Tag: election

Maroondah Journal: Residents have crucial role, says new mayor

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One of my priorities as the Mayor for the next twelve months is to encourage community participation. The Maroondah Journal has reported on these aims:

Maroondah’s new mayor has called on the community to become more involved in its own future. Cr Alex Makin, who was elected mayor at a special meeting last Wednesday, said that far too often residents waited until something directly impacted them to become involved.

The community has a critical role in helping shape the priorities of council through contacting their elected Councillors and attending council meetings. This ensures that council is accountable to the public and is reflecting the views of the wider community.

He said residents’ role was much broader and included the right and opportunity to hold the council accountable at all times.

“Some may think voting in council elections is the only way for them to participate, but civic responsibility can extend to being a vital presence when council conducts its business.”

Civic involvement will lead to a higher level of participation within our community and help convey a sense of values for the City of Maroondah.

He also called on the community to reflect on its values and to work to impart them on others to prevent “tragic” acts of vandalism, such as the burning down of the Ringwood Miners Cottage last month.

As a council we must focus on the long-term sustainability of Maroondah and our community. The decisions we will be making during this term of council, including the redevelopment of Council and our community facilities, will continue to be felt well into the future.

It was humbling to be in a position where I could help shape the future of the area where I have lived since he was two.
“We have a once in a lifetime opportunity to ensure we get things right with the transformation of Ringwood into a vibrant, sustainable and accessible urban centre.” Cr Makin said.

Please continue visiting my website or follow me on Facebook and Twitter to discuss your visions for the City of Maroondah.

Mayoral Inauguration

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I would like to sincerely thank my colleagues for their support and confidence in me as we enter the 2010 Council Year and I begin my term as the Mayor of Maroondah.

The changeover of the Mayor from Cr. Peter Gurr to myself
The changeover of the Mayor from Cr. Peter Gurr to myself

It is indeed an honour and a privilege to be able to serve with such distinguished colleagues, all of whom have such a wide range of skills and experience. I look forward to this year as we strive to deliver the very best for the Maroondah community. We need to harness the collective experiences and skills of the people around this table and our community as we consider the decisions we will make in the oncoming year and beyond.

The challenge we need to set ourselves is to ensure that the decisions we make today are not regretted by future generations or future councils. We need to ensure that the decisions we make today are the ones that ensure the economic, social and environmental wellbeing of our community into the future. We must not leave a legacy where in people in 10 or 20 years or beyond wonder about the choices we made today.

Tomorrow is the International Day for People with Disabilities and this serves as a reminder of the need to create a society where everyone can fully participate in civic, commercial, recreational and residential opportunities.

We have a once in a lifetime opportunity to ensure that we get things right with the transformation of Ringwood into a vibrant, sustainable and accessible urban centre. I look forward to working with all levels of government to achieve this vision. Our community expects government to work in cooperation so that we can achieve the best outcomes for our municipality. It is through a collective vision that we can harness the full potential of governments working together to achieve positive outcomes for the community.

Alex delivering his acceptance speech for the 2010 Mayoral Year
Alex delivering his acceptance speech for the 2010 Mayoral Year

I’ve lived in Ringwood since I was two years old, so my memories of growing up are centred around Ringwood and Maroondah, to be in a position where we can shape the future is one that is humbling and I want to ensure that our future generations respect the decisions that we make today.

While the transformation of Ringwood is obviously an exciting project, the City of Maroondah covers many suburbs and we need to ensure that all of our communities and their aspirations are heard and considered.

We also need to be mindful of the many community organisations that are in need of additional accommodation within Maroondah. The strength of a municipality can be measured by the vibrancy of the community organisations within it and we need to ensure that our actions take into account the need for community organisations to grow and develop so they continue to meet the needs of our municipality.

I am truly appreciative of the many community organisations that are present this evening, many of you have been with me during the highs and lows of council and I thank you for your ongoing support and for celebrating that occasion with us. Likewise, I extend my ongoing appreciation to my family who are here tonight and have stood by me during election campaigns and years of council. While the experience of being on council has been extremely positive, there have been times where it has been difficult; and it has been this support from my colleagues, family and the community that has kept me going.

Alex being inaugurated as the Mayor on the 2nd of December 2009
Alex being inaugurated as the Mayor on the 2nd of December 2009

Approximately a fortnight ago the Ringwood Miners Cottage was tragically destroyed by vandals. We need to stop and reflect on the values of our community and work towards creating a civic pride that collectively demonstrates that such malicious destruction will not be tolerated.

We can only do this if we discuss the values that the Maroondah community holds true and I ask each of us to reflect on what it means to live within this municipality. We need to begin a narrative and a discussion about these values and ensure that we hold these principles true to ourselves and to others. I ask each of you to let me know how you would describe the values of Maroondah.

Many people know about my passion for technology. Let us embrace new technologies to lead this discussion and to encourage people to contribute to our community. Please send me your thoughts on Twitter, Facebook, my website or via phone.

These values will not be defined overnight but we should start this discussion and lead in creating this narrative and ensuring we have an inclusive and welcoming society.

Alex delivering his inauguration speech as Mayor on the 2nd of December 2009
Alex delivering his inauguration speech as Mayor on the 2nd of December 2009

In coming weeks I will be asking my colleagues to discuss their visions for Maroondah over the next twelve months. I want to ensure that we have a council that is focused on outcomes and on the wellbeing of our community.

I look forward to achieving these outcomes with my colleagues, as well as the corporate management team and staff of this council.

In closing I would like to thank our outgoing Mayor Peter Gurr for serving the City as Mayor over the past twelve months. I look forward to the future and I look forward to working in harmony with my colleagues, staff and the community as we plan and deliver for the future.

Media Release: Cast of comedians converge on Karralyka

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A cast of adventurous stand-up comedians will work the stage at the Karralyka Centre on Sunday 17 May when the Melbourne Comedy Festival Roadshow pulls into town.

A selection of the festival’s local talent, newcomers, and overseas guests will stop off in Ringwood for a one night performance on a leg of the roadshow’s 40,000 kilometre whistle-stop tour of the nation.

Councillor Alex Makin said the night promised quality stand-up, music and characters to have the audience rolling in the aisles.

“For anyone who missed the Melbourne Comedy Festival or is keen for another dose, the Karralyka Centre performance is a great opportunity to have a good laugh while enjoying a quality local venue,” Cr Makin said.

Tickets for the 7pm show are $35 for adults; $32 for concession and groups of six or more.

A two-course dinner with a glass of wine is available one hour before the show. Dinners must be pre-booked at least one week before the performance. Cost is $29.

Please note – the show is not recommended for children under the age of 15.

For more information on the Karralyka Centre’s performance schedule or to make a booking, phone the box office on 9879 2933 or visit www.karralyka.com.au

The Karralyka Centre is on Mines Road, Ringwood East. Open hours are 9.30am to 4.30pm, Monday to Friday.

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.

Eastern Transport Coalition – planning for 2009

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Tonight’s Eastern Transport Coalition meeting focused on setting the agenda for 2009. The agenda included the election of Chairperson and Deputy Chair and discussion around the priorities over the next two years.

With State and Federal elections both due in 2010 it is important that the Eastern Transport Coalition continue its advocacy for public transport improvements to ensure that the outer suburbs are provided with transport choice and a public transport system that is competitive with car travel.

The ETC will continue to focus on its advocacy for more frequent and readily available public transport services that is accessible to all members of our community. In particular a number of stations do not currently meet disability compliance standards restricting the mobility of residents within the outer eastern suburbs.

Samantha Dunn, a Councillor from the Shire of Yarra Ranges was appointed as the Chair of the Eastern Transport Coalition and I have been re-appointed as Deputy Chair.

VLGA: Discussing advocacy within local government

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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.

Eastern Transport Coalition meeting

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The Eastern Transport Coalition consists of seven outer eastern metropolitan councils (Maroondah, Knox, Whitehorse, Yarra Ranges, Manningham, Monash and Greater Dandenong) and is a regional based advocacy group that lobbies for better public transport in Melbourne’s outer east.

The Eastern Transport Coalition meets on a monthly basis to discuss the transport priorities of the region and to further its advocacy for public transport. I have been Maroondah’s delegated representative on the Eastern Transport Coalition since my initial election onto council in November 2005 and have been re-appointed as the delegate for 2009.

For more information on the Eastern Transport Coalition please visit www.etc.org.au.

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

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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.

EPR 2008 Summer Bocce Tournament

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After attending the formal declaration of the election results, the first event I attended as a re-elected councillor was the launch of Enjoying Planned Retirement’s bocce season.

Enjoying Planned Retirement is based at the North Ringwood Senior Citizens Hall and is an activities group for senior citizens, providing a range of activities and events. This afternoon, over 100 members attended the launch and barbecue.

It did not begin to rain until the end of the afternoon, meaning most participants were able to play several rounds of bocce. Unfortunately, however the final round of the tournament was cancelled due to the weather.

Enjoying Planned Retirement is one of the groups I have come to know extremely well during the past three years and it was great to be able to mark the beginnings of the new council term with its many members over an enjoyable afternoon.

We are going to continue making a difference!

Posted on by alex

It is a great honour to declare that I have been re-elected as a councillor for the City of Maroondah representing the residents, ratepayers, community groups and businesses of the new Mullum Ward.

I am incredibly humbled to have received such strong support from the the Mullum community, where I received over 20% of the primary vote. I pledge to continue making a difference and to represent the Mullum Ward to create a municipality that is sustainable, accessible and underpinned through a council that is accountable to the public.

I pay my respects to both Jo-anne Taylor and Maureen Naylor, both of whom came close but unfortunately were not returned. Jo-anne and Maureen were both excellent councillors and two people that have served the community in an exceptional capacity. I will miss both Maureen and Jo-anne, they were a great source of support and I wish them both well. While Maureen, after serving both the Croydon and Maroondah Councils, may be looking forward to her retirement, Jo-anne clearly has much to offer the community and I do expect to see her involved in community causes.

When I was first elected in 2005 I was one lone voice, Maureen and Jo-anne saw the work I was undertaking and become very supportive. It is their support that has helped me continue to represent Maroondah and I give my commitment that this dedication will continue.

It is also unfortunate that Peter Feeney was not elected, after missing out by approximately 100 votes. Peter is someone I respect deeply and a person who would have made an incredible contribution to council. While Peter is obviously disappointed, I am certain he will continue to represent the community in his own capacity. Even though Maroondah may have missed out on council representation by Peter Feeney, I am positive he will continue to contribute to the betterment of the community as he has done so for many years.

Adam Pepper would have also made a wonderful contribution to Maroondah and I commend Adam on his integrity and commitment to conducting a dignified campaign. Adam has much to offer and I am certain he will continue to be heavily involved within the community.

I will be sharing the Mullum Ward with Nora Lamont and Ann Fraser. Nora is someone who will make Maroondah a better place and I look forward to working with her. I am certain that Nora and I will make a constructive and productive team and that together we will be making a difference.

Ann Fraser and I have had our differences but one must acknowledge her ongoing work in the community and the fact that she has never given up. After several attempts, Ann has been elected onto council and I am hopeful that we will be able to work together on behalf of the Mullum community.

I must also pay tribute to outgoing Mayor and Councillor Tony Dib, while Tony and I may not have always agreed, there was mutual respect and I do wish him well in his future endeavours.

There are three new faces in Maroondah within the other council wards, Rob Steane, Michael MacDonald and Paul MacDonald and I am certain each of them are committed to the Maroondah community. While I have spoken to each of them during the election period, I look forward to getting to know the three new faces onto Maroondah Council and to working with them.

Les Willmott, Peter Gurr and Natalie Thomas were each returned and while there were divisions in the previous term of council, I offer a commitment to conciliation and hope that these differences can be overcome. While there should be differing opinions and fearless debate, we should be working united as a team and I hope that there is a mutual commitment to working together for the benefit of the City of Maroondah.

Likewise I offer a genuine commitment to conciliation to my opponents, including Mary-Anne Lowe. While Mary-Anne and I have had our battles, an election defeat is disappointing for anyone and I do genuinely wish her well. Each of the candidates should feel proud that they chose to nominate for council and endure the stress and mixed emotions that result from an election campaign and they do deserve to be commended for this effort.

Thank you to the many people who assisted me throughout the campaign and over the last three years. It has been your support that has delivered such a compelling result. I look forward to continuing to work with the individuals and community groups that I have met and I would like to thank everyone who has taken the time to contact me a councillor and as a candidate.

I once again thank the one in five residents that voted directly for me in this election. I scored the highest primary vote within the whole of Maroondah and I thank you for having confidence in my abilities and my commitment to continue making a difference. I will continue to represent all people within the community and I am honoured to have received such a compelling mandate in this election.

I thank you for providing me with the honour and privilege to represent the Mullum Ward and Maroondah for the next four years.

Alex Makin
Councillor for the Mullum Ward