Tag: mobility

Returning to speak at the Kerrabee Club

Posted on by alex

This morning I was invited to speak to the Wednesday attendees of the Kerrabee Club, a social group available to recipients of Maroondah City Council’s Home and Community Care, as well as providing respite to their Carers.

When I speak to community groups, I prefer interactive discussion so that the topics I am speaking about are of interest to the members of the group. As a result today’s discussion focused on public transport and the redevelopment of Ringwood.

Public transport is an issue for many people in our community, including members of the Kerrabee Club who are often reliant on public transport for their mobility. Social inclusion is critical to ensuring the health and wellbeing of our community and public transport that is frequent and readily available can help ensure that people are connected and involved.

Likewise the redevelopment of Ringwood provides a unique opportunity to deliver community facilities and provide an inclusive urban centre with opportunities for people of all ages and abilities. This is why the redevelopment of Ringwood Station into an accessible and integrated transport hub is critical to the success of Ringwood.

The Kerrabee Club is one example of a council service that aims to provide inclusiveness for people within our community. For further details please visit the Maroondah City Council Planned Activity Groups website.

Speaking at the Kerrabee Club

Posted on by alex

The Kerrabee Club, located in Croydon, is a Planned Activity Group for the frail aged and people with disabilities. The Club is operated by the City of Maroondah and is available for eligible recipients of Home and Community Care (HACC).

This morning I was invited to speak to the Kerrabee Club about my role as a Councillor for Maroondah City Council. I discussed the plans for Ringwood and the need for the complete redevelopment of Ringwood Station to ensure that it is an accessible, integrated and easy to use transport interchange.

I spoke briefly about my background with public transport advocacy including the need for further improvements to bus services. A number of the attendees of the Club do not drive, meaning that accessible and frequent public transport is essential to ensure mobility and maintain socially connected within society.

The Kerrabee Club provides activities to enhance the emotional and social wellbeing of its participants, as well as providing respite for carers. For further information on the Kerrabee Club please visit www.maroondah.vic.gov.au/PlannedActivityGroups.aspx

Maroondah Journal: No rail cash – funding uncertainty for station upgrade

Posted on by alex

One of the most important community issues within Maroondah is the much needed redevelopment of Ringwood Station. The station fails disability compliance standards and is perceived to be unsafe by the wider community.

While the State Government has committed $39 million over four years to redevelop the Station forecourt and bus interchange, the current funding omits any works to the station itself.

The Maroondah Journal has reported on the ongoing uncertainty surrounding Ringwood due to the lack of a full funding commitment towards Ringwood Station.

Cr Alex Makin said the station’s update was a critical part of the Ringwood Central Activity District Project. He described the station as an eyesore and in urgent need of attention.

Ringwood has been designated as Central Activity District by the State Government, meaning it is supposed to be a priority for urban revitalisation and transport projects.

“The upgrade is required to ensure an accessible and safe means of public transport for the community. It fails in regard to safety requirements and fails disability standards thus preventing people with a disability from using the station.”

Ringwood Station currently fails disability standards, as designed by the Commonwealth Government’s Disability Discrimination Act of 1992, which established guidelines for the width and gradients of ramps and accessways.

This means that efforts to encourage sustainable transport and inclusiveness within Ringwood are hampered due to the fact that Ringwood Station does not meet these standards.

Cr Makin said Ringwood was one of the busiest stations outside Melbourne’s CBD, adding that there was “all the more reason for it to be upgraded.”

Ringwood is a major transport hub of regional significance within Melbourne’s eastern suburbs. The station serves as the junction of the Belgave and Lilydale lines and provides access to the community facilities within Ringwood.

The full redevelopment of Ringwood Station is needed to ensure that the vision of a vibrant future for Ringwood can succeed.

Rotary Club of Ringwood – Eastern Volunteers

Posted on by alex

The Rotary Club of Ringwood meets on a weekly basis at Club Ringwood on the corner of Maroondah Highway and Oban Road. The Club features speakers who discuss community causes with the Club.

Tonight’s speakers were from Eastern Volunteers, who discussed their vision for the future with the Rotary club.

Eastern Volunteers is a not-for-profit community organisation established in 1976. The organisation provides transport services for people with disabilities and the frail aged, as well as serving as a recruitment centre for volunteers. Eastern Volunteers is primarily based in Ringwood, with offices in Lilydale and Box Hill. The organisation provides its services within the Cities of Whitehorse, Maroondah and the Shire of Yarra Ranges.

The organisation has grown significantly since its establishment and now has approximately 15 staff members and over 100 volunteers who assist in the delivery of its services.

Eastern Volunteers has a vision of becoming a peak body representing the interests of volunteers and encouraging new people to volunteer and assist community organisations. This vision will strengthen our communities and make it easier for people to be able to volunteer.

This continued growth has meant that Eastern Volunteers requires an appropriate premises for its Head Office. Eastern Volunteers is currently based in New Street, Ringwood but needs a larger premises so that it can continue to deliver its services and meet the needs of the community.

Maroondah Combined Probus Club

Posted on by alex

Probus Clubs, which are initiated through the support of a local Rotary club, provides an organisation for retired or semi-retired community members.

The Maroondah Combined Probus Club is one of the largest within the municipality and meets at the Ringwood RSL. The club organises a range of speakers to cater to the diverse interests of its members.

This morning I was invited to speak to the Combined Probus Club members to discuss the vision for Ringwood, as well as the need for public transport improvements.

I discussed the plans for the redevelopment of Eastland, which will result in the creation of a new town square and park, to assist in restoring a sense of community into Ringwood. I also spoke about the current plans for the Ringwood Station and the need for further funding so that the station itself can be redeveloped into an accessible, safe and integrated transport facility.

While work is expected to commence on the station forecourt and bus interchange during the course of next year, there is still need for a State Government commitment to redevelop the station itself. Ringwood Station currently fails disability compliance standards and as a result the station is not accessible and is in fact avoided by many people in our community.

The redevelopment of Eastland is also expected to commence next year and I spoke about the transformation of Ringwood into a vibrant urban centre. While this development will bring positive changes to Ringwood, there is a need to ensure that community facilities are enhanced to meet the growing needs of our municipality.

I have requested that council undertake a management plan for Jubilee Park so that we can develop a vision and strategy for the sporting clubs within the municipality. Likewise, there is a need for similar strategies in regard to community space, cultural facilities and green open space.

The town centre within the middle of Ringwood will be complemented by a park and play equipment in Nelson Street, providing additional open space for the community and catering to the young families that are moving into Ringwood.

Public transport improvements, such as the Ringwood to Frankston SmartBus have enhanced the mobility of our community and I discussed the need for further improvements to provide transport choice for our residents.

More frequent, accessible and readily available public transport services will provide our community with alternatives to car travel and I congratulated the Probus Club for its strong interest in public transport and attendance at the bus review workshops that were held in February.

Scoot Wheel n Move meeting

Posted on by alex

Scoot Wheel n Move is a community organisation, which is operating under the auspice of Eastern Access Community Health (EACH).

The group aims to improve accessibility for residents within Maroondah and Melbourne’s outer east, particularly for people with mobility aids, such as wheelchairs and motorised scooters.

Scoot Wheel n Move works closely with Maroondah City Council to achieve these aims and has organised events such as a mobility expo and forum to encourage wider community participation.

Scoot Wheel n Move – representing people with mobility aids

Posted on by alex

Scoot Wheel and Move is a local community group under the auspices of Eastern Access Community Health. The group aims to improve accessibility within Maroondah, particularly for people that use mobility aids such as wheelchairs, scooters and walking frames.

Today’s meeting discussed Maroondah’s recently adopted Principal Pedestrian Network, with members supporting the need for more footpaths. Footpaths were recently constructed within central Ringwood and footpaths will be extended around Maroondah Hospital.

The need for a Disability Advisory Committee was also discussed and this is currently being explored through the Maroondah Disability Policy. A Disability Advisory Committee would augment the quarterly forums for people with disabilities and carers, through advising council on policy initiatives that would improve accessibility within Maroondah.

While based within Maroondah Scoot Wheel n Move does include members from Knox and the Shire of Yarra Ranges, ensuring that the group is able to focus on the accessibility needs across Melbourne’s outer eastern suburbs.

Ringwood Precinct Open House

Posted on by alex

The centre of Ringwood, has recently been identified as a Central Activities District and has been earmarked for significant urban revitalisation and aims to transform Ringwood into an accessible and vibrant urban centre.

Within the Ringwood Central Activities District is a significant residential area, such as the North Western Residential Precinct, which is bound by Ringwood Street, Nelson Street, Bond Street and Burwood Avenue.

This part of Ringwood has seen significant changes such as the construction of multi-storey developments and as a resident in Bond Street I have seen and experienced this first-hand.

This afternoon Council organised an Open House for residents and property owners within this area to discuss amenity issues and identify potential solutions. Residents and property owners were able to express their concerns and speak directly to council staff and myself as an elected Councillor.

Recently constructed footpaths have improved the accessibility of this area and a new playground is planned for the park on the corner of New Street. The playground will be connected through the Eastlink shared trail and will include play equipment, seating and shelter.

In addition, a bridge over Maroondah Highway will provide a continuous linkage for pedestrians and cyclists and is expected to be completed later this year.

Sustainability is at the forefront of Ringwood’s transformation with water tanks, energy efficiency, as well as bicycle facilities and footpath construction, being a part of new developments within this precinct.

Waste management is also being improved through conditions requiring body corporate involvement such as maintaining their own private garbage collection. This will reduce the number of rubbish bins located on nature strips during garbage collection days.

In addition parking issues are also being explored and council will shortly be releasing a strategy to address these concerns and reduce difficulties in travelling through streets within this area.

It was great to see the many people, including neighbours of mine, taking advantage of the Open Day and speaking directly to council.

The transformation of Ringwood presents challenges to Maroondah Council and the wider community. These challenges are being addressed to ensure that our amenity to achieve our vision of creating a more sustainable and accessible Ringwood.

Ongoing updates are critical to Ringwood’s revitalisation and a dedicated website www.ringwoodgoingplaces.com.au has been created to provide ongoing updates on projects undertaken within the Ringwood Central Activities District.

Maroondah Journal: Transport priorities outlined

Posted on by alex

The Maroondah Journal has reported on the council’s transport priorities, which will be advocated through the Eastern Transport Coalition, which includes Melbourne’s seven outer eastern councils.

The Eastern Transport Coalition represents one million residents within Melbourne’s outer east and provides a united council voice for public transport advocacy within the region.

Specifically Maroondah’s priorities include the redevelopment of Ringwood Station into an accessible and safe transport interchange, track improvements along the Belgrave and Lilydale line and bus improvements to provide more frequent and coordinated and readily available services.

Cr Alex Makin, the council’s representative on the ETC, said the council confirmed its public transport priorities at its meeting last Monday.

“As council’s representative, I will be ensuring that these priorities are uppermost in the minds of the coalition and in our advocacy to the state and federal governments.”

These projects will provide economic, social and environmental benefits to not just Maroondah but the entire eastern region. The redevelopment of the Station interchange alone, into an accessible, safe and integrated facility, is expected to contribute $19 million benefit to the State economy.

In addition, there are social benefits through creating more inclusive communities and enhancing social mobility, as well as environmental improvements such as reducing greenhouse emissions.

The redevelopment of Ringwood Station coupled with rail and bus improvements will improve the sustainability of Ringwood, Maroondah and the wider outer east.

The Eastern Transport Coalition, through its membership of Melbourne’s outer eastern councils, will continue its ongoing advocacy for these public transport improvements.

Maroondah Homebiz 2009 AGM

Posted on by alex

Maroondah Homebiz is a business networking group for Maroondah’s expanding small and home-based business sector. The group meets on a monthly basis to provide networking opportunities for members and to hear guest speakers covering issues relevant to business and the local community.

Tonight’s Annual General Meeting elected the officebearers for the next twelve months and it is great to see Homebiz continuing so strongly, with there being several new faces on the committee.

The presentation this evening was from the City of Maroondah to discuss the strategic direction of Ringwood and Croydon as designated activity centres under State and Council planning policies. Details were provided on recently completed projects, such as the recent construction of footpaths within the residential areas of central Ringwood and the transformation of Ringwood Street. In addition upcoming projects were also discussed, including the redevelopment of the Ringwood Town Centre and the need for a commitment towards Ringwood Station to ensure an accessible and safe transport interchange.

Maroondah Homebiz meets on the first Tuesday of each month at the Coach and Horses Hotel in Ringwood, for further details please visit www.homebiz.org.au.