Eastlink Corridor Community Cabinet Newsletter
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EastLink Corridor Community Cabinet Newsletter August 2008 Inside this issue: Cabinet consults with the EastLink Corridor communities EastLink benefits continue to ride home Local business a winner! Improved connections for local business Chisholm Institute of TAFE receives connectivity boost On behalf of the Victorian Government I would like to thank the EastLink Corridor communities for contributing to the success of Community Cabinet on Tuesday 15 July 2008. Our visit to the EastLink Corridor communities was the 84th Community Cabinet visit since the program began. I strongly believe these meetings remain the best way for our Government to listen and act upon community concerns. I was especially delighted by the participation of the people of the EastLink Corridor communities - Manningham, Maroondah, Whitehorse, Knox, Greater Dandenong, Monash and Frankston. It is clear that these communities care about their future, and also those of all Victorians. During the visit, Education Minister, Bronwyn Pike inspected progress on the Dandenong High School redevelopment, where the $10 million, first stage of capital works has started. Ms Pike said construction of the first of three Student Learning Centres and refurbishment of the library resource centre is currently under way at Dandenong High School and the project signals an exciting time ahead for education in the local area. “We want to ensure that students in Melbourne’s south east are given the very best educational opportunities and are part of a vibrant and thriving school community,” she said. The redevelopment is due to be completed next year with a further $10 million allocated to Stage Two constructions. On the day, Minister for Public Transport, Lynne Kosky, announced the introduction of a new loop bus route to the Doncaster area linking major shopping precincts and local attractions. Ms Kosky said the new loop bus would be introduced from late 2008 and would link in with other major bus services including the Eastern Freeway and express services to the CBD. The new Manningham City loop bus service is part of the Government’s commitment to improving transport services for people in Melbourne’s east. The positive response from the people of the EastLink Corridor communities assures us that our Community Cabinet visits remain a valuable, worthwhile exercise for the Government of Victoria. The Hon. John Brumby MP Premier of Victoria Cabinet consults with EastLink Corridor Communities Residents were invited to a community discussion with Ministers, and senior government officials, when members of Cabinet were in their area for Community Cabinet. A Community Discussion on “New Opportunities to Secure Our Economic Future was held in EastLink Corridor communities to discuss some of the matters facing the region. Local residents and members from community groups raised a broad range of topics. Issues discussed during the Community Discussion session included:
A Business Roundtable with the Treasurer, John Lenders, was also held at Maroondah City Council offices during the EastLink Corridor visit. There was a combined Community Reception that was held in Frankston where approximately 320 people met face-to-face with Ministers. Local residents and members from community groups and organisations such as Manningham Young Citizen of the Year, Vermont South Community House, Asian Business Association of Whitehorse, Outer East Primary Care Partnership, Ringwood Cricket Club, Scoresby Secondary College, Outer Eastern Literacy Program, Monash University, Monashlink Community Health Service, Link Employment and Training, Statewide Autistic Services Incorporated, Dandenong and District Aborigines Cooperative attended. Photo 01: Minister for Planning, Justin Madden, speaks with members of the community at the Community Discussion that was held in Ringwood East. Photo 02: Back row L-R: Cr Gough, Manningham Mayor, Ms Wilson, Manningham CEO, Mr Marasco, Maroondah CEO, Mr Conran, Monash CEO, Mr Emonson, Knox CEO, Mr Smith, Whitehorse, Acting CEO. Front row L-R: Cr Dib, Maroondah Mayor, Cr Banerji, Monash Mayor, Premier John Brumby, Cr Koutras, Whitehorse Mayor, and Cr Penna, Knox Mayor. Photo 03: Premier John Brumby speaks with attendees at the EastLink Corridor Community Reception in Frankston. Local business a winner! Brumby visits the Large Business category winner of the 2008 Premier’s Sustainability Awards. Premier John Brumby visited local business, Davey Water Products, at its headquarters in the Caribbean Gardens Industrial Park, Scoresby during his EastLink Corridor visit as part of Community Cabinet. Davey Water Products was the recipient of the Large Business Award in the 2008 Premier’s Sustainability Awards, which recognises innovation and rewards outstanding achievement in the sustainable use of our natural resources for the benefit of all Victorians. On site, Premier Brumby inspected a suite of water products developed by Davey, including the RainBank, which stores rain water for toilet and laundry applications. Davey has become a leader in the development of automatic rainwater harvesting controllers, using its own product to reduce their water consumption. Over the past year, Davey has collected nearly two million litres of rain water which has been used during their manufacturing process, saving 90 per cent of the site’s water consumption so far. Mr Brumby said that it was great to see Victorian businesses working to reduce their environmental footprint and using resources in innovative ways. Twelve months ago Davey established cross functional environmental teams to address aspects of landfill wastes, recycling and emissions. Davey is an example of where industry can contribute to water conservation through sustainable internal practices. Photo 04: Premier Brumby meets Davey Water Products employee, Gloria McNamara, while touring the facility. Photo 05: The Premier, along with David Cleland and Max Ekins from Davey Water Products, inspects one of the products in their range. EastLink benefits continue to ride home The Victorian Government officially opened the new $26 million EastLink walking and cycling Trail which will provide recreational benefits to the communities along the EastLink Corridor. Premier John Brumby, along with Minister for Roads and Ports, Tim Pallas and Minister for Environment and Climate Change, Gavin Jennings, officially opened the new $26 million EastLink walking and cycling Trail during their visit to the EastLink Corridor as part of Community Cabinet. The new 35 kilometre EastLink Trail is Melbourne’s largest sealed pedestrian and bicycle path connecting Donvale and Dandenong South. It is part of the $2.5 billion EastLink project and provides a journey through preserved bushland of the Mullum Mullum Park. Mr Brumby said the EastLink Trail is a massive addition to our bicycle network and allows people to ride all the way from central Melbourne to Carrum on a series of connected paths. The Trail passes through the Mullum Mullum Park, ensuring minimum disruption to the natural vegetation and fauna and the construction of six new timber bridges enables view of surrounding wetlands and swamps. Minister Pallas said the EastLink Trail featured a range of pedestrian overpasses and would eventually house around $1 million in public artwork. “The EastLink Trail is great news for the community, providing another transport route, or a safe environment for enjoyment and exercise”, he said. Additional funding has been allocated to the Trail to ensure the ongoing management of the bushlands by Parks Victoria for the enjoyment of the community and future generations. Photo 06: Premier Brumby, along with Roads and Ports Minister, Tim Pallas, and Minister for Environment and Climate Change, Gavin Jennings, officially open the Mullum Mullum section of the EastLink Trail. Photo 07: The Premier chats with members of the Julia Blunden Cycling Group at the opening of the Mullum Mullum section of the EastLink Trail. Photo 08: Cyclists embrace the Mullum Mullum section of the EastLink Trail. Improved connections for local business A move to Dandenong changes productivity levels for one business. During the visit to the EastLink Corridor, Minister for Roads and Ports, Tim Pallas, along with the Premier Brumby, visited local business, Hilton Manufacturing in Dandenong South. After moving to the area four years ago, Hilton Manufacturing is one of the businesses benefiting from the early opening of EastLink. Mr Pallas said many businesses, particularly in the manufacturing, freight and logistics industries have targeted land around EastLink as a primary opportunity for growth because they know it makes good business sense. “The value of time savings and reduced vehicle costs is benefiting companies like Hilton Manufacturing, which was reporting time savings of 40 minutes on a round trip between Dandenong and Ringwood”, Mr Pallas said. Managing Director of Hilton Manufacturing, Todd Hartley, said that moving closer to EastLink had already proven a success, with travel times slashed and many workers saving time travelling to and from work. Photo 09: The Premier discusses Hilton Manufacturing processes with employee Neil Wood. Chisholm Institute of TAFE receives connectivity boost Equipment and wireless services to be improved at Chisholm as part of the Government’s commitment to boost Victoria’s TAFE facilities. Minister for Skills and Workforce Participation, Jacinta Allan, announced more than $1.68 million in technology upgrades to the Chisholm Institute of TAFE during her Community Cabinet in the area. Ms Allan said the Government is taking action to build a world-class training system that will deliver for students, industry, business and the Victorian economy. “The funding will be used to upgrade equipment and to establish a pilot wireless network that will improve online access across the institute’s six campuses,” she said. Government funding will provide:
The funding for this project is part of a $20 million package to upgrade Victorian TAFE facilities. Photo 10: [No image] Front Page: Option 1: Premier Brumby chats with Valda Arrowsmith from the Whitehorse Historical Society during his visit to the EastLink Corridor. For more information call 1300 366 356 Cost of a local call from anywhere in Victoria If you would like to receive this publication in an accessible format, such as large print or audio, please telephone (03) 9651 5094, (03) 9651 5814 (TTY), or email comcab@minstaff.vic.gov.au. This document is also available in PDF and Word format on the Internet at www.premier.vic.gov.au. Authorised by John Brumby, 1 Treasury Place, Melbourne. |
