Maroondah Mayor reflects on end of mayoral term

With my term as Mayor of the City of Maroondah coming to an end, I’d like to take this opportunity to say what a privilege it has been to serve Council and the community over this past year.

We started 2021 with so much promise and hope for the year ahead, especially given the events of 2020 and the emergence of the coronavirus pandemic with the challenges it brought with it.

If the pandemic has taught us one thing, it’s the ability to show kindness in the face of adversity, and I am especially proud of how our community has rallied together during tough times. Despite the hardships we have faced, we still managed to achieve some great things for our community.

I am so proud of what we have been able to achieve including being certified Carbon neutral, our Be Kind Maroondah campaign and the Certificate of Wellbeing initiative – which has seen our community come together like never before.

It has been heartening to hear from some of our recent Certificate of Wellbeing participants that the learnings have been ‘life-changing’ and the flow on effects into their local communities is enormous.

Another major achievement has been the delivery of our extensive capital works program which has included the completion of new pavilions at HE Parker Reserve in Heathmont, Springfield Reserve in Croydon, Silcock Reserve in Croydon and Jubilee Park in Ringwood.

Future planning has also been high on our agenda. We have continued to work with key stakeholders, user groups and the community to plan for the future of our two key Activity Centres at Ringwood and Croydon – in particular our Croydon Community Wellbeing Precinct.

Other strategic long-term planning has also taken place with the completion of a new Children and Families Strategy; a new two-year Youth Strategy Action Plan; and the adoption of a new Liveability and Wellbeing Strategy, which outlines our commitment to improving the health and wellbeing of all Maroondah residents over the next 10 years.

Our local heritage will also have greater protections, with the recent adoption of our Maroondah Heritage Action Plan. This document outlines our objectives for identifying, protecting, promoting and celebrating our city’s heritage over the next four years.

On the advocacy front we have also secured the removal of three level crossings in Maroondah at Bedford Road and Dublin Road in Ringwood East and Coolstore Road in Croydon. This announcement also includes new stations at Ringwood East and Croydon. Council has been advocating for the removal of these level crossings, and in particular the removal of the Coolstore Road level crossing and Croydon Station upgrade, for more than 5 years. So, this is a significant win for the community.

On Wednesday 10 November we will be electing a new Mayor and Deputy Mayor for the 2021/22 term. The meeting will be live streamed via our website for those who would like to tune in.

On a personal note, I would like to say thank you to the Maroondah community, whose kindness, compassion and support has shone through during challenging times.

Thankyou to my Deputy Mayor Councillor Nora Lamont and fellow Councillors for entrusting me as Mayor to lead this Council during 2020/21. Thanks also to our Council team for their continued support and commitment. It has been my absolute pleasure to work with you and represent our wonderful city.

Lastly, I would like to thank my husband Malcolm and my daughters for their unwavering support throughout the year.

I have thoroughly enjoyed my time as Mayor and getting to work hands-on with the community as we dealt with the impacts of the pandemic.

And while many aspects of our daily lives slowly return to normal, we must ensure not to undo all the hard work that has led us to this point. It’s important that we continue to do the right thing, follow the rules and help protect each other and our communities.

Thank you.

/Public Release. View in full here.