Tag: greenhouse emissions

Delegates’ Report: Thanking our volunteers, supporting cultural diversity and youth and reducing greenhouse emissions

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On the 31st of July I attended an evening hosted by Maroondah’s Sudanese Community, where they shared traditional Southern Sudanese cuisine with the wider Maroondah municipality. Maroondah is home to almost 200 people from Sudan who share similar aspirations, in regard to employment and housing, like many other members of our community.

The food included lamb and cous cous combined with traditional Southern Sudanese cooking and ingredients and it is great to see all members of our community welcoming each other into Maroondah. Our municipality consists of people from a range of backgrounds and cultures and it is diversity that enriches our community and provides opportunities.

I congratulate the Sudanese community for bringing Maroondah’s communities together for the meal and for sharing their aspirations within the municipality.

On the 4th of August I had the pleasure of hosting the Community Volunteers Luncheon, providing an opportunity to acknowledge the work undertaken by the many volunteers within our community. Maroondah is fortunate to have many people committed to volunteering and working together to improve the wellbeing and amenity of our municipality.

The Community Volunteers Luncheon is Maroondah’s way of acknowledging and thanking the efforts of our volunteers and I would like to congratulate the many people who devote their time, energy and resources into improving our community.

On the 5th of August I attended a meeting organised by Common Equity Housing Limited (CEHL), the managers of the affordable housing cooperative in Larissa Avenue, Ringwood. The meeting provided an opportunity to meet prospective tenants of the development and to discuss Council’s plans for the Ringwood Central Activities District and the need for a State Government commitment towards Ringwood Station. It was great to see such enthusiasm towards the vision for Ringwood from the participants at the meeting. While Council was understandably concerned over the State Government’s removal of Council’s planning powers over the development, it is critical that we now work towards ensuring that the tenants of the development are a part of our community and able to partake in the same opportunities that we are all able to enjoy within Maroondah.

On the 6th of August I attended the launch of the Eastern Alliance for Greenhouse Action’s Solar Hot Water Program. The Eastern Alliance for Greenhouse Action is formed through six Councils within Eastern Melbourne, including Boroondara, Whitehorse, Maroondah, Yarra Ranges, Knox and Monash. The program will provide assistance in reducing household greenhouse emissions through solar hot water systems. An information session is scheduled for Thursday the 9th of September at 11am at Maroondah Federation Estate in Ringwood, where members of our community can learn more about this program.

I’ll be tabling the rest of my report.

Maroondah Leader: Bike path in state of limbo

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The provision of sustainable forms of transport, such as public transport and cycling, is required to ensure alternatives to car travel, thereby mitigating traffic congestion and reducing greenhouse emissions.

Whitehorse Cyclists have launched a proposal for Box Hill to Ringwood cycling trail adjacent to the existing rail corridor. This would provide a safe and direct cycling route connecting the Box Hill and Ringwood Central Activities Districts, connecting the two municipalities to jobs and community facilities.

The Maroondah Leader has reported on the launch of the proposal:

Maroondah Mayor Alex Makin said the council also backed the plan, and wanted to work with Whitehorse Council, and the state and federal governments on the project.

Maroondah Council welcomes the proposal as this is a project that aims to strengthen the linkages between Box Hill and Ringwood. For further details on the Box Hill to Ringwood Rail Trail Project please visit www.bhrrt.org.

Launch of the Eastern Alliance of Greenhouse Action solar hot water program

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This morning I joined the Mayors of Knox, Whitehorse and the Shire of Yarra Ranges to launch a bulk buy solar hot water program for the residents in the eastern suburbs facilitated through the Eastern Alliance of Greenhouse Action (EAGA).

The Eastern Alliance of Greenhouse Action was formed two years ago through the Councils of Knox, Whitehorse, Boroondara, Monash, Maroondah and the Yarra Ranges to deliver programs that reduce greenhouse emissions for their respective residents.

The alliance has chosen Green Project as the preferred supplier of solar hot water systems, and will also offer free advice and a range of products including Solar PV, free home sustainability assessments, and free installation of eco-light bulbs to make it easier for residents to reduce their power bills.

A number of information sessions will be held to introduce the program to residents. The session to be held in Maroondah will be on Thursday 9 September, from 11am to 12pm, at Maroondah Federation Estate, 32 Greenwood Avenue, Ringwood.

To register your interest in the program or to attend an information session call 1800 899 330 or register online: www.greenproject.com.au/eaga-ses/

Maroondah Journal: Have card, will travel: mayor

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One of the first acts I undertook as Mayor was to give up the mayoral car and instead promote sustainable forms of transport, including public transport and walking.

My metcard expired in July and as a result I purchased a myki to undertake my travels as Mayor for the remainder of the year. The Maroondah Journal has reported on the use of myki in my capacity as Mayor of Maroondah:

Following his election as mayor last December, Cr Makin decided to take up a more environmentally friendly travel option.

He now relies on public transport or good walking weather to attend most of his council appointments.

Cr Makin said the validation of the myki card for trams and buses reinforced the public transport vision the council had for Ringwood’s central activities district (CAD).

“While there is room for improvement, we are very fortunate in Maroondah to have good access to rail and bus transport, making it a viable form of travel within the municipality.”

The provision of public transport is critical to providing an alternative to car dependence and thus mitigate traffic congestion and greenhouse emissions. Further improvements are required within Maroondah, including more frequent off-peak rail services and bus improvements.

Cr Makin said the state government had identified Ringwood as a vital public transport hub.

“While the imminent upgrade of the bus interchange at Ringwood will see improved public transport infrastructure, we still require a commitment to the upgrading of Ringwood station to deliver a safe, accessible and integrated transport interchange.

“It is critical that the state government works in partnership with Maroondah Council to achieve the vision of the Ringwood CAD – a commitment to the redevelopment of Ringwood station is essential in achieving this vision.”

Maroondah City Council will be undertaking a campaign later this year calling on the State Government to deliver a safe, integrated and accessible transport interchange for Ringwood. The vision for Ringwood as Ringwood as a Central Activities District (CAD) will only be achieved if public transport services are improved.

Give Our Streets the Green Light

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Maroondah residents are being asked to sign an online petition, Give Our Streets the Green Light, to lobby the government to fund a changeover to energy-efficient street lighting.

In Maroondah the upfront costs of replacing more than 5500 mercury vapour globes currently lighting Maroondah’s streets is about $2million.

The goal is to reduce Council’s greenhouse emissions and create a sustainable and more energy-efficient future:

  • By changing all local road street lights from the mercury vapour 80W lamps to a more energy efficient lighting it would not only benefit the environment but it would save on electricity costs.
  • Council estimates that 36% of its green house gas emissions and 39% of its electricity costs are generated by street lighting,
  • Electricity is predominately generated by burning brown coal which results in significant greenhouse gases.
Alex launching Maroondah City Council's Give Our Streets the Green Light Campaign
Alex launching Maroondah City Council's Give Our Streets the Green Light Campaign

The Give Our Streets the Green Light campaign aims to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 78,000 tonnes over the life of the lights. That equates to about 31.2 billion black balloons or 341,917 cars off the road for a year.

Pledge your support by signing an online submission at www.greenlightourstreets.org.au or by sending a letter to your local Member of Parliament.

Ministerial visit to the Ringwood Aquatic Centre Co-generation plant

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This afternoon I joined Peter Garrett, the Minister for Environment Protection, Heritage and the Arts, as well as Mike Symon, the Federal Member for Deakin, in observing the new co-generation plant at Ringwood Aquatic Centre.

The co-generation plant was jointly funded through a $250,000 Federal Government grant complementing Council funding of $200,000. The plant includes two 70kW gas generators, which creates enough electricity to run the centre and to maintain heating for the pools at the Ringwood Aquatic Centre.

Alex with Peter Garrett, the Minister for Environment Protection and Mike Symon, Member for Deakin, at the opening of the Ringwood Aquatic Centre co-generation plant
Alex with Peter Garrett, the Minister for Environment Protection and Mike Symon, Member for Deakin, at the opening of the Ringwood Aquatic Centre co-generation plant

The co-generation plant will be stored off-site during the construction of the proposed multi-purpose Ringwood Leisure and Aquatic Centre and will be returned to the site once the new facility is operational.

The speech I delivered during the visit is included within this post:

Continue reading “Ministerial visit to the Ringwood Aquatic Centre Co-generation plant”

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 –

Transition Towns Maroondah Transport Group

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Transition Towns is a community based movement that aims to empower communities to respond to the challenges of peak oil and climate change.

Transition Towns aims to promote thinking globally and acting locally, through localised groups. Maroondah has a transition towns organisation that has established several working groups exploring strategies in developing a future that is resilient to climate change and peak oil.

This morning I met with the transport working group of Transition Towns Maroondah to discuss how council and the group can work together in promoting sustainable forms of transport.

Transport is Australia’s fastest growing source of greenhouse emissions and improvements to sustainable forms of transport, such as walking, cycling and public transport, are required to reduce car dependence and costs associated with the rising cost of petrol.

Transition Towns Maroondah aims to work collaboratively with Council and other community organisations to raise awareness and mitigate the challenges of climate change and peak oil.