Page 1 Monash Bulletin April 2023 Stunning Artwork in first Innovate Reconciliation Action Plan Council is proud to launch stunning artwork by Indigenous artist Marcus Lee, from the Karajarri people, that was commissioned as part of Council first Innovate Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP). The artwork was developed in consultation and collaboration with the Bunurong and Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung Traditional Owners whose lands make up Monash. The artwork depicts Bunjil the Protector, a wedge-tailed eagle, flying high over the City of Monash, keeping a watchful eye on its reconciliation commitments. The larger concentric rings towards the centre represent Monash Council as a central meeting place for the community to join and partner on the journey towards a more just and inclusive city. The surrounding circles define meeting places and journey pathways symbolising the four key enablers to achieve self-determination. These are to prioritise culture, address trauma and support healing, address racism and promote cultural safety and transfer power and resources to communities. The artwork also includes the essential three reconciliation pillars of relationships, respect and opportunities. A patchwork of patterned markings illustrates Victorian cultural expressions that are reflective of traditional south-eastern Aboriginal art and connect with the shared Bunurong and Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung Traditional Owners. To celebrate the launch of the artwork, Monash will light up its Civic Centre from 17-21 April with the new design. This Innovate Reconciliation Action Plan will be Monash commitment to supporting the reconciliation process and outlines how Council and stakeholders will engage in reconciliation and contribute to greater unity within the Monash community. This plan builds on our work to develop strategies that are innovative and aspirational, that will help advance reconciliation and empower Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. The Innovate Reconciliation Action Plan will be formally launched at a future date following endorsement from Reconciliation Australia. More info visit www.monash.vic.gov.au/reconciliation-action-plan Page 2 Monash Contact details 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) 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 April Bulletin is current at the time of going to print on 6 March 2023. EASTER opening hours Good Friday (7 April)-Easter Monday (10 April) COUNCIL OFFICES Monash Civic Centre, Oakleigh Service Centre Good Friday, closed Easter Monday, closed MONASH RECYCLING AND WASTE CENTRE Good Friday, closed Easter Saturday, 7.30am-3pm Easter Sunday, closed Easter Monday, 7.30am-3pm Rubbish and recycling will be collected as normal through the Easter period, including on public holidays. MONASH LIBRARIES Good Friday, closed Easter Saturday, closed Easter Sunday, closed Easter Monday, closed Returns can still be made via the afterhours chutes available at ALL branches. Our eLibrary will remain available for digital loans. MARC and ORC Good Friday, closed Easter Saturday, 9am-6pm Easter Sunday, 9am-6pm Easter Monday, 9am-6pm Clayton Aquatics and Health Club Good Friday, closed Easter Saturday, 9am-5pm Easter Sunday, 9am-5pm Easter Monday, 9am-5pm More info visit www.monash.vic.gov.au Lighting up Glen Waverley There are so many reasons to head into Glen Waverley in the coming months, including two exciting events that will light up the area. On Friday 12 May, the Glen Waverley Activity Centre precinct will come to life for Fire and Light, a one-night-only program of light-themed entertainment running from 6pm to 10pm. Come dance the night away at the silent disco with neon DJ booth, put your putt to the test with neon mini-golf in Century City Walk or decorate your Instagram feed with the impressive, glowing neon artworks dotted around Kingsway, Coleman Parade and more. Throughout the night, performers will be roving around, delighting crowds with dramatic fire tricks, eye-catching LED hula hoops and dazzling mirror-ball suits. We will also be presenting Fun in GW, a vibrant afternoon celebration for the whole family. Running from 12pm to 4pm on Saturday 29 April, Fun in GW will see part of Glen Waverley Central Car Park transformed into a bustling activity centre with a rock-climbing wall, a puppy photography studio, roving performers and children craft stations. Whether you are an early bird or a night owl, get your family and friends, book yourselves in for a delicious meal and come enjoy everything Glen Waverley has to offer. More info visit www.monash.vic.gov.au/festivals Page 3 MESSAGE FROM Mayor Cr Tina Samardzija Three months out from the end of the financial year, our focus is on delivering our capital works projects and planning for what we will deliver in the next financial year. Substantial work goes into this planning, including consultation with the community late last year that resulted in several projects put forward for our consideration. Advocating to other levels of government is also key to delivering the infrastructure and services our community needs to prosper. Council recently held a forum with members of Parliament to outline how the growing needs of our community could be supported with State and Federal Government funding. Partnerships between Council and other tiers of government are important – as a Council, we can only do so much. We are grateful for the support received from governments so far and look forward to continuing to work with them to support the growth and prosperity of Monash. I am pleased that our first Reconciliation Action Plan is moving forward to recognise our First Nation communities and support the reconciliation process. The artwork by Marcus Lee Design on the front of this Bulletin will feature in key designs in Monash and I can not wait to see it lit up on our Council office in Glen Waverley later this month. One of the great joys of being Mayor is getting out and about and meeting people right across the city. The past few months have given me the opportunity to meet many of you at events and celebrations including Lunar New Year, the Dahlia Show, art exhibition openings, citizenship ceremonies and so many of you at our wonderful Clayton Festival. It is great to hear your views on where you live and work, on what matters to you and what you would like Council to do to improve your neighbourhoods. I gain so much from these conversations, please continue talking to me – and my Councillor colleagues – about what matters to you. We are always ready to listen and help where we can. Please contact me anytime if you have any queries or feedback on 0435 011 927 or email tina.samardzija@monash.vic.gov.au NEW PLAYSPACES coming to Monash Every year we maintain and upgrade our playspaces so our youngest residents have places that spark their curiosity and imagination. We are thrilled to open a new playspace spanning the Cameron Avenue and Progress Park Reserves for residents in South Oakleigh, thanks to funding from the State Government Local Parks Program. The playspace boasts engaging, interactive play equipment, including climbing walls, parkour style monkey bars, an integrated scooter loop, slides, tunnels and climbing nets, as well as conga drums, an inclusive carousel, talk tubes and swings. Families can also sit and relax at the newly installed tables and seats, utilising new shelters and a BBQ area. Upgrade works have started at Herriotts Boulevard Reserve (Glen Waverley), with Rivett Crescent Reserve (Mulgrave), Flora Road Reserve (Clayton) and Atheldene Drive (Glen Waverley) also due to start construction soon. In the coming months, we also want to hear your ideas on what could be included in new proposed District playspaces at Mulgrave Reserve (Wheelers Hill) and Princes Highway Reserve (Oakleigh East), along with local playspaces at Orchard Street Reserve (Glen Waverley) and Argyle Reserve (Hughesdale). More info visit www.monash.vic.gov.au/playspace-upgrades Page 4 NEW ACCESSIBLE public toilet in Hughesdale A new accessible public toilet is now open at Galbally Reserve in Hughesdale, following community feedback we received during consultation when we upgraded the playspace in 2019. The new toilet links up with the playspace through accessible paths. All Council public toilets are on the National Public Toilet Map (there are 16,000 listed across Australia if you were wondering) visit www.monash.vic.gov.au/public-toilets If you're interested, you can read our Public Toilet Strategy on that page as well. FREE VISY recycling webinar Ever wonder what happens to your recycling once it is been collected? Where your recycling materials go? Or do you have questions on why some items can go in the recycling bin, and why some items can not? Join us for a FREE webinar with our recycling contractor, VISY, to find out. The What Happens to Your Recycling webinar will be held on Tuesday 18 April from 6pm-7pm. Bookings are through TryBooking. A webinar link will be included in your booking registration and emailed to you on the day of the webinar visit www.trybooking.com/events/landing?eid=1022066& BIN collections Driver shortages in the waste sector have impacted bin collections this year. Unfortunately, small parts of Monash are, occasionally, not having one of their bins collected on the scheduled day. If this happens to you, please do not take your bin inside – leave it on the kerbside for collection the next day. If your entire area has been missed, our contractor will be aware of the issue and will complete the collection the next day. If yours is the only bin missed, please contact our customer experience team: 9518 3555 so we can inform the contractor to return and complete the collection. Thank you for your patience and understanding. WE ARE HELPING detox your home Safely dispose of those chemicals under your sink at our Detox Your Home event on Saturday 29 April at the Monash Recycling & Waste Centre (MRWC). Co-hosted with Sustainability Victoria, this free event for Monash residents accepts a specific range of household chemicals that cannot be placed in the rubbish, poured down the drain or stored at the MRWC. A link to the full list of items we can accept can be found on the event web page (below). Registration for this event is essential. For safety, clearly and accurately label your items, using the original packaging if possible. More info and to register visit www.monash.vic.gov.au/detox-2023 Page 5 PLENTY OF ACTION at tennis centre over summer Over summer, work has steadily progressed on the new tennis centre development at Council Glen Waverley Sports Hub. As part of the tennis centre/multisport pavilion project at the Glen Waverley Golf Course, the upgraded intersection of Waverley Road and Jells Road has been operational since late January. On-site, work is also progressing with the Golf Course pro-shop and facilities now relocated to temporary facilities next to the first tee while, following wet weather delays in November-December, the temporary carpark has been completed and is now operational. Construction is progressing as planned with underground utility and service works – for fire, sewer and water – completed, while the existing pro-shop, golf clubhouse and amenities block have been demolished. Over the coming months, you will see the continuation of preparation work for the tennis courts, car park civil works and foundation works for the new pavilion. To mitigate any dust during these works, water trucks will be on-site every day. More info visit shape.monash.vic.gov.au/tennis DESIGN WORK underway The redevelopment of Jack Edwards Reserve in Oakleigh is a step closer, with Katz Architecture appointed to carry out detailed design work for the project. The project will see facilities upgraded to include a new double-storey pavilion, as well as female-friendly change rooms and female-friendly referees change rooms; a first aid room; kiosk, kitchen and a function/social room; timekeeper and media room; and a 500-seat grandstand. The upgrade will support grassroots football in Monash and help the tenant club, the Oakleigh Cannons, to establish a women program. Facilities will also be available to other community groups and organisations. Keep up to date with the project at visit shape.monash.vic.gov.au/jack-edwards-pavilion BOGONG PARKING plan is progressing Planning for delivery of the extension to the existing multi-level car park in Bogong Avenue, Glen Waverley is on track, with the recent release of the tender for construction. The extension of four additional floors will provide approximately 522 new car parking spaces at the Bogong Ave site. With the closure of the existing car park, due to the extension works, there will be disruption to car parking in and around the Activity Centre. But we have been hard at work looking at what changes may be needed so that there is parking available for traders, Council staff and visitors to the Activity Centre. We have conducted a review of existing on-street parking restrictions, trying to balance the parking needs of everyone including residents in streets where parking restriction changes may be proposed. We want to hear from people in and around the Activity Centre before any decisions on parking restriction changes are made. Further information and engagement is planned to occur ahead of the commencement of the project, which is hoped to start in July. More info visit shape.monash.vic.gov.au/bogong Page 6 COUNCILLOR NEWS Cr Rebecca Paterson Mt Waverley Village is loved by residents, but when we asked them a few years ago about things they would like to change about the centre, the issues that were most raised were the layout of the Hamilton Place carpark, the state of the underpass connecting to the station, and the accessibility of the footpaths for people with mobility issues. As someone who both uses Mt Waverley Village and speaks to so many residents, I was not surprised to hear these were the top three. The three Mt Waverley Ward Councillors are asking Council to write to the owners of the underpass, the State Government, asking them to work with us on designing and implementing a Mt Waverley station underpass that is safe and clean, and with simple and strong connections to the Hamilton Place section of the activity centre. I hope that the State will support this vision and partner with us on an innovative and appealing design that will facilitate a better connection between the north and south of the railway line. To address the accessibility and safety concerns in the Hamilton Place carpark and footpaths, Mt Waverley Ward Councillors are asking Council to commit to undertaking the design work required for this upgrade in the next financial year via the budget that will be finalised at the end of June. I hope that this will be supported by our colleagues and that the next time I do this column in 2024, I can be talking to you about your feedback on the design! Feel free to contact me at call 0437 959 163 or email Rebecca.Paterson@monash.vic.gov.au YOUR Councillors You can contact Councillors via phone or email. Letters can be mailed to: PO Box 1, Glen Waverley 3150 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 NEXT COUNCIL Meeting Wednesday 26 April, 7pm (accounts for Anzac Day) Monash Civic Centre, 293 Springvale Rd, Glen Waverley Attend the meeting in-person or watch it live on webcast.monash.vic.gov.au Meeting agenda and most up-to-date info visit www.monash.vic.gov.au/meetings Page 7 VIDEO ICEBREAKER gaming strengthens connection Video games often get a bad rap. But when the call went out, Mario, Toad, Ludwig, Bowser and Lemmy were quick to throw their efforts behind an all-important cause. Monash Youth Services used the popularity of gaming as a means of starting to break down social barriers and combat the loneliness and disconnection that had been building amongst young people in Monash, particularly during the challenging years of COVID isolation. An extensive Monash Youth Survey identified social connection and loneliness as significant concerns for young people aged 10-25. In response, Monash Youth Services created a social gaming project aimed at providing opportunities for young people to meet and practise their social skills while having fun with video games. Across three qualifying sessions, more than 90 young people participated, doing battle in Mario Kart and Switch Sports (tennis)! Monash has some wonderful stories to tell, and we have launched a new section on our website called -Stories from Your Community- to help tell them. For the full story about the social gaming project, and many more, visit www.monash.vic.gov.au/stories-from-your-community SUBURBAN RAIL LOOP works to progress The Victorian Government is progressing works on the Suburban Rail Loop (SRL), with works on SRL stations at Clayton, Glen Waverley and Monash University expected to ramp up this year.  While this is a Victorian Government project, Council regularly meets with the Suburban Rail Loop Authority (SRLA) to ensure their works are well-planned and communicated. As part of their commitments, the SRLA will provide the community with advanced notification of works around the station precincts in the coming months.  If you live, work or own property near one of the planned stations, the SRLA may write to you or even visit you to keep you informed. You can keep up to date with the SRL project at bigbuild.vic.gov.au/projects/suburban-rail-loop/srl-east More info on how Council has been advocating on behalf of our community visit shape.monash.vic.gov.au/srl  Monash Gallery of Art rebrands as MAPh! After more than 30 years of successfully advocating for the arts and Australian photography, Monash Gallery of Art has rebranded as the Museum of Australian Photography (MAPh). MAPh was launched to the community on Sunday 19 March and represents a renewed vision to ensure the gallery continues to champion and build a national profile for Australian contemporary photography. MAPh unique focus continues to make it one of the most culturally significant photography institutions in the country, and is an integral part of Council whole of city vision to celebrate and advocate for the arts and creative industries. More info visit www.maph.org.au Page 8 STUDY SPACE A Place for Monash Students Warm, welcoming and chill are words students have used to describe the Study Space. Now in its second year, Study Space has grown to include a new balcony garden, where students take breaks by tending to herbs and veggies or engage in outdoor social study after a day of in-classroom learning. Study Space is a preventative mental health program that emphasises bringing study balance, connection to others and self-care to student life as a way of decreasing stress and other related mental health challenges that affect Monash youth. The program is open to students aged 12-25 and offers access to communal study spaces and private study rooms, free wifi, a full kitchen, healthy snacks, and youth workers to chat to confidentially if needed. Study Space runs each Tuesday from 3pm-5pm during the school term. To book a space or for more info call 9518 3900 Visit Trybooking.com/CFIES or email yrcr@monash.vic.gov.au Calling all gardeners! Saturday 4 November The annual Open Gardens Day presented by Waverley Garden Club (supported by Monash Council) is back for 2023. Monash residents are invited to open their gardens on the day. Perfection or perfectly manicured gardens are not required – people who enjoy gardening and would like to share their experience with like-minded people are encouraged to take part. Register now. No garden is too big or too small. More info: call Peter Moskovic 0418 110 345 or email petermoskovic@gmail.com Vera Deakin and the Red Cross Mon 3 April, 10.15am-11.30am Vera Deakin, the daughter of Prime Minister Alfred Deakin, was a spirited humanitarian. Her welfare work, which started during World War I, and service to the Red Cross were honoured during her lifetime but later largely forgotten. Join author Carole Woods as she explores Vera's activism and reveals a woman who defied expectations to help those in need. In-person and online: Wheelers Hill Library, 860 Ferntree Gully Road To book call 9265 4877 or visit www.monash.vic.gov.au/vera-deakin LEST WE forget Reflect and pay your respects to Australians who served and died in war and on operational service. Services to commemorate Anzac Day will be held at Glen Waverley, Clayton and Oakleigh, and are organised by local Returned Services League (RSL) branches. More info call 9518 3555 or visit www.monash.vic.gov.au/anzac-day