Page 1 Monash Bulletin October 2023 Micro forest maximum impact!(photo) Inside this issue: Community Safety Month, New Playgrounds, Dorrington Early Years Hub, Atkinson Street Cycleway Page 2 Bulletin Cover Micro forest maximum impact! We are thrilled to unveil Melbourne first micro forest at Wellington Reserve in Mulgrave. The micro forest is helping to lead a world-wide movement to support afforestation and introduce dense native forest environments into our urban areas, where they can play an important role to cool down our cities, provide habitats, absorb carbon and fight climate change. Our micro forest is created using indigenous plants, through upper, middle, and low storey plantings, to provide habitat for native birds, butterflies, and other wildlife. To be fully sustainable, we utilised 106 tonnes of recycled soil, compost and sand, repurposed tree logs and more than 650 local indigenous plants to build the forest. Creation of this new micro forest was made possible thanks to more than 90 residents and several local businesses and community groups, including a collaboration with Melbourne University and a generous Victorian Government ‘Our Catchments, Our Community grant. The initiative represents our commitment to increase tree canopy cover across our city to 30% by 2040 and is just another way we are working to realise our vision for a more Sustainable Monash. Jack Edwards redevelopment closer to kick-off Planning for the new grandstand and pavilion at Oakleigh Jack Edwards Reserve has progressed, with the project moving to the detailed design phase. Home of the Oakleigh Cannons, the current National Premier League Victoria champions and 2023 Dockerty Cup winners, the redevelopment will see facilities upgraded to provide a new pavilion that meets the requirements for an NPL venue, including four female friendly change rooms; two female friendly referees change rooms; a large social space and outdoor deck; first aid room; timekeeper and media room; 500-seat grandstand; and an upgrade of the field lighting to LED. The total project budget is $14.7M, and includes an $8.2M commitment from Council, $4M from the Victorian Government, $2M from the Australian Government and $500,000 from the Oakleigh Cannons. Detailed designs will be completed by November with construction planned to start in April 2024 and finish in late 2025. Visit shape.monash.vic.gov.au/jack-edwards-pavilion Page 3 Message from Mayor Cr Tina Samardzija We all know the benefits of keeping fit, not only for our physical health but also for our mental health and wellbeing. But it can be hard to find the right information, and difficult to make time for yourself when you have a new baby or children. Often mums put themselves last. As a mum, I know the challenges of carving out some time for my own exercise. But it is so important that we do, for our families as well as ourselves. Soon I will be launching a new initiative that assists new mums to find information and support on how to stay active and well. And information to help all women and girls in Monash find where they can get involved in sport and recreation. Determining Council budget for the year and what services and projects should be funded requires your input. We want our decisions on funding local roads, footpaths, sporting facilities, playspaces and other infrastructure to reflect what is important to the community. You can read more about our engagement on the budget process in this edition of the Bulletin – soon we will be out and about to hear from you in person or you can provide your feedback via our Shape online page. If you visit our civic centre in Glen Waverley you will notice a change. We have used the stunning Reconciliation Action Plan artwork by Marcus Lee Design (Community support and partnerships 2022, commissioned for the City of Monash Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) 2022-2024, digital art) to create Wominjeka (Welcome) signage on our front counter. We are also bringing this amazing signage to our Oakleigh Service Centre. It is another initiative from our RAP to increase representation for First Nations peoples. Please contact me anytime if you have any queries or feedback at Tina.Samardzija@monash.vic.gov.au or 0435 011 927. SAFETY FIRST: We celebrate Community Safety Month Every October, Monash celebrates Community Safety Month with a range of events and get-togethers where people can learn fun, engaging and practical ways to keep themselves and our community safe. This year program is aimed at all ages, with family-friendly activities such as storytimes and a Teddy Bears World Tour, as well as an exciting chance to peek inside an ambulance and police car at The Glen on Saturday 7 October. For older residents, we have informative sessions on home safety, legal rights and how to recognise elder abuse. The program also features games nights, bystander training, online security workshops, anti-racism workshops and some in-language programs in Mandarin. We all have a role to play in keeping our community safe. Learn what you can do by browsing our Community Safety Month program at www.monash.vic.gov.au/community-safety Page 4 IT iS PLAYTIME: new playspaces are open New playspaces at Flora Road Reserve (Clayton) and Atheldene Drive Reserve (Glen Waverley) are now open for the public to enjoy. There is lots to explore at Flora Road Reserve upgraded playspace, including a new slide, monkey bars and climbing wall, toddler and basket-seat swings, an accessible spinner, a rocker and a shop front/cubby house. Other exciting nature play elements include balance logs and rocks, a log table and chairs set, garden beds and flowering trees. New interactive features at the Atheldene Drive Reserve pocket playspace include a play fort with slide, tunnel, firefighter pole and sensory bars, curvy monkey bars, swings with toddler and sling seats, pull-up and dip bars, a rocker, and logs and rocks for nature play and balance. Visit www.monash.vic.gov.au/playspace-upgrades Reusable nappies Your questions answered Disposable nappies can cost a whopping $3,600 per child by the time they reach the age of two-and-a-half. Switching to reusables can save around $2,270 per child during that time. Using just one reusable nappy can stop 365 nappies a year going to landfill and benefit the household budget, save space in your bin and have health benefits by avoiding the chemicals found in disposables nappies. We are hosting three community workshops to help parents understand how to use reusable nappies. Workshops are part of The Nappy Project, a collaboration of 12 Victorian Councils to implement the findings of the Reusable Nappy Feasibility Study. The project is funded by Sustainability Victoria Circular Economy Councils Fund.  Fri 20 Oct at 10am, Civic Centre, 293 Springvale Rd, Glen Waverley Sat 21 Oct at 10am, Cabena Child and Family Centre, 22 Cabena Crescent, Chadstone Sat 25 Nov at 10am, Civic Centre, 293 Springvale Rd, Glen Waverley  Bookings are essential. Visit www.thenappyproject.com.au Get involved Applications are now open for Council events. We Are looking for stallholders, food vendors, performers, artists and community groups to register their interest. Call 9518 3636 , #ThisisMonash visit www.monash..vic..gov..au//festivals Page 5 GETTING TO WORK on a new Early Years Hub Exciting works are underway at the new Dorrington Child and Family Hub in Mount Waverley. We are partnering with the Victorian Government to deliver a modern, integrated early years centre that offers local families better access to services under the one roof. The new hub provides: * Two kindergarten rooms and outdoor learning environments * A multi-purpose room/playgroup space with facilities to support children with sensory processing differences and neurodivergent people * A new base for Council Maternal and Child Health (MCH) Sleep and Settling Service and MCH lactation program, which includes a parents lounge, day-stay sleep rooms, office, and adjacent courtyard garden. Council will contribute $1.8M towards this vital project with the Victorian Government contributing $4.5M. Demolition of the existing building on the site starts in late 2023, with construction occurring in 2024 and delivery of the hub for service in 2025. Dorrington will be the fourth Child and Family Hub Council has delivered, following the award-winning Wellington Child and Family Hub in Mulgrave, Pinewood Child and Family Hub in Mount Waverley, and the currently-in-progress Oakleigh South Child and Family Hub. Visit www.monash.vic.gov.au/dorrington Further SRL details released Council welcomed the detail recently released by the Victorian Government about the Suburban Rail Loop, including further community consultation, and a timeline for tunnelling work and precinct planning. We encourage community members to take part in the Victorian Government consultation, visit engage.vic.gov.au/precincts-discussion-paper before 24 October. Our spaces are for community Gambling Harm Awareness Week runs from 16 October - 22 October. Council new gambling harm reduction measures will ensure our community spaces are free from gambling advertising or sponsorship. We believe our community spaces are places for people to keep fit, learn new skills, or get to know each other, and not for the advertising of gambling venues, poker machines or sports betting. Our measures look to make an impact on the latest data that shows $122.5 million was taken by electronic gaming machines (EGMs) in Monash during the 2022/2023 financial year. This is the largest amount taken in Monash since 2008/2009 and means the total taken per day by EGMs is around $335,600. Visit www.monash.vic.gov.au/gambling New sporting grants available to clubs New one-off grants are available to local sporting clubs to help transition away from fundraising and sponsorship arrangements with venues with EGMs or gambling companies and to help implement gambling harm reduction measures. For more info and to apply for a one-off sports club grant email monash.grants@monash.vic.gov.au Page 6 Have your say Atkinson Street Cycleway Planning to provide a cycling connection between Djerring Trail and Scotchmans Creek Trail in Oakleigh has progressed with a preferred design option now available for public consultation. We are proposing to build a protected connection between the two trails, encouraging people of all ages and abilities to ride a bike. This will improve safety around the Oakleigh Activity Centre and set up an important north-south cycling link within the City. We will move existing low-quality bike lanes to a protected cycleway on the east side of Atkinson Street, boosting confidence to ride a bike and encouraging more people to choose active transport for their local journeys. The proposal will mean the removal of parking spaces on the east side of Atkinson Street between Atherton Road and Dandenong Road, which will significantly improve safety for residents exiting their driveways and side streets by improving sight lines. To find out more and to provide us with your feedback before 9 October: shape.monash.vic.gov.au/trail-connection Monash budget and planning Each year we prepare an annual budget that considers funding services to the community, as well as investment in works like roads, footpaths, and other infrastructure. To ensure this budget responds to our community, Monash Council is committed to seeking feedback early in the budgeting process. Visit shape.monash.vic.gov.au/budget24-25 from 1 October to 19 November to: * Give input on the issues and projects on which we advocate on behalf of our community * Provide ideas to limit expenditure or increase revenue via our online budgeting tool * Submit a detailed proposal on something you think we could fund, with the opportunity to present this directly to Councillors later in the year. Our team will also be in the community to hear from people: * Wed 4 Oct, 9.30am-12pm,Positive Ageing Forum, Mulgrave Community Centre, 355 Wellington Rd, Mulgrave * Sun 22 Oct, 8am-12pm, Mulgrave Farmers Market. Gladeswood Dr, Mulgrave * Sun 19 Nov, 11am-1pm, Free Family Fun Day.Batesford Reserve, Chadstone Live Music Strategy We invite you to have your say on the development of a new Live Music Action Plan to support and grow an active, rich, and diverse music culture within Monash. This Music Plan aims to develop our community capacity, increase participation and assist our music sector to flourish. The plan will provide a road map for Council to support musicians, music businesses, music activity, and cultural places and spaces across Monash. You can participate in our online survey or find out more information at shape.monash.vic.gov.au/lmap Page 7 COUNCILLOR NEWS Cr Anjalee de Silva I am excited to share with you that our civic centre now has a wonderful new First Nations welcome. As some residents may know, Wominjeka means - welcome - in Wurundjeri Woi-Wurrung, the mother tongue of the traditional owners of the land. I also recently attended the Indigenous Round at Waverley Hockey Club (pictured). It is wonderful to see our community honouring our country Aboriginal heritage in so many diverse ways. Sovereignty has never been ceded, and I am proud to be able to work alongside First Peoples towards Voice, Treaty and Truth. At our July meeting, Council reaffirmed its support for the Uluru Statement from the Heart and commitment to Makarrata, truth-telling, justice, and reconciliation. Council decided to officially support the Yes campaign for the Constitutional Recognition of an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice to Parliament, noting the continuing importance of Treaty. Council will be communicating its position to the Monash community over the coming weeks ahead of the referendum, and will also be providing advice on where to seek reliable information on the referendum in languages other than English. The new Dorrington Child and Family Hub has been slated for construction in 2025. Council has been working on securing a second new child and family hub in Mount Waverley for some time, mirroring the great success of the recent hub development in Pinewood. This Hub will include two 33-place kindergarten rooms inclusive of outdoor learning environments, a purpose built area for the Maternal and Child Health (MCH) Sleep and Settling Service, and a playgroup space with facilities to support sensory needs and neurodiverse participants. A wonderful addition to Mount Waverley Ward. Finally, I have been spending a lot of time speaking to residents and ratepayers in Ashwood and Chadstone recently, noting a range of issues. I would love to hear from you if you live, work, study, or play in these neighbourhoods, as I plan to work with colleagues and Council Officers over the coming months to resolve ongoing issues and realise some key improvements. Please get in touch with your views, ideas and concerns. Cr Dr Anjalee de Silva, call 0424 679 096, email Anjalee.deSilva@monash.vic.gov.au, Facebook @ anjdesilva, Instagram @ anj.desilva NEXT COUNCIL Meeting Tuesday 26 September, 7pm | Tuesday 31 October, 7pm Monash Civic Centre, 293 Springvale Rd, Glen Waverley Access meeting agendas and watch in-person or online visit www.monash.vic.gov.au/meetings YOUR Councillors Glen Waverley Ward Cr Geoff Lake, call 0411 645 281, email Geoff.Lake@monash.vic.gov.au Cr Nicky Luo, call 0451 560 398, email Nicky.Luo@monash.vic.gov.au Mount Waverley Ward Cr Anjalee de Silva, call 0424 679 096, email Anjalee.deSilva@monash.vic.gov.au Cr Brian Little, Mayor, call 9518 3524 or 0407 878 033, email Brian.Little@monash.vic.gov.au Cr Rebecca Paterson, call 0437 959 163, email Rebecca.Paterson@monash.vic.gov.au Mulgrave Ward Cr Paul Klisaris, call 0412 516 026, email Paul.Klisaris@monash.vic.gov.au Cr Shane McCluskey, Deputy Mayor, call 0466 345 406, email Shane.McCluskey@monash.vic.gov.au Cr Tina Samardzija, call 0435 011 927, email Tina.Samardzija@monash.vic.gov.au Oakleigh Ward Cr Josh Fergeus, call 0466 465 421, email Josh.Fergeus@monash.vic.gov.au Cr Stuart James, call 0413 184 250, email Stuart.James@monash.vic.gov.au Cr Theo Zographos, call 0430 316 911, email Theo.Zographos@monash.vic.gov.au You can contact Councillors via phone or email. Letters can be mailed to PO Box 1, Glen Waverley, VIC 3150 visit www.monash.vic.gov.au/Councillors Page 8 What's on Cricket Blast Come and Try Wed 27 Sept at 10.30am-12pm visit www.monash.vic.gov.au/cricket-blast Learn new skills and how to work together as a team with Mulgrave Cricket Club and Cricket Victoria, then stay back to enjoy a free BBQ with your family. Whether you are a beginner or an experienced player, all kids aged 5-12 are welcome. Mulgrave Reserve, 136 Garnett Rd, Wheelers Hill Monash Youth Film Festival For Filmmmakers aged 12-25 Wed 27 Sept From 6pm visit www.monashyouth.org.au See short film screenings by talented young people on the big screen. Tickets are free and available online. Bookings essential. Hosted by Monash Youth Services and Quiksound Productions, and supported by FReeZA a Victorian Government initiative. Our Place, Our Stories: Multilingual Monash Tues 03 Oct at 6.30pm-7.30pm visit trybooking.com/CKOWW Sat 07 Oct at 10.30am-1.30am visit trybooking.com/CKOWY Monash Libraries and the Monash Intercultural Lab are joining forces to collect stories from diverse cultural backgrounds and we are looking for contributors. Monash University translators will be on hand to help translate your stories at a workshop held later in the year. Register to discover more at one of the Clayton Library information sessions (see left). What goes in which bin? All your questions answered Thurs 19 Oct at 7pm-8pm To Book: https://events.humanitix.com/what-goes-in-which-bin-webinar Have you ever stood over the bin and wondered “where should I put this?” Join us online at a webinar to learn what items you can put in your rubbish, recycling, and food and garden waste bins. Contact us Monash Civic Centre, 293 Springvale Road, Glen Waverley 8.30am-5pm, Monday to Friday Oakleigh Service Centre, 3 Atherton Road, Oakleigh 8.30am-5pm, Monday to Friday Call 9518 3555, email mail@monash.vic.gov.au, visit www.monash.vic.gov.au National Relay Service (for the hearing and speech impaired) phone 1800 555 660 We welcome your feedback at media@monash.vic.gov.au Snap Send Solve is a great app to report through to us what needs fixing visit www.monash.vic.gov.au/snap-send-solve Copyright © 2023 Monash City Council. All Rights Reserved; reproduction in any form will require Council written approval. Monash Council acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the land that makes up Monash, the Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung and Bunurong People, and recognises their continuing connection to the land and waterways. We pay our respects to their Elders past, present and emerging and extend this to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People. Information in the October Bulletin is current at the time of going to print on 4 September 2023.