Page 1 Monash Bulletin January 2024 Merry Christmas Monash! Inside this issue: Community Grants launch Holiday Opening Hours Stay Water Safe this Summer Lunar New Year Page 2 HOLIDAY Opening Hours WASTE AND RECYCLING COLLECTIONS Rubbish and recycling will be collected as normal, including on public holidays. COUNCIL OFFICES Monash Civic Centre and Oakleigh Service Centre Fri 15 Dec Closing at 2pm Fri 22 and Fri 29 Dec Closing at 4pm Mon 25, Tues 26 Dec & Mon 1 Jan Closed MONASH RECYCLING AND WASTE CENTRE Fri 15 Dec Closing at 2pm Mon 25, Tues 26 Dec & Mon 1 Jan Closed MONASH LIBRARIES* Glen Waverley and Clayton Libraries Sat 23 Dec 9am-4pm Sun 24 Dec 2pm-5pm Mon 25 & Tue 26 Dec Closed Wed 27, Thurs 28 & Fri 29 Dec 10am-6pm Sat 30 Dec 9am-4pm Sun 31 Dec 2pm-5pm Mon 1 Jan Closed Mount Waverley, Oakleigh and Wheelers Hill Libraries Sat 23, Sun 24, Mon 25 & Tue 26 Dec Closed Wed 27, Thurs 28 & Fri 29 Dec 10am-6pm Sat 30 Dec 9am-4pm Sun 31 Dec & Mon 1 Jan Closed * Mulgrave Library will be closed from Sun 17 Dec to Sun 7 Jan, items can be returned via the afterhours chute. MONASH AQUATIC AND RECREATION CENTRE Sun 24 Dec 8am-2pm Mon 25 Dec Closed Tue 26 Dec 9am-6pm Wed 27, Thurs 28 & Fri 29 Dec 5.45am-9pm Sat 30 Dec 8am-7pm Sun 31 Dec 8am-5pm Mon 1 Jan 9am-6pm CLAYTON AQUATICS AND HEALTH CLUB Sun 24 Dec 8am-2pm Mon 25 Dec Closed Tue 26 Dec 9am-5pm Wed 27, Thurs 28 & Fri 29 Dec 6am-9pm Sat 30 Dec 8am-6pm Sun 31 Dec 8am-5pm Mon 1 Jan 9am-5pm OAKLEIGH RECREATION CENTRE Sun 24 Dec 8am-2pm Mon 25 Dec Closed Tue 26 Dec 9am-6pm Wed 27, Thurs 28 & Fri 29 Dec 6am-9pm Sat 30 Dec 8am-6pm Sun 31 Dec 8am-5pm Mon 1 Jan 9am-6pm Community Grants - Helping Monash make a difference Monash Council will soon welcome applications for its Community Grants Program, which will be open from Monday 29 January until Friday 1 March 2024.  The program provides more than $2.5 million in grants to support community groups and organisations in delivering projects, activities and events that strengthen, enhance, and benefit the Monash Community.  One of our 2022 grants saw Monash Lions Club deliver the very special Merle Mitchell Memorial Project – Intergenerational Interactions in Monash to Capture Living Histories. The project focused on fostering community connections through the sharing of stories of residents at Waverley Valley Care. These stories have been captured in an inspiring and heartwarming documentary which can be viewed online at www.monash.vic.gov.au/living-histories-grant Learn more about our Community Grants online at www.monash.vic.gov.au/community-grants   Applicant Information and Support Session: Meet someone from our Community Grants Program team (6-16 Feb 2024). Book online at www.trybooking.com/CLOZB Grant Budget Workshops:  Tues 30 Jan and Wed 21 Feb. In person and online: Monash Civic Centre, Glen Waverley. Book online at www.trybooking.com/CMEGC   Effective Grant Writing Workshops:  Thurs 8 Feb and Wed 21 Feb. In person and online: Monash Civic Centre, Glen Waverley. Book online at www.trybooking.com/CMEHQ Page 3 Message from Mayor Cr Nicky Luo This is my first column as your new Mayor and I am excited for the year ahead and the work we will do together for the wonderful City of Monash. I am a long-time resident of Monash and believe it is a fantastic place to live and work. We are fortunate to have great food and shopping precincts, parks and gardens, sporting facilities and a real community spirit. And we are also fortunate to be one of the most multicultural communities in Victoria, bringing so many different cultural experiences and energy to our city. I am proud to be the first Mayor of Monash from a Chinese background. My appointment as Mayor, I believe, demonstrates how our Council values our diverse community. I hope in my Mayoral term to build even further on the cultural connections between members of our community. Many people think Council is just about the three Rs – rates, rubbish and roads. I believe the three Rs also apply to residents, respects and rights. About treating each other with respect, about listening to residents and what is important to them and about adhering to legislation and controls to do the right thing by each other. As Mayor of Monash, my priority is to create a harmonious, safe, inclusive, welcoming and respectful community. I have been fortunate to have been involved with many committees during my time as a Councillor including the Disability Advisory Committee, the Multicultural Advisory Committee, the LGBTIQA+ Advisory Committee, Positive Ageing Reference Group & Forum, youth advisory committee and our junior advisory group. I thank these groups for sharing their stories about life in Monash and what we can do to assist them. Congratulations to Deputy Mayor Brian Little (pictured left with me), I look forward to working with you. I also want to acknowledge my Councillor colleagues for their support in my nomination for Mayor. Heartfelt thanks to my family and friends for their support. This is an exciting time for Monash and I know working together, we can achieve great things. Please contact me anytime if you have any queries or feedback at Nicky.Luo@monash.vic.gov.au or call 0451 560 398. Looking ahead to 2024 A major Council highlight for 2024 will be the opening of a new tennis centre and multi-sport pavilion in our Glen Waverley Sports Hub. With 18 new tennis courts, golf practice facilities, car parking, a pavilion and new café – all set to open early in the year. Visit https://shape.monash.vic.gov.au/tennis for more information. We will continue to advocate to the Victorian Government on their exciting Suburban Rail Loop project, with three stations to be located in Monash – settling clear expectations of disruption during construction is crucial. Planning will continue for a new civic precinct in Glen Waverley, construction of Jack Edwards Reserve pavilion will get underway, work will continue on the extension of Bogong Car Park, and we’ll continue delivering our program of new family and early years hubs – with work due to start on hubs in Mount Waverley and Oakleigh. Keep an eye out for the Monash Bulletin throughout the year to stay updated, you can also subscribe for email updates online at www.monash.vic.gov.au/subscribe Take care in the heat this summer Victoria is expected to have a hot summer and it is important to plan ahead so you can stay cool and know how to look after yourself and others. www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/extreme-heat Page 4 Recovering energy from landfill waste  We have taken a significant step to reduce emissions associated with waste by diverting waste into electricity through a purpose-built facility to be constructed at Laverton. Using proven technology, the facility will not burn waste but operate at extremely high temperatures in a low air environment to convert it into a gas that is used to produce high pressure steam and electricity. This is an exciting development for Monashs goal to reduce what we send to landfill. Diverting more than 45,000 tonnes of waste from landfill each year. www.monash.vic.gov.au/wastetoenergy TIS THE SEASON to recycle! Unsure how to dispose of your Christmas tree? Or how to stop gift packaging from taking over your bins? We have put together a handy Christmas waste guide full of tips on how to plan ahead and better manage waste in the weeks after Christmas and New Years. Top tips - Recycle excess cardboard packaging and clean polystyrene at the Monash Recycling and Waste Centre (check what we accept on our website). - If your Christmas tree is real, cut it into small pieces and place in your food and garden waste bin. Take larger real trees to the Recycling Centre (fees may apply). Fake Christmas trees should be disposed of in your landfill bin. - To help minimise food waste smells, freeze food scraps in an airtight container. The night before bin collection, empty the scraps in your bin. You can also sprinkle bi-carb soda on your food waste to absorb smells. www.monash.vic.gov.au/christmas-recycling GET COMPOSTING at home this summer We are offering Monash residents a double rebate on a range of already discounted compost bins, worm farms, Bokashi bins and compostable food waste liners, through Compost Community. Running until 31 January 2024, residents can receive a rebate* of up to $80 on compost bins and worm farms (normally $40) and a rebate of up to $20 on certified compostable caddy liners. Composting your food scraps and garden waste is one easy way to reduce landfill and protect the environment. Plus, your garden will thank you for it! www.compostcommunity.com.au/monash.html * One rebate available per household, per annum. Page 5 Summer water safety is your responsibility We are surrounded by water and use it for anything from transport to growing food. And, especially in a Victorian summertime, we also enjoy the water for fun and sports in swimming pools, spas, beaches, rivers and lakes. Tragically, Royal Life Saving Australia reported 90 fatal drowning incidents last summer and know that many more non-fatal drowning incidents are likely to have occurred that have not been recorded and remain invisible. Before you and your loved ones swim this summer know: • Your skills, your water experience • That water depths may change (especially at rivers, lakes and beaches) • Mobile phones are a dangerous distraction • People 65+ years, children and CALD communities are at high risk • Children can not keep themselves safe around water. You need to keep watch. www.activemonash.vic.gov.au/Learn-to-Swim-Minkys-Swim-School www.youtube.com/watch?v=n0lwn3dQeZk www.royallifesaving.com.au/stay-safe-active/communities/multicultural-communities Little Accidents Cause Big Closures Hearing Code Brown called at a swimming pool might sound amusing, however it is no laughing matter! Depending on whether the offending item is a solid or liquid, pools can stay closed for several days while staff work around the clock to ensure a thorough clean. Help us keep the pool open by following a few simple steps: • Encourage young children and clients to visit the toilet before swimming • Wear water-safe nappies (these can be purchased from Reception) • Take regular toilet breaks every 60 minutes • Observe children and clients for signs they may need to visit the toilet • Allow time for food and drink to settle prior to swimming • Avoid entering a pool within 14 days of having Gastro symptoms. For more information call 9265 4888 or check at Reception. Together we can help reduce the little accidents that result in BIG pool-closures. Decriminalisation of sex work in Victoria The Victorian Government has decriminalised sex work with the aim to achieve better public health and human rights. From 1 December 2023 all planning schemes across Victoria, including the Monash Planning Scheme, will allow a sex services business to operate the same as any other business in the State. A sex services business, formerly called a brothel, will now be treated like any other business. A sex services business will be able to operate anywhere a shop can and will be subject to the same conditions and requirements that apply to a shop in all zones. The changes will also allow anyone to undertake sex work from their home, subject to meeting home based business requirements (Clause 52.11 – Home Based Business). For more detail on the changes to the planning schemes visit www.monash.vic.gov.au/decriminalisation Page 6 Celebration of the Year of the Dragon Join us in celebrating the Year of the Dragon at the 2024 Glen Waverley Lunar New Year and Lantern Festival. The festival, to be held on Sunday 18 February (11am - 9pm) in Kingsway, will be a feast of colour, music, and food. The annual celebration is the most important cultural festival for the Chinese community and celebrates the coming of the Lunar New Year with rituals, traditions and ceremonies designed to bring good luck and good fortune for the coming year. In the Chinese Zodiac, the dragon represents power, nobleness, honour, luck, and success. This highly anticipated annual event is organised by the Monash Chinese Events Committee Inc. with support from Monash Council. The Glen Waverley Lunar New Year and Lantern Festival is just one of several exciting events in early 2024, with Councils Clayton Festival being held Sunday 25 February and Live at Warrawee on Saturday 16 March. www.monash.vic.gov.au/festivals CLAYTON FESTIVAL Sunday 25 February 2024 12pm-5pm Clayton Community Centre, Cooke Street, Clayton Free pool entry www.monash.vic.gov.au/festivals Pool entry from 1pm-5.30pm BOGONG CAR PARK construction underway Construction of the extension to the multi-level car park in Bogong Avenue is progressing and, when completed early in 2025, will deliver four additional levels and more than 500 new car parking spaces. Site establishment has been completed and demolition works are currently underway. Temporary traffic control works, line marking and the protected loading bay are in operation while existing column foundations have been excavated and are currently being reinforced. Demolition of the external stair and lift shaft will commence shortly. More about parking options while we are extending Bogong Car Park can be found online at www.monash.vic.gov.au/bogong Page 7 Councillor news Cr Geoff Lake Those who have lived in Glen Waverley for some time will appreciate how much the Glen Waverley Activity Centre has changed over the past 30 years. In the 1980s and into the 90s, Kingsway was a quiet retail strip with few businesses operating past 5pm. It was a mix of clothing shops and other retail and service offerings. Car parking was rarely a problem and never at night. The Glen was just a Safeway supermarket with a few specialty shops. Then came the café, restaurant and entertainment explosion. New offerings like Mocha Jos in 1999 and later Shine kickstarted a trend that replaced retail on Kingsway with dining and entertainment. The Century City development brought cinemas to Glen Waverley and a Novotel Hotel – which for many years enjoyed the highest occupancy rates of all Melbourne hotels. A series of expansions of The Glen Shopping Centre created a successful boutique shopping mall in what is, given the proximity to Chadstone, the most competitive retail precinct in the southern hemisphere. Then came apartment living in 2012 with the IKON apartments above the Glen Waverley train station. Other apartments have since followed above the old Glenway Arcade, The Glen and elsewhere. Following Councils recent decision to proceed with a new modern library and civic precinct and the sale of the Central Car Park, it is now time for the next exciting chapter in the evolution of the Glen Waverley Activity Centre. This will bring further activation and options to Glen Waverley, as will the Suburban Rail Loop once it opens. Council plans to transform the pedestrian and outdoor dining experience on Kingsway over the next decade – to be coordinated around the construction of the Suburban Rail Loop. In the meantime, 500 new car parking spaces are currently under construction at the Bogong Car Park ahead of this disruption. A vibrant and iconic activity centre is good for everyone and assists Melbournes housing challenges by introducing housing diversity and increased density close to transport and activity. As we look forward to the future, I want to acknowledge and thank two pioneers of modern Glen Waverley who have recently moved on. Mocha Jos founding business partners Christo Christophidis and Lisa Slaughter have sold the business to new operators. They have significantly shaped the Glen Waverley Activity Centre that exists today (including, for Christo, as the president of the Glen Waverley Traders Association since 2009). We wish them all the best for the future and will miss them. NEXT COUNCIL Meetings Tuesday 19 December 2023 | Tuesday 30 January 2024, 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 is on in Monash Make A Monash Start - With a FREE 7 Day Membership Take the first step towards a healthier and fitter lifestyle and try our Aquatic and Recreation Centres in, Glen Waverley, Clayton and Oakleigh with a free 7-day membership. There is swimming, reformer pilates, group fitenss classes, see what is on offer! www.activemonash.vic.gov.au/Free-7-Day-Membership Murray Fredericks - The salt lake Held until 18 February The salt lake is a major survey exhibition of works exploring the potential of photographing light and space. Museum of Australian Photography (MAPh) in Wheelers Hill. www.maph.org.au Library Membership Helps Children Grow Become a member of Monash Public Librarys 110,000 strong community and give your child the opportunity to thrive. There are storytime sessions in English, Chinese, Japanese, Italian and Greek, books in 20 different languages, LEGO Club, eBooks, plus more. It is free, fun, and a great way to build a love of books and reading at home with your children. www.monlib.vic.gov.au/join Monash Womens Business Network Wed 13 March 2024 11.30am-12pm Networking, 12pm-2pm Lunch Hear passionate advocate and proud disabled woman Elly Desmarchelier share the many benefits of employing a person with disability. Location: Riversdale Golf Club Cost: $60 per person for a two-course lunch Bookings online at www.trybooking.com/CMOYN or RSVP by Mon 4 March. 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 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 January Bulletin 2024 is current at the time of going to print on 29 Nov 2023. Snap Send Solve is a great app to report through to us what needs fixing visit www.monash.vic.gov.au/snap-send-solve