from the students was exceptional, with many of the questions focusing on the interaction between Australia’s levels of government and environmental sustainability, as well as some specific questions around planning decisions.

Speaking to students is one of the most fulfilling tasks of being a local Councillor and it is great to see that these students have such a genuine and keen interest in the environment.

The school is planning ongoing activities to provide students with the ability to minimise their own impact on the environment and I discussed some of the community groups within Maroondah, which could liaise with the students to organise environmental based activities.

North Ringwood Community House 2009 AGM

Posted on 24 March 2009 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.

Delegates' Report: advocacy, fundraising and annual general meetings

Posted on 16 March 2009 by alex

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

Posted on 12 March 2009 by alex

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.

Croydon Conservation Society meeting

Posted on 9 February 2009 by alex

The Croydon Conservation Society (CCS) is a conservation and environmental group that is dedicated to improving the sustainability of the urban and natural environments within Maroondah. Focal points include canopy tree coverage, remnant bushland, sustainable transport, planning outcomes and anti-graffiti measures.

The CCS is particularly focused on policy development to ensure that all tiers of government, including Maroondah City Council, encourage urban sustainability.

The Croydon Conservation Society meets on the second Thursday of each month. For details please visit www.croydonconservation.org.au

Rotary Club of Ringwood – 'my life, my job'

Posted on 3 December 2008 by alex

The Rotary Club of Ringwood, as part of Rotary International has a focus on fellowship and service for the community. To encourage fellowship, new members are encouraged to present an introductory speech entitled ‘my life, my job’ to discuss their occupation and interest in Rotary.

Tonight I was invited to deliver my introductory speech, where I was able to discuss my involvement in transport and environmental advocacy, as well as my election and subsequent re-election onto the City of Maroondah and my professional background in marketing and IT. Within the speech I discussed the many issues I have been involved in as a councillor, including advacing Maroondah’s approach to reconciliation, the retention of public parklands and committee involvement within the Croydon Conservation Society, Eastern Volunteers, the Maroondah Citizens Advice Bureau and North Ringwood Community House.

I also discussed potential opportunities for Rotary involvement within projects, such as the relocation of North Ringwood Community House, and areas where we can strengthen social inclusion and tackle disadvantage within our community. Organisations like Rotary can assist in creating a more inclusive society though working in partnership with other community groups.

I believe that I can bring my knowledge of communtiy groups to assist Rotary in delivering better outcomes for Maroondah and the wider region. I look forward to my ongoing involvement within Rotary and working together to improve our community.

Media Release: No show candidates proves lack of commitment

Posted on 6 November 2008 by alex

Alex Makin, a candidate for the Mullum Ward has slammed the council candidates who failed to attend a community forum at North Ringwood Community House.

“It is bitterly disappointing that a council candidate would choose to ignore a designated candidates’ forum”, Alex Makin, candidate for the Mullum Ward said. “This lack of attendance clearly demonstrates that some candidates lack the genuineness and sincerity required for council.”

The candidates’ forum was held at North Ringwood Community House on Wednesday the 5th of November. Several topics were discussed, including the relocation of North Ringwood Community House, Ringwood Station and climate change.

The forum was attended by Alex Makin, Jo-anne Taylor, Peter Feeney and Nora Lamont. Ann Fraser, Mary-anne Lowe, Sam Nahoum, Samantha Marks, Sherlye Griffiths and Tony Dib all failed to attend.

“I applaud the candidates that took the time to attend the forum as this demonstrates that they are sincere about standing for council. I urge the community to support a candidate that speaks to their local community and not someone that hides away and is a no show for public events”, Cr. Makin concluded.

About Alex Makin:

Alex Makin was elected in November 2005 as the Councillor for Loughnan’s Hill ward in the City of Maroondah. Alex, currently the youngest councillor elected within the history of the City of Maroondah, is involved with the Maroondah Citizens Advice Bureau, Croydon Conservation Society, the Ringwood Spiders Football Club, North Ringwood Community House, Eastern Volunteers and the Disabilities Action Group. Alex has a regularly updated website and blog at www.alexmakin.com.au.

ALL MEDIA ENQUIRIES: ALEX MAKIN ON 0409 136 213

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Media Release: United call to support genuine candidates

Posted on 6 November 2008 by alex

Genuine candidates in the Maroondah City Council elections have formed www.genuinecandidates.com amid growing concern over candidates aligned with developers or resorting to the use of ‘dummy candidates’

“The candidates featured on the website do not have running mates and are not aligned with the influx of developer interests”, Alex Makin, candidate for the Mullum Ward said. “The purpose of the website is not to favour one individual above the other but to demonstrate the choice that the community has when casting their vote.”

Elections in Maroondah are conducted via postal ballot, which will arrive between the 12th and 14th of November. Ballots must be returned by 6:00pm on the 29th of November.

“Local democracy suffers when we have candidates that are standing simply to act as feeders for other candidates. The community has a right to know who those feeders are, what each candidate stands for and the depth of their involvement in the community”, Cr. Makin said. “I urge the community to check the community involvement of each candidate before casting their vote.”

“Please visit www.genuinecandidates.com and make an informed choice this election. While I actively seek your vote, should you not wish to allocate your first preference to me, then please vote only for another genuine candidate”, Cr. Makin concluded.

About Alex Makin:

ALL MEDIA ENQUIRIES: ALEX MAKIN ON 0409 136 213

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