Tag: Urban Sustainability

Maroondah Climate Change Action Group – discussing climate change

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This evening I was invited to speak with the Maroondah Climate Change Action Group to discuss climate change and the need for ongoing action at a local level to reduce greenhouse emissions.

The continued growth of the Maroondah Climate Change Action Group demonstrates that the community is increasingly concerned about greenhouse emissions and the need for action. Priorities for the group include the need to set goals to achieve carbon neutrality so as to reduce greenhouse emissions within both council and the wider community.

I also discussed the need for improvements in public transport to provide transport choice for residents and thus reduce emissions caused by transport, which contribute up to half of a household’s emissions. The transport sector is the fastest growing sector of greenhouse emissions nationwide and Federal leadership is required in regard to urban transport if there is any hope of achieving serious greenhouse reduction targets by 2020.

Issues like climate change require ongoing Federal, State and Local initiatives and it is imperative that all levels of government commit to improving our urban sustainability.

Croydon Conservation Society 2008 AGM

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The Croydon Conservation Society (CCS) is Maroondah’s oldest and largest conservation and environmental society. The Society aims to promote urban sustainability within Maroondah to preserve the leafy image of the municipality.

Tonight’s meeting included a presentation from Phil Turner, the Director of Major Projects and Planning of Maroondah City Council, who discussed the Ringwood Transit City and the aim to revitalise central Ringwood. Urban sustainability, through promoting water and energy efficiency and sustainable forms of transport will be critical to the success of Ringwood. It is imperative that the proposed redevelopment of central Ringwood and the next stage of Eastland incorporates sustainability, as well as a high standard of accessibility, to ensure a vibrant town centre that all people can enjoy.

Likewise, the redevelopment of Ringwood Station will underpin sustainable transport, through promoting walking, cycling and public transport usage. The station upgrade must be delivered in the upcoming State Budget and supported through upgrades to bus services within Maroondah.

Tonight’s AGM also included the election of office bearers for the next twelve months. I am pleased to announce that I have been elected Treasurer of the Croydon Conservation Society for the upcoming year. I have had a long association with the CCS, since we jointly organised a public meeting over transport issues back in 2004 and I am delighted to be part of the committee.

Urban sustainability is a looming issue for Maroondah and it is imperative that we meet these challenges.

Delegates' Report: 2008 has begun

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Thank you, there are several events that I wish to comment upon to keep council and the community informed.

On the 24th of January I attended the first Eastern Transport Coalition meeting for 2008 as the delegated Maroondah representative. This meeting included a workshop to determine the ETC’s priorities for this year. The ETC has had a tremendous success over the past few years and Maroondah has been front and centre in the advocacy for public transport improvements. In 2006 the ETC successfully advocated for the abolition of zone three, saving outer eastern residents, including people in Maroondah up to a $1000 per annum. Last year the ETC was focused on the need for federal funding of urban public transport. While the Federal Government still has not accepted its role in the provision of urban public transport infrastructure; the calls for national leadership in urban sustainability are growing stronger, with the ETC joined by other transport and planning groups, the business community and the local governments across Australia.

This year the ETC will be focusing on both the Federal and State Governments, particularly since the Ringwood to Frankston SmartBus will begin operating in late March. This improvement, which will provide a fast, frequent and direct service between Ringwood, Knox, Dandenong and Frankston provides the ideal foundation for further public transport improvements.

The need for federal leadership in urban sustainability was recently conveyed in a recent Committee for Economic Development of Australia (CEDA) discussion on national priorities for transport. This forum, which was also attended by Cr. Naylor, expressed the need for a national transport strategy that encompasses people and freight across all modes, including public transport.

As the two well renowned speakers explained, Australia is currently unsustainable with the continued major road building not being economically viable or environmentally prudent. If Australia is serious about meeting greenhouse reduction targets we need Federal leadership to curb rising pollution due to the transport sector, the fastest growing source of greenhouse emissions.

On, the 12th of February I was invited to Enjoying Planned Retirement’s bocce afternoon. EPR organises a number of activities and provides bocce and a barbecue at Norwood Park in Ringwood North, every second and fourth Tuesday from January through to March. Unfortunately the occasion was marred by the theft of EPR’s barbecue. It is dismaying that someone would choose to steal from one of our community groups, particularly since the barbecue was dedicated to Ron Ginger, a former President and committed EPR member who unfortunately passed away a few years ago. While EPR, in their typical jovial fashion, made the best of the afternoon it is disappointing that this theft occurred.

On a lighter note, I would also like to take this opportunity to congratulate the many community stall holders and the dedicated council staff at Sunday’s Maroondah Festival. I did not receive a single negative comment about this year’s festival and council staff must be commended for organising such an awesome event.

Activating Communities: Communities for Public Transport at the Sustainable Living Festival

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Melbourne’s Sustainable Living Festival, held at Federation Square, is Victoria’s premiere festival celebrating and promoting urban sustainability.

As part of the proceedings, I delivered a presentation on the aims of Communities for Public Transport and the need for grassroots advocacy for public transport improvements. Ultimately a lack of public transport affects local communities, through failure to deliver the necessary infrastructure to ensure urban sustainability.

The lack of public transport infrastructure within the growth areas of Melbourne, such as South Morang, Werribee, Cranbourne and Pakenham, is a major concern since until these areas are provided with the necessary public transport improvements, Mellbourne will always face a losing battle in regard to sustainability.

It is inexcusable for the State Govenrment to deprive growth areas of public transport, given the widely acknowledged costs of congestion, social isolation and greenhouse emissions. A lack of public transport ultimately affects all of Melbourne, with cars from the outer suburbs flooding inner city roads. As a result local communities right across Melbourne need to find their voice to ensure action from all levels of government.

Croydon Conservation Society first meeting for 2008

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The Croydon Conservation Society (CCS) has resumed its committee meetings for 2008. Tonight’s meeting discussed urban sustainability and the recent tour of the CERES environment park. The CCS is one of Maroondah’s most renowned conservation groups and its input into Amendment C58, which covered the Ringwood Transit City, has helped strengthen Maroondah’s ability to encourage urban sustainability.

Amendment C58 allows Council to encourage sustainable water, energy and transport designs, reducing the carbon footprint of new developments and thus improving the urban sustainability of the Ringwood Transit City.

The Croydon Conservation Society meets every second Tuesday in Croydon. For further details please visit http://home.vicnet.net.au/~croycons.

Croydon Conservation Society meeting

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The Croydon Conservation Society (CCS) is a conservation and environmental group that is dedicated to improving the sustainability of the urban and natural environments within Maroondah. Focal points include canopy tree coverage, remnant bushland, sustainable transport, planning outcomes and anti-graffiti measures.

The CCS is particularly focused on policy development to ensure that all tiers of government, including Maroondah City Council, encourage urban sustainability.

The Croydon Conservation Society meets on the second Thursday of each month. For details please visit www.croydonconservation.org.au

Eastern Transport Coalition meeting for 2008

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The Eastern Transport Coalition consists of seven outer eastern metropolitan councils (Maroondah, Knox, Whitehorse, Yarra Ranges, Manningham, Monash and Greater Dandenong) and is a regional based advocacy group that lobbies for better public transport in Melbourne’s outer east.

The Eastern Transport Coalition meets on a monthly basis to discuss the transport priorities of the region and to further its advocacy for public transport. I have been Maroondah’s delegated representative on the Eastern Transport Coalition since my election in November 2005 and have been re-appointed as the delegate for 2008.

I have served as the Deputy Chair of the Eastern Transport Coalition and was re-elected into this role for 2008.

For more information on the Eastern Transport Coalition please visit www.etc.org.au.

Media Release: Rudd Government can end blame game in public transport

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The Metropolitan Transport Forum (MTF) and Eastern Transport Coalition (ETC), jointly representing 26 Melbourne Councils, have asked the Rudd Federal Government, to contribute to funding major urban public transport infrastructure projects.

Both organisations also called on the Victorian Government to seek changes to Auslink to allow funding of public transport.

Cr Jackie Fristacky, MTF Deputy Chair and Cr Alex Makin, Acting Chairperson of the ETC, said there is broad agreement on the need for the Commonwealth to resume funding public transport, in the same manner as it does roads.

“The Australian Local Government Association (ALGA) recently resolved that it will continue to campaign forfederal funding of urban transport systems, a position supported by both the MTF and ETC.

“The new Rudd government has a policy supporting Commonwealth funding; the Federal ALP platform states:

“ensure that Australians have access to adequate transport services by providing appropriate financial assistance to State governments to improve and extend public transport systems in urban areas.”

“The Victorian Government advocated in 2006, for Auslink to include urban public transport.

“With a consensus that we need to take strong action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, we are urging the new government to implement this policy and do what the last Federal ALP Government did, fund urban public transport.

“There are many projects in Victoria that require substantial capital investment and which would deliver large benefits in reducing greenhouse gas emissions, congestion and prohibitive costs of transport for struggling families.

“The Victorian Government could seek Commonwealth contribution to any one of a number of projects; examples being,

  • Rail to Doncaster
  • Rail to South Morang
  • Rail to Rowville
  • Rail to Torquay

“We look forward to the end of the blame game in public transport,” Cr Fristacky and Cr Makin concluded.

For more information or comment:

Cr. Alex Makin (ETC) Mobile: 0408 311 645
Cr Jackie M Fristacky (MTF) Mobile: 0412 597 794

Walking school bus end of year function

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The Walking School Bus program encourages schoolchildren to walk to school in a safe and friendly environment. The ‘bus’ consists of parents who walk children to school along a predetermined route to and from school. Through participating in the program, children are able to engage in regular physical activity, helping to reduce the looming health issues of childhood obesity.

Walking is also critical to revitalising our suburbs and encouraging a culture of walking will improve our urban sustainability, through reducing car dependence, traffic congestion and greenhouse emissions.

The Walking School Bus program, which is principally funded by local councils (with some assistance from VicHealth), was initially revoked by Maroondah City Council in 2005 before having its funding reinstated in 2006 amid a successful community campaign and the support of councillors such as myself and Jo-anne Taylor.

Today’s function provided an opportunity to thank the teachers, parents and council officers who are involved in the program. Maroondah Council will continue its commitment to the Walking School Bus program with funding being secured for 2008. This ongoing funding will provide support for the thirteen schools that are involved in the program.

While cost shifting has occurred with the Walking School Bus program (which was initially jointly funded between VicHealth and councils), it is imperative that our children do not become the target of cheap political point scoring between different levels of government. The Walking School Bus program provides a number of benefits and its continuation is definitely warranted.

Maroondah Environment Workshop: Climate Change and the Community

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Maroondah’s first environment workshop ‘All About Climate Change’ provided an introduction to the issues and challenges caused by climate change, as well as exploring potential solutions.

The workshop had a strong attendance and proved to be successful in discussing climate change. Tonight’s event served as the first part of this workshop and the second part, to be held next Tuesday evening, will examine potential solutions to climate change that can be undertaken at a local level.

I would like to thank members of the community who took the time to attend tonight’s workshop. A strong community response demonstrates that climate change is an issue within our community and one which requires a response from council.

It is anticipated that further climate change and environment events will be held throughout 2008 to ensure that Maroondah embraces urban sustainability.

As part of the proceedings, I had the pleasure of opening the workshop. Please continue reading this post to view a copy of the speech I delivered:

Continue reading “Maroondah Environment Workshop: Climate Change and the Community”