Public meeting with Common Equity Housing Limited

Common Equity Housing Limited (CEHL) are the managers of the affordable housing development at 4-10 Larissa Avenue in Ringwood. The organisation has held a series of public meetings with prospective members of the 80 unit development and tonight’s session discussed the vision for Ringwood as a Central Activities District.

The presentation covered the plans for the transformation of Ringwood into a vibrant and accessible urban centre and also highlighted the pedestrian and cycling improvements, such as footpaths within Ringwood and the new Creek to Lake trail, which will connect Ringwood Lake with the Mullum Creek trail.

As part of the presentation I discussed the importance of public transport in providing an alternative to car dependence and to deliver sustainable forms of transport. In particular, I highlighted the need for ongoing advocacy to secure a State Government commitment for the redevelopment of Ringwood Station into a safe, accessible and integrated transport interchange.

While the State Government will shortly begin works to create a new station forecourt and bus interchange, there is a need to redevelop the station itself, given that the ramps fail disability compliance standards and the platforms lack modern passenger amenities.

Maroondah Council will be undertaking a community based advocacy campaign calling on all political parties to commit to the creation of safe, integrated and accessible transport interchange for Ringwood. It was encouraging to this vision shared by the participants at the meeting and I look forward to them joining us in Ringwood.

Maroondah Leader: Call for new rail action

The Maroondah Leader this week ran a feature on the plans for the Ringwood Central Activities District, outlining the plans for the transformation of Ringwood into a vibrant, accessible and sustainable urban centre.

Ultimately this vision require cooperation across all levels of Government and the redevelopment of Ringwood Station is one area where a State Government commitment is urgently required:

“Council has invested heavily in footpaths in Ringwood and plans to invest heavily in community facilities,  we need the redeveloped Ringwood Station to complement this and the central activities district,” Cr Makin said.  “If we want Ringwood CAD to become the regional centre for the eastern suburbs, we need the station to be replaced.”

Ringwood Station currently fails disability compliance standards making it difficult to use by our community.  It is imperative that all political parties commit to the redevelopment of Ringwood Station to deliver a safe, integrated and accessible transport interchange that will serve as a catalyst for Ringwood’s revitalisation into a .

Media Release: VCAT ruling upholds special charge scheme

Mayor of Maroondah, Cr Alex Makin, has welcomed a Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT) decision to uphold Council’s declaration of a special charge scheme for the construction of a footpath along Allens Road and Salisbury Court in Heathmont.

Cr Makin said he was pleased that a request to review the scheme was dismissed and indicated that footpath construction would begin in early April.

“A ruling on this matter has been some time coming and the community has waited more than seven months for VCAT to deliver its decision,” Cr Makin said.

“Council wrote to VCAT on 18 January to seek clarification regarding when a decision would be made. It’s extremely pleasing to learn that things can now move forward,” Cr Makin said.

“Work will soon begin on the construction of the concrete footpath, which had been earmarked as a high priority project following a number of requests for footpaths in the area,” Cr Makin said.

“Improving walkability within the municipality is one of the aims of the 2007 Maroondah Pedestrian Strategy. This strategy underpins Council’s preparation of this special charge scheme,” Cr Makin said.

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