Tag: partnerships

Delegates’ Report: Presenting the Monster Petition, NAIDOC week and support for our community

Posted on by alex

On the 24th of June I was part of a delegation through the Eastern Transport Coalition, that presented a petition of 13,000 signatures to the Parliament of Victoria.

The petition, which was accepted by Martin Pakula, the Minister for Public Transport, as well as Terry Mulder, the Shadow Minister for Transport and Greg Barber, the Greens Spokesperson on Transport, requested public transport improvements for Melbourne’s outer east including:

  • A full and public feasibility study for a heavy rail line to Rowville,
  • A full and public feasibility study for a heavy rail line to Doncaster
  • A greater commitment to the extension of the Metro rail tunnel from Domain to Caulfield,
  • A full and public feasibility study for an increase in capacity on the Belgrave/Lilydale and Glen Waverley lines,
  • Improved facilities for passengers, particularly at interchanges located in central activity districts – Ringwood, Dandenong and Box Hill,
  • Fully accessible public transport facilities and vehicles

It is great that the eastern region recognises the importance of the redevelopment of Ringwood Station into an accessible, safe and integrated transport interchange. As the City of Maroondah and as part of the eastern region, we can only hope that the State Government and all political parties act on requests within this petition.

On the 8th of July I had the pleasure of launching the Maroondah Photographic Competition and announcing the winners amongst this year’s entrants. The competition has now been running for 14 years and it is great to see that it has sustained interest from both sponsors and the community. There were 121 entries this year and the judging decision was definitely a difficult one.
The diverse of photographic talents is to be commended and in particular it is great to see our schools supporting the arts and encouraging students to participate, with the two winners in the Intermediate category both being students from Norwood Secondary College

On the 9th of July I attended the Outer Eastern NAIDOC Ball, which was held at the conclusion of NAIDOC week. The ball recognises the many individuals and organisations that are involved with Indigenous communities and provides an opportunity to celebrate Indigenous culture and achievements.

On the 10th I attended the opening of the redeveloped Glen Park Community Centre, which had extensive works to improve the accessible and inclusiveness of its facilities. One of the real accomplishments with Glen Park has been the partnerships that have formed with various organisations, as well as all levels of government working together to provide better facilities for our community.

On the 13th of July I had the pleasure of welcoming James Merlino as the Minister for Sport, Recreation and Youth Affairs at EVs Youth Centre in Croydon. The State Government has provided a $10,000 grant, which will be used for the purchase of new music equipment through the Youth Centre and also announced that EVs will be one of the venues for the state wide FReeZA Central Music program. This is a great achievement and would like to commend our Youth Services Team for raising the profile of EVs and the talents of our young people.

In addition, on the 14th of July I had the pleasure of receiving a grant for $8,800 from the State Government through the Victorian Multicultural Grants Commission to further the work of the Maroondah Interfaith Network. The funding will be used to strengthen the capacity of the group and to further encourage Maroondah’s faith based communities to become involved the Network. I would like to commend the Community Development Staff and the Maroondah Interfaith for their work in establishing the group and for achieving this great result for our community. The Maroondah Interfaith Network was formed in November last year and it is fantastic to see that its efforts have been recognised by both Council and the State Government.

I’ll be tabling the rest of my report.

Victoria Rocks – Music Equipment Grant

Posted on by alex

This morning I joined James Merlino, the Minister for Sport, Recreation and Youth Affairsm who announced a $10,000 grant to Maroondah City Council through the Victoria Rocks, Music Equipment Grant. The money received will fund a Council project called “Before the Gig”, which will provide a greater level of access to music equipment for young people in Maroondah.

The program will run through EV’s Youth Centre and will allow Council to purchase music equipment (including acoustic and electric guitars, a drum kit and portable amplifiers) that will be available for young people to use free of charge. Ultimately the project will create new opportunities for local young people to participate in the arts and to increase their music skills.

Alex with members of Maroondah's EV Youth Services participating in the Victoria Rocks program.
Alex with members of Maroondah's EV Youth Services participating in the Victoria Rocks program.

In addition, it will provide resources to support local partnerships between EV’s Youth Centre and several organisations, including Eastern Access Community Health (EACH), the Migrant Information Centre, Arrabri Community House and the Rock School at Croydon Community School.

I would like to thank the Minister and the State Government for the $10,000 grant. In addition, EV’s Youth Centre has been chosen as a venue for the State wide FReeZA Central Tour, which will feature a range of musical acts on Friday the 27th of August. This is a significant opportunity for young people in our community and it is fantastic to see the State Government recognise the importance of EV’s Youth Centre.

Launch of the Redevelopment of Glen Park Community Centre

Posted on by alex

Glen Park Community Centre is located in Glen Park Road in Bayswater North and has strong emphasis on community development, as well as providing courses for the local community. The Community Centre was recently redeveloped, through a partnership between Glen Park and SCOPE, to provide an accessible facility that can provide an inclusive environment for all people within our community.

Alex with the Arrabri Ward Councillors; Tony Dib, Paul Macdonald and Natalie Thomas along with Shaune Leane, MLC and Mike Symon, Member for Deakin, at the re-opening of the Glen Park Community Centre
Alex with the Arrabri Ward Councillors; Tony Dib, Paul Macdonald and Natalie Thomas along with Shaune Leane, MLC and Mike Symon, Member for Deakin, at the re-opening of the Glen Park Community Centre

This morning Glen Park Community Centre Council held a Picnic in the Park to celebrate the redevelopment of Glen Park Community Centre, as well with other recent improvements, including the redeveloped Sports Pavilion and the new Men’s Shed. Further improvements, such as a new play space will be completed later this year.

In addition, I was invited to launch the redeveloped Glen Park Community Centre and the speech I delivered is included in this post:
Continue reading “Launch of the Redevelopment of Glen Park Community Centre”

2010 Australian Council of Local Government

Posted on by alex

The Australian Council of Local Government (ACLG) was formed in 2008 by the Commonwealth Government to create and establish a dialogue between Federal and Local Governments.  The sessions were held over the Thursday and Friday whereby Mayors and Shire Presidents are invited to speak directly to Senior Members of the Federal Government.

I had the opportunity to discuss Maroondah’s priorities with several Ministers and advisors within the Commonwealth Government and discussed Council’s vision for the municipality.   There is a need for Maroondah to deliver new community facilities and all levels of government need to work together to achieve these outcomes.

The Australian Council of Local Government is a useful forum to demonstrate the importance of local government and the need for ongoing partnerships and collaboration between the Commonwealth and individual Councils.  The ongoing commitment towards the forum should be commended, as well as the focus on collaboration and working together.

The 2010 National General Assembly of the Australian Local Government Association

Posted on by alex

The Australian Local Government Association (ALGA) is the peak body representing local government at a national level.  Each year the organisation holds a National General Assembly, where Councils across the country nominate motions to influence the priorities and initiatives undertaken by ALGA.

This year Maroondah proposed three motions to be debated at the National General Assembly, covering the need for the Commonwealth Government to provide funding for infrastructure required to meet ongoing population growth, as well as support for replacing existing street lighting with energy efficient lights.  A third motion calling for funding certainty for Home and Community Care Services (HACC) has already been achieved given that the the Commonwealth Government has committed to protecting arrangements for Victoria.

Maroondah’s motions were successful and it is encouraging to see Councils across the country supporting each other in calling for the best outcomes for our community and the nation. One of the advantages of ALGA is the dialogue between local councils and the Commonwealth, with several Members of Parliament, across all political parties, speaking at the conference.

Attending the ALGA Conference in Canberra is a time demanding task and it is encouraging to see several of my colleagues recognising the importance of a strong Maroondah presence at the National Assembly and during discussions with Federal Members of Parliament.  Maroondah’s CEO Frank Dixon, as well as Councillors Michael Macdonald, Paul Macdonald, Rob Steane and Les Willmott joined me in Canberra and I thank them for their attendance.

While we were in Canberra we took the opportunity to meet the Federal Members of Parliament, which include Maroondah within their electorates and I would like to thank Mike Symon, the Member for Deakin, Kevin Andrews, the Member for Menizes and Tony Smith, the Member for Casey for their time.  In addition, we had the opportunity to speak to several Ministers and senior advisors and Canberra serves as a useful opportunity to discuss Maroondah’s priorities and the need for further collaboration and partnerships between multiple levels of Government.

All levels of government need to work together to deliver the best possible outcomes for our community and Maroondah’s presence in Canberra helped to convey the need for this partnership and collaboration.

Federal Government 2010-2011 Budget Breakfast

Posted on by alex

This morning I attended the Federal Government’s Budget Breakfast, where the recent Federal Budget was presented by the Treasurer Wayne Swan.  The Treasurer outlined the economic conditions within Australia, as well as discussing the outcomes from the recent Henry Review into Taxation.

One of the initiatives through the economic stimulus package was the investment in community infrastructure, through partnerships with Local Government.  The redevelopment of the Ringwood Soccer Pavilion is an example of this program and demonstrates the outcomes that can be achieved when multiple levels of Governments work together.

I asked a question in regard to the need for an ongoing program of infrastructure funding that should be available for local government projects.  While the Treasurer did not provide a definitive answer, he did suggest that further announcements would be forthcoming in this regard.

It is imperative that all levels of Government work together to provide the best possible facilities for the community and Council will be discussing projects, such as the redevelopment of the Ringwood Aquatic Centre, with the Federal Government.

Launching The Vault – Community Drop In Centre

Posted on by alex

The Vault is a community based Drop In Centre located in Ringwood and is operated through the Activate Church..  The centre has an emphasis on younger people and aims to create a safe and friendly community space with a range activities.

As the Mayor of Maroondah I had the pleasure of officially opening The Vault, where I acknowledged the partnerships that have been formed with Council, the community, businesses and the Police to assist in providing a safer environment for Ringwood.

Alex officially opening The Vault - Community Drop In Centre in Ringwood
Alex officially opening The Vault - Community Drop In Centre in Ringwood

The Vault gains its name from being located within the building of a former bank, whereby hours of work were undertaken to create a friendly and safe atmosphere for participants. The activities will be run entirely through volunteers and plans are already underway to expand the services provided through the Vault, including food relief and Internet access.

The Vault officially opens from 10am on Tuesday the 27th of April and is located in the Melbourne Street Mall in Ringwood, opposite Ringwood Station.

Delegates’ Report: Annual general meetings, art exhibitions and launching Maroondah’s Community Wellbeing Plan

Posted on by alex

There are several items I’d like to discuss this evening:

On the 23rd of March I attended the North Ringwood Community House annual general meeting, which coincided with the graduation ceremony of their Certificate III and IV students.

North Ringwood Community House is the only community house in Maroondah that has Registered Training Organisation status, meaning that they are able to offer Certificate level courses. As part of the AGM the House discussed its new business plan and it is great to see that they are planning on expanding their accredited courses into the future.

On the 29th of March I attended the first meeting of the Maroondah Partners for Community Wellbeing Committee along with Cr Ann Fraser. This committee is tasked with the responsibility of overseeing the implementation of Council’s Community Wellbeing Plan and incorporates a number of different agencies, including Eastern Volunteers, Eastern Access Community Health, the Primary Care Partnerships and others.

So what is Council’s Community Wellbeing Plan, it’ll be discussed later in this report.

On the 13th of April, I attended a community meeting hosted by Common Equity Housing Limited (CEHL), the managers of the 80 unit affordable housing development in Larissa Avenue. While Council and the community were understandably concerned about the State Government overriding Maroondah Council as a planning authority, it is encouraging to see the CEHL holding discussions with the community to help explain and demystify this development.

On the 15th of April I had the pleasure of opening two exhibitions, Konrad Winkler’s Moments of My Life and the Ringwood Art Society’s Artist of the Year. Konrad’s work highlights the changing nature of photography and the Art Society’s exhibition showcases the talents of one of Victoria’s oldest and largest arts societies.
The Artist of the Year was judged by an independent adjudicator but the community also has the possibility of providing input, through the Community Choice Award.

As part of the proceedings I had the privilege of announcing that Council will be utilising the Mayoral Art Fund to acquire one of the artworks that was exhibited by a member of the Ringwood Arts Society and I look forward to formalising this announcement once it is finalised.

The two exhibitions are hosted at Maroondah Art Gallery at the Maroondah Federation Estate and are on display until the 8th of May.

On Sunday the 18th of April I attended the Anzac March in Croydon hosted by the Croydon RSL. I would like to commend the Croydon RSL for holding such a welcoming and friendly event, it was great to see them involve the wider community, including local Primary and Secondary Schools and I believe it reinforces the community atmosphere that is so prevalent at the Croydon RSL.

This morning I had the pleasure of launching Maroondah City Council’s Community Wellbeing Plan. The plan, which was adopted by Council in December in last year, identifies the key wellbeing priorities over the next four years, including:

  • Healthy Minds Healthy Choices
  • Engaged Resilient Communities
  • Accessible Safe Community
  • Lifestyle Opportunities and Choices
  • Targeting Equity and Social Inclusion
  • Healthy Sustainable Environments

The plan was developed through the former Maroondah Partners in Health, Safety and Wellbeing Committee of which Cr. Nora Lamont, Cr. Rob Steane and myself were members.

In addition, Council undertook extensive community engagement in the development of its Community Wellbeing Plan including a survey in the Maroondah Focus, where we received over 1000 responses.

This was a tremendous result given that there are 44,000 households within the municipality. These responses provided quantitative information and Council also undertook extensive consultation with community organisations and discussion sessions at locations such as Eastland.

The end result is a plan that was developed in partnership with the community and which will be overseen by the Maroondah Partners in Community Wellbeing Committee, which includes community organisations, Council staff, as well as two Councillors, Cr. Ann Fraser and myself.

I would like to commend the many people who were involved in the development of the plan. The implementation of the Community Wellbeing Plan depends on community partnerships and I look forward to this collaboration as we improve the health, safety and wellbeing of our municipality.

Ringwood Bowls Club – Sponsorship Appreciation Night

Posted on by alex

The Ringwood Bowls Club is based at 2-12 Loughnan Road in Ringwood and features two grass and one synthetic green.  The Club holds regular activities throughout the year including its Community Connect, which brings together corporate and community supporters of the Club.

This evening the Club held its Sponsorship Appreciation Night to acknowledge the many businesses that provide support to the Club.  The Ringwood Bowls Club has installed new screens to provide information on its sponsors and firmly believes that sponsorship is a partnership between organisations.  The Club provides several benefits for sponsors including advertising and participation in club events, which provides networking and promotional opportunities.

Sponsorship provides vital support for the Ringwood Bowls Club and it is encouraging to see the Club create genuine partnerships with its sponsors.  For further information on the Ringwood Bowls Club please visit www.ringwoodbowls.asn.au.

Maroondah Journal: Right off the bat, extra cash for reserve

Posted on by alex

Heathmont Reserve is home to the Heathmont Baseball Club, Heathmont Baptist Cricket Club and Gujarati Association Cricket Club and will receive $821,000 to build two new changerooms, a kitchen, a viewing area and accessibility improvements for people with a disability.

The project while largely funded through Maroondah City Council, will receive $240,000 from the Federal Government through the Regional and Local Community Infrastructure Program.

Maroondah Mayor Alex Makin confirmed a $575,000 commitment from the council to make the project a reality.  Cr Makin said the works would make the reserve more inclusive and accessible to the wider community.

“What this translates into for the community is the development of a multi-purpose facility that will help expand social and sports participation for families, female teams and people with a disability.”

The contribution of Federal funding demonstrates the partnerships that can be developed when several levels of government work together for the benefit of the community.