ringwood transit city Archives

Maroondah Disability Action Group meeting 2008

Posted on 12 August 2008 by alex

The Maroondah Disability Action Group also known as the Disability Action Group Eastern Region, aims to provide a voice for people with disabilities across Maroondah and Melbourne’s eastern suburbs.

The group is a community led movement and includes people with disabilities who desire to improve the accessibility of Maroondah and the outer east. Specific aims include:

To provide systemic advocacy to influence policies at a local, state or federal level;
To campaign for accessible transport improvements;
To cooperate with other like minded groups at a local and state level, and
To push for greater, accessible and inclusive health services.

The Maroondah Disability Action Group meets at 10 am on the second Monday of each month at the Ringwood Church of Christ at 13 Bedford Road in Ringwood.

The venue is fully accessible and in close proximity to Ringwood Station and bus routes 367 (Ringwood to Croydon via East Ringwood) and 679 (Chirnside Park Shopping Centre to Ringwood via Mount Evelyn, Montrose and Canterbury Road).

Maroondah Disability Action Group – aims and objectives

Posted on 11 August 2008 by alex

Today’s meeting marked the adoption of a mission statement, whereby the group exists to raise awareness through advocacy for greater accessibility across the outer eastern region. This mission statement reinforces the purpose of the group and its focus on accessibility improvements across Maroondah and the outer east.

A series of objectives were also identified with the aims being:

To provide systemic advocacy to influence policies at a local, state or federal level;
To campaign for accessible transport improvements;
To cooperate with other like minded groups at a local and state level, and
To push for greater, accessible and inclusive health services.

Alex Makin with the inaugural members of the Maroondah Disability Action Group

Specific priorities include advocating for bus improvements, securing the redevelopment of Ringwood Station into an accessible transit interchange and mobility improvements across Maroondah. The group also aims to work cooperatively with other groups at a local, state and federal level to achieve these aims.

The Maroondah Disability Action Group meets at 10 am on the second Monday of each month at the Ringwood Church of Christ at 13 Bedford Road in Ringwood.

Maroondah Forum for People with Disabilities and Carers – consultation and providing feedback

Posted on 5 August 2008 by alex

Today’s forum for people with disabilities and carers provided an opportunity to discuss the feedback produced by the workshop that was held earlier this year and also to consult the participants on council’s new disability policy and action plan.

While current budgetary resources meant that the forum must remain at its current quarterly frequency, this will be reviewed early next year. Assuming that I am returned as a councillor after November’s elections, I will be advocating for the forums to be held on a bi-monthly frequency or for another working group to be established to exclusively examine strategic and advocacy issues. Either option will ensure a greater level of engagement for people with disabilities and ensure an improvement to the level of accessibility within Maroondah.

One of the major concerns from the feedback was the lack of publicity in regard to the forum, this has been rectified with council issuing media releases to publicise the forums and it being included on the council website. This will assist in ensuring that the community is aware of the forums and the opportunity to provide input and to inform council on accessibility issues. Terms of reference have been developed to provide direction for the forum and help improve communication and feedback between participants in the forum and council.

The guest speaker was from the Commonwealth Respite Centre who spoke about the programs that are available for carers and for people with disabilities in seeking respite or taking a break from their usual duties.

Today’s forum also included a workshop on council’s future Disability Policy and Action Plan. The policy, which is expected to be adopted in draft status at the next council meeting, will govern council’s approach to accessibility issues and its role as an advocate on behalf of the community. It is imperative that the views of people with disabilities and carers are taken into account so that council can be responsive to the needs of the community.

While the forum provided an additional opportunity for comment, people will be able to submit their thoughts on the policy once it reaches draft status. I encourage members of the community to take an interest in the policy as it will shape council’s position on accessibility.

Alex with Edward (Woody) Marriott, one of the participants of the Maroondah forum for people with disabilities and carers. Woody operates Ambleside Tours a company that specialises in holidays for people with disabilities.

One of the areas that requires feedback is in regard to the need for a Disability Advisory Committee. Councils such as Monash, Knox and Whitehorse all have committees which provide strategic advice to council in regard to accessibility issues. This differs from Maroondah’s forum, in that the focus is on strategic issues with representation from peak groups. The forum for people with disabilities and carers provides an opportunity for input on specific issues, while the committee could oversee the strategic direction on council’s approach to accessibility and supervise the implementation of the disability policy and action plan.

Such concepts must be considered as part of council’s approach to accessibility to ensure that Maroondah strives to create an inclusive municipality.

The next forum for people with disabilities and carers will include a session on the Ringwood Transit City and the need for an accessible and safe Ringwood Station.

Delegates' Report: Support services, musical talents, advancing reconciliation and planning for Community Safety Week

Posted on 21 July 2008 by alex

On the 20th of June I had the pleasure of attending Hope City Mission’s Charity Auction Evening. Hope City Mission, based in Croydon South provides assistance to people in need within our community. The mission does this by not only providing emergency relief in the form of food and clothing but by also focusing on the wellbeing of individuals. Through this focus on wellbeing and empowering change the Mission provides pamper days and extravaganza days, which provide haircuts and a chance to socialise and restore community connectedness. I also had the pleasure of seeing the Mission’s Pamper Day in action, last Friday on the 18th of July and I saw firsthand the benefits this service provides to some of our most vulnerable community members.

Individual wellbeing is just as important as food and clothing and Hope City achieves its Mission through broadening its focus on empowerment.

On the 4th of July the Eastern Transport Coalition held its Public Transport Summit, entitled it’s ‘Time to Move On’, that is time to move away from car dependence and the crippling cost that petrol is having on our families and towards public transport improvements. I would like to take this opportunity to thank the many members of the Maroondah community who attended the summit and supported my presentation on the need for the redevelopment of Ringwood Station and the importance of the Ringwood Transit City as a regional centre.

The redevelopment of Ringwood Station is critical to ensuring the revitalisation of Ringwood. The current station fails accessibility standards and is perceived to be unsafe, with Ringwood Station consistently being perceived as one of the most unsafe locations within Maroondah. Coupled with traffic calming along Maroondah Highway, pedestrians which total approximately 10,000 per day would be able to conveniently travel between the transport interchange and the residential/commercial precincts of Ringwood.

The Eastern Transport Coalition has recognised Ringwood’s importance as a regional centre and as a council we must support our neighbouring municipalities in calling for greater investment in public transport. There is strength in Maroondah being part of a concerted regional push, whereby one million residents across the eastern suburbs, recognise the importance in redeveloping Ringwood Station. Let us hope that the State Government heeds this call and delivers this essential upgrade to the station.

On the 11th of July I attended the Maroondah NAIDOC week celebrations which commemorated council’s permanent flying of the Aboriginal flag and I would like to congratulate the many community groups, the Indigenous networks and the Mullum Mullum Indigenous Gathering Place for attending the ceremony.

The theme for this year’s NAIDOC week is ‘Advance Australia Fair?’ It is important to note that the organisers intended this theme as a question, since it is a timely reminder of the health, education and wellbeing inequities that exist between non-Indigenous and Indigenous Australia. Council’s Reconciliation Plan, which is included on tonight’s agenda will hopefully assist in bridging this gap and ensure that we as local government are working towards reconciliation.

On the 12th of July I had an afternoon of music, firstly with Enjoying Planned Retirement’s Hidden Talents concert. Where EPR’s unveiled the diverse singing, comedy and music talents of its expansive membership. EPR states that they are ‘recycled teenagers’ although I don’t think my teenage years were ever that fun! I would like to congratulate EPR on yet another fun filled event and look forward to the next Hidden Talents concert in September.

That evening I attended the Ringwood Eisteddfod, marking its 54th year of showcasing the immense musical talent that exists within our community. I would like to commend the many people involved in organising and performing within the Eisteddfod.

While the Premier and Cabinet held a community cabinet session in Karralyka on the 15th of July, I was busy chairing the Maroondah Partners in Health, Safety and Wellbeing Committee. With the year half over it is encouraging the see the continuation of the strong networking that exists within the committee with a number of agencies and organisations, such as Connex and the Department of Education, assisting council in undertaking activities for Community Safety Week in October. Do watch this space for details on the council activities for Community Safety Week.

Further interviews for the Maroondah Business Expansion and Retention Program

Posted on 21 July 2008 by alex

This afternoon I accompanied Maroondah’s Economic Development team for another interview as part of Maroondah’s Business Expansion and Retention Program. The project aims to identify the key challenges facing businesses and to reinforce links between the business company and council.

The business we interviewed today was a large manufacturer and as such the issues facing this company were quite distinct to the challenges experienced by smaller manufacturers. Key challenges facing the company included the global economy and competition from developing countries, particularly in regard to research and development and labor.

Regardless of the size of the businesses being interviewed, it appears that in most cases employees tend to live fairly locally to their employer. This demonstrates that immense potential exists through initiatives such as the Ringwood Transit City, which aim to further provide lifestyle and employment opportunities to local Maroondah residents.

For more information on the programs available for business within Maroondah please visit www.bizmaroondah.com.au.

Maroondah Journal: Boost trains, users urge

Posted on 8 July 2008 by alex

Amid the recently held Eastern Transport Coalition Public Transport Summit, the Maroondah Journal has continued to explore public transport issues, particularly, in regard to the need for service improvements along Melbourne’s rail network.

Eastern Transport Coalition spokesman Cr Alex Makin said evening services would be an easy fix. “There’s nothing stopping the Government from saying tomorrow it will provide additional inter peak services. It would be instant relief for families struggling with increasing fuel prices.”

Inter peak services (services that are between the morning and evening peaks) beyond Ringwood currently operate at a half hourly frequency, severely limiting the opportunity to use public transport outside of peak hours to travel to and from the Ringwood Transit City.

Likewise evening services after 8pm operate at a half-hourly frequency limiting choices available for people that work late.

He said more frequent evening and inter peak services were critical for people to get to and from activity centres, such as the Ringwood Transit City.

The fact that weekend services operate at a 20 minute interval demonstrates that more frequent inter peak weekdays services are possible. For example, it is absurd that people wishing to travel between Croydon and Ringwood at 10am on a weekday are required to wait up to half an hour for train, when on a Saturday or Sunday they would be waiting for 20 minutes.

The government has stated that it will be revising the train timetable next year, hopefully they rectify these anomalies within our train timetables and help reinforce the importance of public transport within the Ringwood Transit City and the outer east.

Eastern Transport Coalition Public Transport Summit

Posted on 4 July 2008 by alex

The Eastern Transport Coalition represents one million residents across the seven eastern metropolitan councils within Melbourne’s eastern suburbs.

Today’s summit highlighted the need for public transport improvements within the eastern suburbs to become sustainable and accessible through providing transport choice for residents facing worsening traffic congestion and rising petrol prices. The theme includes the infrastructure needs of the region and included presentations on the need for new rail lines serving Rowville and Doncaster, as well as required improvements to the Belgrave and Lilydale rail lines.

The keynote speakers, Professors Peter Newman and Graham Currie, spoke about the importance of public transport in reducing greenhouse emissions and mitigating the effects of rising petrol prices. Both speakers reiterated the trend of rising petrol prices and demonstrated quite clearly that such increases were only going to continue.

While the Premier was unable to attend, Rob Hudson, the Parliamentary Secretary for Public Transport, stated that the Government would release a new transport plan by the end of the year. While the State Government released Meeting Our Transport Challenges in 2006, the plan was widely condemned as being inadequate and failed to plan for any infrastructure improvements in the eastern suburbs. It is hoped that the government’s next plan will rectify these shortcomings.

The Opposition Leader, Ted Baillieu, spoke about the government’s litany of public transport plans and the increasing cost of inaction. While the opposition leader did not make any commitments, he did highlight the need for rail lines to Doncaster and Rowville.

The summit was extremely well attended by community members, as well as local councillors, State MPs and members of local environment and transport groups. Time was provided to allow attendees to discuss the needs of the eastern region and during this time the need for accessibility improvements on public transport was mentioned.

Alex speaking at the ETC Public Transport Summit

I spoke on the needs of the Belgrave/Lilydale lines and Ringwood with Cr. Samantha Dunn from the Shire of Yarra Ranges, who spoke about the need for rail duplications to improve the reliability of the line.

My presentation focused on the need for rail improvements between Box Hill and Ringwood and the importance of Ringwood as a regional centre within the eastern region. The expectations of eastern Melbourne and its 1 million residents were conveyed at this summit. The State Government must act and deliver the much needed public transport infrastructure, including the redevelopment of Ringwood Station, that is urgently required for the region

Please continue reading to view a copy of the speech I delivered at the summit.

Continue reading “Eastern Transport Coalition Public Transport Summit”

Eastern Transport Coalition: Planning for the public transport summit

Posted on 19 June 2008 by alex

This evening’s Eastern Transport Coalition meeting focused on the public transport summit planned for the 4th of July. This public transport summit will focus on the infrastructure needs of Melbourne’s outer eastern suburbs and will include presentations on Doncaster rail, Rowville rail as well as Ringwood Station and the Belgrave/Lilydale lines.

While rising petrol prices have led to a reduction in vehicle usage within inner Melbourne, families in Melbourne’s outer suburbs are left struggling under the strain of rising prices due to the lack of readily available public transport.

The State Government must realise that it is time to move on from transport neglect and towards an era of major public transport expansion to provide transport choice for Melbourne’s outer suburbs. Only a significant boost to public transport will provide an alternative to rising petrol prices and reduce greenhouse emissions that are continuing to spiral out of control.

The summit includes a number of prominent transport and planning experts, including Peter Newman, Professor of Sustainability, Curtin University and Professor Graham Currie, Monash University Chair of Public Transport.

Ringwood Station and the importance of Ringwood as a regional centre will feature as one of the topics to be discussed at the summit. I will presenting information on the Ringwood Transit City and the importance of public transport in providing a safe, accessible and vibrant environment at 10:45 am.

The summit entitled ‘It’s Time to Move On’ will be held on Friday the 4th of July from 8:30 am at the Maninngham Function Centre, 699 Doncaster Road in Doncaster.

For further details please visit www.etc.org.au.

The Launch of Youth Voice

Posted on 10 June 2008 by alex

Youth Voice aims to develop a working group sourced from Maroondah schools and community groups to produce a Youth Magazine and provide a voice for students and younger people within Maroondah.

The project was launched at Ringwood Secondary College through an online interactive forum which allowed schools across Victoria to participate. A number of topics were discussed through the forum, including discussion around VCAL and VCE, cyber safety and the Ringwood Transit City and the redevelopment for Ringwood.

The launch also provided an opportunity to explore the Australian Technical College, which is located at Ringwood Secondary. The college provides practical skills development for students seeking a trade vocational career.

The forums, which were conducted via online chatroom functionality, provided an opportunity to receive input from younger people in regard to their vision for Ringwood. A number of younger people cited the need for increased entertainment and public transport, as well as sharing concerns about Ringwood Station. The discussion generated from these students will assist in planning for the future of Ringwood with Council and Queensland Investment Corporation (the owners of Eastland) both participating in the forums.

The Youth Magazine will provide an ongoing mechanism to demonstrate the positive contribution that younger people make. The publication will also encourage participation within our community through strengthening connections and highlighting issues relevant to younger people.

Maroondah Journal: Optimism on transit city funds

Posted on 3 June 2008 by alex

Amid ongoing community anger over the government’s failure to announce funding for the redevelopment of Ringwood Station, the Maroondah Journal has reported on the growing rumours suggesting that an announcement may be delivered by the end of this year.

The State Government is expected to release its response to Sir Rod Eddington’s Inquiry into Melbourne’s transport needs by the end of this year. While the Eddington Inquiry looked solely at the travel needs of Melbourne within the inner eastern and western suburbs, the government will need to provide a whole of Melbourne focus.

Cr Alex Makin said there was an opportunity for the Governemnt to make a commitment to Ringwood.

Given that Eddington recognised the importance of Transit Cities there is an opportunity for the Government to rectify its neglect of the Ringwood Transit City. In particular the station redevelopment would ensure an integrated approach to the creation of a new accessible new town centre.

“There will most likely be a big injection of funds into transport as part of the Eddington Report. There certainly has been further discussion between council and government since the budget. I would be surprised if nothing came out of this.”

The Ringwood Transit City is a project of regional importance and is required to improve the transport choice and urban sustainability of Melbourne’s eastern suburbs. It is critical that the Government delivers funding to demonstrate a commitment to Melbourne’s outer east.