Showing posts with label Wrap Up. Show all posts

My first 170 days!









Well, what a roller coaster ride I have had since becoming a councillor! To start off was a number of high profile council meetings to throw you straight into it! Since then the last few meetings have been very quite!

Many of you may not know what I have been up to so I shall try and give you a bit of a run down of what I have been doing in front and behind the scenes!

I have been trying to meet with many of my local constituents to get a sense of what we really want in our ward, and so far the biggest issues have been, Roads, Zoning, and ah oh yea ROADS! Chandler ward has a large number of unsealed roads and this is going to be my biggest task to try and upgrade our network over the next few years.

Some of you have already contacted me about your road and I have been meeting with Council Officers to try and see what we can do. The Special Charge Scheme is a great way to get your road sealed, this scheme sees the residents paying a portion of the works and the larger percentage the council picks up. Once the road is built, no more money is needed by the residences to pay for maintenance that is now the responsibility of the council. This scheme could see the value of residences increase dramatically, not to mention "no more dust and corrugation!! "

Another project I am looking at is the intersection sealing program which council has. Although this doesn't fix the dust on the dirt roads, it's a start, with sealing of intersections where dirt meets bitumen. For some this is all that is needed, and we could get saround 10 intersections done instead of approx 1km of sealed road.

Our budget is being produced and we are looking at the rates and how we can make it a little less of a burden on all of us, we want to make rate increases the same for the next four years and try and lower them if we can. Now this means some cost savings need to be made in order for this to happen. So we are in the process of looking at ALL areas where we can make some efficiencies. Still have a long way to go so watch this space!

We have made a clear direction to respond to the survey that was recently distributed to all constituents, and from that we have made a rapid change in direction, our intention is to try and redirect an extra 1 MILLION dollars to improve and/or extend our footpath network. So all you Chandler Ward folks, if you have an idea for a footpath, get in fast because this money will go quick!

Councillors have a Ward Fund where we can contribute to community groups and individuals projects to improve our local community. So far I have given just a bit over $8000.00 to these groups

  • Monbulk College
  • Mountain District Car and Bike Show
  • Monbulk Community Quilt Show
  • Macclesfeiled Pony Club
  • Animal Aid
  • Wandin Football & Netball Club
  • Rotary Club of Wandin
  • Melbourne Breast Cancer Bra Walk
  • Golden Memories Karaoke
  • Wandin Nth Primary School
  • Melb Support Services
  • Inner Wheel Club of Wandin
  • Oxfam Australia
  • Seville Pre-School
  • Monbulk Jnr Football Club
  • CFA
So I still have some funding left, if you know of a community group looking for some assistance let me know!

A bigger and longer issue I am facing is the Planning Scheme HOLD before you start throwing tomatoes at me, let me tell you I am supportive of change, but only if it will enhance our way of living in the yarra ranges!

I have had a number of requests to look at the Green Wedge Zone, as I have many in the ward wanting to change this. Can I say from the outset, as an individual applicant, It would be extremely difficult to get it changed, but if there are many in the same area wanting change, this can be looked at more favourably.

So hopefully my next 170 days will see some big news come out regarding our budget, strategic plan, and infrastructure in the yarra ranges! Keep me informed of whats happening out there!

Bye for now! "join me on facebook and twitter!"

Ward Wrap Up


 
 
 
 
 
Well here’s this week’s episode of Ward Wrap Up.

Tuesday 12th was our Council Meeting; again we had a full house! Agenda Items such as

 

o   The Healesville Saw Mill Site Redevelopment. Motion to deny application (Unanimous).

o   Mooroolbark – Building of 10 dwellings – Approved.

o   Amendment request to Clarify Provision Relating to the Emerald Tourist Railway Board (Puffing Billy). Some questions needed answering and an amendment to the motion was carried.

o   Questions and Submissions from the Public.

o   Councillor Motions - Motion to Rescind a Resolution and Adopt an Alternative Motion. Ethical Paper Pledge – Again the motion was lost 5 to 4.

 

Saturday 16th was our planning and budget day which a lot of options were discussed, the Council officers will be reporting back over the next few weeks to give all of us some options regarding our budget spending. We also discussed the survey results and the main theme it seemed was “back to basics” so that has well and truly been heard.

 

Sunday 17th I headed off to Baynes Park Monbulk to catch up with the volunteers of Landcare. They are doing a great job around the park  getting rid of the weed problem. Great work guys!

 

On Monday 18th we had the great pleasure of hosting the Collingwood Football team at a small civic reception at Lillydale Lake. Councillors MCarthy, MCallister, and Childs were also there to welcome the team. Later that evening we headed to Rochford Wineries for the Collingwood dinner fundraiser (for Healesville Football Club) was a great turn out and I’m sure there were a few bucks raised on the night.

 

Tuesday 19th was our forum meeting; we had a visit from CFA to talk about the Bushfire Management Overlay, and also a representative from VGV to talk about property valuations.

 

Wednesday 20th I was looking forward to my first Agribusiness meeting but I had to head into the Alfred Hospital and it was a nightmare on the roads getting home! Sorry guys will catch you at the next one!

 

Thursday 20th – I headed into the VLGA’s offices to attend the “Being Deputy Mayor” workshop, was great to network with other councillor in the role and get many different points of views.

 

Sunday 24th – Was disappointed I missed out on the Billy Cart Races in Upwey, I headed down round 3pm and it was all finished, bugger! Oh well, I’ll definitely get there next year! Looked like a great day!

 

As you can see, I have a new blog design, thanks to the guys in IT helping me out, I have added a survey on the page, would like to hear from you, it’s just a one tick survey (Poll). Also I have added when I’m next at the Monbulk Living and Learning Centre, this will be a time where you can come and have a chat with me and see if I can help out in anyway.

 

See you all again soon, keep an eye out on my blog for updates!

Jason's Weekly Wrap


Hi all, well this is the 1st edition of “JC’s wrap up of the week” so it’s going to have a bit more than a “week’s worth” of wrapping! This is an initiative to give you a rundown of what, who and where I have been over the last week - also what is planned for me in the coming week!

Well now that Xmas and the Near Year is over, it’s time to get down to business! I had a little break with the family in Thailand which was great! Just before heading off though I attended the launch of the Community Alert Siren Project at the Monbulk CFA station on the 10th January. This initiative was a result of the recommendations from the Bushfire Royal Commission. The alerts will be familiar to most of us up here in the Yarra Valley as they are the CFA alert sirens you hear when they go out on a call, however if the siren is activated due to an incident in your local area that may impact on you, it will sound for 5 min rather than the short burst you hear normally.This will tell you to “seek further information”. This can be from many sources e.g. radio (ABC), Internet (CFA Website), Phone (CFA App), TV (ABC). Please take note that the siren is an indication that there is something happening near you. Do not use it as your “only” source of emergency information.  Local and state MPs, along with CFA representatives, also attended, along with Minister for Bushfire Response Peter Ryan who was lucky enough to test it.

Next was a trip up to Olinda for the annual “Ridge top brigades family fun and information” day on the 3rd of February. I got to see the local emergency services showcase their appliances and equipment which was fascinating seeing how much they do carry! Mayor Jim Childs and Cr Noel Cliff also attended the event. My daughter was lucky enough to get “butterflies” painted on her face - I resisted the opportunity though.

“Behind the Scenes”

All council members will soon be putting their heads together for a “planning forum” where we will see the results of our community survey and which will set the direction of Yarra Ranges Council for the next few years. I for one will be looking forward to this as this is where we can really make a difference into the “focus” of this council!
The communications team along with myself have been designing and will soon deliver a “pamphlet” to all my constituents which includes information about who I am and my contact details. As I am new, not many of you really know me. I will be making use of the Monbulk Living and Learning Centre as a place to meet you.

Part of my role as a councillor is to sit on a number of community committees. These committees range from local township groups to “shirewide” multi agency committees. The committees I am sitting on are:

  • Municipal Emergency Management Planning Committee
  • Fire Management Planning Committee
  • Health and Wellbeing Advisory Committee
  • Community Safety Committee
  • Seville Township Group
  • MADCOW

Most of these committees meet monthly or quarterly to discuss issues ranging from what the community is saying, to strategic planning for our shire’s future. Your input into these groups is essential to ensure plans that are produced are appropriate.


Upcoming Open Council Meetings

This week’s council meeting will be held this Tuesday the 12th February. Agenda items are:

  • The Healesville Saw Mill Site Redevelopment.
  • Mooroolbark – Building of 10 dwellings
  • Amendment request to Clarify Provision Relating to the Emerald Tourist Railway Board (Puffing Billy).
  • Questions and Submissions from the Public - Mt Evelyn Skate Park
  • Councillor Motions - Motion to Rescind a Resolution and Adopt an Alternative Motion. Ethical Paper Pledge.

Some of these agenda items are of a high public and emotional nature. I have a responsibility to ensure that I represent both the community and the council appropriately to ensure a balanced perspective and approach.

I look forward to hearing from you soon, and hope that this “wrap up” will serve as a bit of an idea on what we are doing.

I can always be contacted through a number of means such as:

E: crjasoncallanan@yarraranges.vic.gov.au
Ph:  03 9737 9736
Mail: 15 Anderson St Lilydale
Facebook: /crjasoncallanan
Twitter : @YRC_JCallanan
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