Tag: public meetings

Public meeting with Common Equity Housing Limited

Posted on by alex

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: Councillors enliven proceedings

Posted on by alex

Maroondah Councillors recently conducted a workshop designed to improve the proceedings of public meetings and improve the transparency of Council.  These changes began at the June Council meeting and will provide debate and insight into the decisions that are being made by Council.

Maroondah Mayor Alex Makin said the move was a result of a “collective process” between councillors.  “It is certainly an improvement and clarifies how Councillors make decisions,” Cr Makin said.

It is encouraging that all Councillors agreed on the need to improve the transparency of Maroondah City Council’s public meetings and further changes, including the ability for groups or individuals to formally present as a deputation to Council will be undertaken from July.

Media Release: Launch of Communities for Public Transport

Posted on by alex

Communities for Public Transport, a community focused transport lobby group, will be unveiled at the Sustainable Living Festival on Sunday the 17th of February at 10am.

“Communities for Public Transport marks a new direction for public transport advocacy. The group will work within local communities to ensure that local residents are empowered to advocate for public transport improvements” said Mr. Makin.

Communities for Public Transport has held a series of successful public meetings in Melbourne’s suburbs, with further meetings being planned for 2008. Alex Makin, a former Vice-President of the Public Transport Users Association, formed Communities for Public Transport when he realised that local community input was being ignored.

“Local communities are best placed to advocate for the improvements that affect them. Local residents know firsthand the pain experienced by overcrowded trains, infrequent buses and slow trams. With rising petrol prices and increasing financial pressure now is the time for local communities to become involved in public transport advocacy. This presentation at the Sustainable Living Festival will provide advice on advocacy to empower our local communities”, concluded Mr. Makin.

Details: 10am Sunday 17th of February, at the Design Tent Federation Square

About Communities for Public Transport:
Communities for Public Transport was founded in mid 2007 to empower local communities and provide advice in regard to public transport advocacy. The group works with local residents and community groups to assist in securing public transport improvements.

ALL MEDIA ENQUIRIES: ALEX MAKIN ON 0409 136 213

– ENDS –

Launch of Campaign Enable

Posted on by alex

I was invited to officially launch Campaign Enable, a group established through the Australian Federation of Disability Organisations, which aims to enable all people to participate within society.

Alex Makin at the launch of Campaign Enable

Campaign Enable marks a turning point in advocacy with the campaign being managed, organised and conducted by people with a disability.

At a national level Campaign Enable aims to achieve the following three goals:

  • Financial help for people with a disability looking for work or trying to keep a job.
  • The development of a National Disability Employment Strategy.
  • The introduction of an Access to Premises Standard.

While these areas are not the only issues that require attention, they are examples of where a national approach is required. Campaign Enable is not a campaign for special treatment – it is a campaign about ensuring that everyone has equal access about inclusiveness within society.

For further information on the Home
Australian Federation of Disability Organisations please visit www.afdo.org.au.

Please continue reading to view a copy of the speech I delivered for Campaign Enable.
Continue reading “Launch of Campaign Enable”

Public Meeting: Help ensure a better station for Laburnum

Posted on by alex

Tonight on behalf of the Public Transport Users Association I had the opportunity to address the Laburnum community in regard to the grade separation of Middleborough Road.

Laburnum Community Meeting

While grade separations are a good initiative it is unfortunate that the State Government has released for Middleborough Road that are fatally flawed. Over one hundred attendees flocked to this public meeting to voice their concerns over the lack of consultation and secrecy that has surrounded this project. Considering that the State Government promised to deliver the grade separation of Middleborough Road since 2002 it is abysmal that the government has been unwilling to engage the community over the past four years.

Residents of Laburnum are rightfully concerned about plans that diminish access to Laburnum Station and appear to view the concerns of public transport users and local residents as an afterthought. The current proposal will hamper pedestrian access to Laburnum Station and will fail to take into account cycling access. While residents overwhelmingly supported grade separation initiatives there was next to no support for the current Middleborough Road proposal due to the failure to engage the community and address public transport concerns.

A number of resolutions were passed including:

  • That the community supports grade separations but not the current Middleborough Road proposal;
  • That there must not be a net reduction in services to Laburnum Station;
  • That there must be an improvement to the amenity of Laburnum Station;
  • That pedestrian and cycling access to Laburnum Station be improved.

The Laburnum community is right to expect better. The State Government must admit that the process to date has been flawed and must now engage the local community to create a project that meets public expectations. Unfortunately the State Government will continue to deliver poor results until the Bracks Government finally creates an open and accountable transport authority that is charged with meeting the goals of improving public transport usage. After six years of broken promises, cost blow-outs and delayed projects the Bracks Government must surely realise that an overhaul of VicRoads and the Department of Infrastructure is required.

The Laburnum Community must not be expected to embrace flawed designs simply because the Government is unable to provide the expertise and leadership required for such projects.

Rowville End Of Suburbia Screening

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Rowville located within Melbourne’s outer east has a history of being long neglected in regard to the provision of public transport. Despite Rowville’s current situation as a public transport wasteland historically this was not supposed to be the case with plans for the construction of the Rowville rail line first proposed in 1969 via an extension from either Glen Waverley or Huntingdale.

While the John Cain government sold the reservation beyond the Glen Waverley line, the reservation to Rowville via Huntingdale still exists within the Wellington Road median.

In 1999 the then Bracks Opposition promised as part of its commitment to the outer east to “address the fixed infrastructure requirements for the region and in particular identify a preferred train route to Rowville via Glen Waverley or Huntingdale” (Rebuilding a Transport Network, Labor’s Plan, 1999). Six years later the Bracks Government has still failed to deliver a feasibility study into the Rowville rail line.

Due to continued inaction from the State Government Knox City Council conducted a pre-feasibility study into the Rowville rail line in 2004. The study found that the line was feasible and could be constructed from Huntingdale with very little land acquisition.

This Sunday the Public Transport Users Association (PTUA), Environment Victoria (EV) and Knox Environment Society (KES) held a free screening of the documentary the End of Suburbia which explores the consequences of a limited oil supply which is resulting in rising petrol prices and the corresponding financial hardship on suburban life.

Rowville End of Suburbia Screening - Audience and facilitators

With just under 100 people in attendance it is clear that the Rowville community is demanding better public transport to alleviate car dependence and social isolation.

The State Government must not continue to bury its head in the sand and ignore the needs of outer metropolitan Melbourne.

It is time to deliver real results and substantial public transport improvements to Melbourne’s outer suburbs.

Ringwood Residents – We Want to be Heard!

Posted on by alex

I and the Ringwood Transit City Community Coalition (RTCCC) must thank everyone who attended our public forum Ringwood. Tell Us The Future. With approximately 100 attendees the strong public attendance from us, the residents of Ringwood, sent a clear message that a lack of direct and meaningful community consultation will not be tolerated.

We also clearly demonstrated the need for the Ringwood Transit City Community Coalition (RTCCC) to continue in its mission of ensuring direct and meaningful consultation. The Ringwood Transit City Community Coalition (RTCCC) will keep pressuring Maroondah City Council to provide direct and meaningful community consultation and action based upon these community concerns.

The Ringwood Transit City Community Coalition (RTCCC) will monitor the proposed Ringwood Transit City Community Reference Group and ensure that it is given the required authority and legitimacy from the Ringwood Transit City Advisory Committee so we can receive the level of community input required to ensure a vision for Ringwood that meets its potential.

The Ringwood Transit City Community Coalition appreciates the time Mayor Paul Denham provided to speak at the public forum and we likewise appreciate the time that Phil Turner also provided.

The greatest disappointment was the lack of a committee member from the Ringwood Transit City Advisory Committee depriving the Ringwood community of direct contact with someone from within the committee.

I realise we not have time to answer everyone’s question, if there are any concerns or if you would like the assistance of the Ringwood Transit City Community Coalition (RTCCC), please let me know, email alex@alexmakin.com.au or contact me on 0409 136 213.

Further public meetings will definitely be planned based upon a strong desire from the public for further action. Potential themes will be discussed as we begin planning for the next forum.

Eastern Region Integrated Transport Group (ERITG)

Posted on by alex

Tonight I presented to the Eastern Region Integrated Transport Group (ERITG) with the dual aims of identifying potential avenues of cooperation and demonstrating specific action that the group could utilise.

ERITG is a group of eight outer eastern councils that provide a regional approach for council initiated advocacy for greater public transport. The councils involved include:

  • The Shire of Yarra Ranges
  • The City of Manningham
  • The City of Maroondah
  • The City of Knox
  • The City of Whitehorse
  • The City of Monash
  • The City of Greater Dandenong
  • The City of Casey

While the group has had a slow start it does appear that there is a genuine commitment by a to ensure a coordinated lobbying effort.

Potential action for resident based and council supported advocacy was discussed, including the possibility of establishing public meetings in Manningham (Doncaster) and Greater Dandenong and Casey (Dandenong or Narre Warren).

It is clear that the state government is reneging on its promise to deliver a comprehensive public transport network in the outer east. It is up to residents, local councils and the Public Transport Users Association (PTUA) to keep the state government ‘on track’.

The Public Transport Users Association (PTUA) Outer East Branch will help achieve this objective and I look forward to further cooperation with the ERITG in 2005.