State of Maroondah 2021 Maroondah 2040 - Our future together 2 STATE OF MAROONDAH 2021 Measuring our progress The State of Maroondah Report 2021 provides a snapshot of how our municipality is progressing towards the community vision identified in Maroondah 2040 - Our future together. Welcome to the State of Maroondah Report 2021. This report provides a snapshot of our progress as a municipality over the past two years, since the previous State of Maroondah Report was released in 2019. The report focuses on the Maroondah 2040 Community Indicators of Progress, along with some of the key Council Plan achievements during the period 2018/19 and 2019/20 and how these are working towards the vision identified in Maroondah 2040 - Our future together. The past two years has seen the completion of some significant infrastructure projects along with a range of strategic work aimed at creating a vibrant and attractive city. These projects have included: construction of Maroondah Nets; development of a Children and Families Strategy; public art installations in Croydon, Croydon South and Heathmont; development of the Maroondah Vegetation Strategy 2020-2030; design of multi-level carparks in Croydon; Ringwood; Heathmont and Heatherdale station; renewal works along the Dandenong Creek shared trail; commencement of staged redevelopment for the Croydon Community Wellbeing Precinct; finalisation of the Ringwood Activity Centre Masterplan; implementation of the new Local Government Act 2020; development of a COVID-19 relief and recovery response framework; and launch of the Be Kind Maroondah campaign. This State of Maroondah Report 2021 provides just a snapshot of key projects delivered by Council over this period and highlights areas of focus for the next two years in working towards the Maroondah 2040 Community Vision. STATE OF MAROONDAH 2021 3 AnnualState of Report Maroondah 2017/18 2021 Our city The City of Maroondah covers a land area of 61.4 square kilometres in Melbourne’s outer east, 22 kilometres from the Central Business District (CBD). The area is a substantially developed peri-urban residential municipality, with an estimated population of 119,401 residents and VIC 47,021 households, with an average of 2.54 people per household. The first settlers to the area were the Indigenous Calder Hwy Hume Hwy Australians of the Kulin nation approximately 40,000 years ago. European settlement Maroondah Hwy commenced in the 1830’s with the land used for farming and orchards. Western Hwy Eastern Fwy In recent years, Maroondah has developed into a CBD thriving regional centre with a similar age structure EastLink to the state’s average. There is a diverse mix of Princes Fwy living styles from large acreage to apartment style Princes Hwy residential development. Cultural diversity in Maroondah continues to increase. Nepean Hwy Sth Gippsland Hwy Location of the City of Maroondah 4 STATE OF MAROONDAH 2021 Maroondah has the strategic advantage of being The largest industry employers are the located at the north-eastern junction of the Eastern manufacturing, retail trade and health care sectors. Freeway - EastLink corridor. There are two train The Bayswater Business Precinct is a regional lines and a large number of bus routes linking the economic hub where many national and city with other regions. The City of Maroondah international firms have established their includes the suburbs of Bayswater North, Croydon, headquarters. Maroondah also has major retail Croydon Hills, Croydon North, Croydon South, centres in Croydon and Ringwood, and a further 31 Heathmont, Kilsyth South, Ringwood, Ringwood neighbourhood, community and local shopping East, Ringwood North and Warranwood. centres throughout the municipality. Maroondah is well known for its leafy streets, broad The city hosts a regional health precinct including a areas of open space, bushland reserves, parks and major public hospital and a large private hospital, playgrounds. Sustainable transport links include educational facilities that cater from early childhood on-road cycling paths and shared path links to the learning to tertiary, two libraries, arts and cultural Mullum Mullum Creek Trail, the EastLink Trail, centres, an art space and a range of community Taralla Creek Trail and the Dandenong Creek Trail. centres. Maroondah is also home to a range of world-class sporting facilities including Aquanation, Almost 9,700 businesses operate within the city a regional recreation and leisure facility. providing employment for almost 44,000 people. STATE OF MAROONDAH 2021 5 AnnualState of Report Maroondah 2017/18 2021 Our Vision Maroondah will be a vibrant and diverse city with a healthy and active community, living in green and leafy neighbourhoods which are connected to thriving and accessible activity centres contributing to a prosperous economy within a safe, inclusive and sustainable environment. 6 STATE OF MAROONDAH 2021 Our future community outcomes During 2019 and 2020, Council has undertaken research and engaged the Maroondah community to understand what has changed and what our future priorities should be. From this process has emerged a revised Maroondah 2040 Community Vision that captures the latest community aspirations and priorities and provides the strategic blueprint for Council and the community to continue to work together to shape the future of Maroondah towards the year 2040. The community’s future vision is for: Safe, healthy and active community Accessible and connected community In 2040, Maroondah will be a safe, healthy, and In 2040, Maroondah will be a resilient community active community where all people have the committed to sustainable living, enhancing our opportunity to experience enhanced levels of natural environment, and providing leadership in social, emotional, and physical wellbeing. responding to climate change Attractive, thriving and well built Prosperous and learning community community In 2040, Maroondah will be a thriving regional In 2040, Maroondah will be an attractive, centre of economic activity and education, where sustainable, and well-built community with thriving the sustainable growth of local businesses is activity centres and a network of neighbourhoods supported, and diverse lifelong learning where everyone has the opportunity to live, work opportunities are accessible for all community and play locally. members Vibrant and culturally rich community Inclusive and diverse community In 2040, Maroondah will be a vibrant and creative In 2040, Maroondah will be an inclusive and community recognised for celebration of the arts, equitable community where all people are valued, cultural expression, and diverse entertainment supported, and socially connected, and diversity is options. embraced and celebrated Clean, green and sustainable Well governed and empowered community community In 2040, Maroondah will be a resilient community In 2040, Maroondah will be an empowered committed to sustainable living, enhancing our community actively engaged in local decision natural environment, and providing leadership in making, led by an innovative community inspired responding to climate change. Council that collaborates regionally and proactively champions local needs. STATE OF MAROONDAH 2021 7 Safe, healthy & active We want Maroondah to be safe Aspirations of the A snapshot of recent Maroondah community achievements In reviewing Maroondah 2040, our community Over the past two years, Council has: said that a safe community involves: • developed partnerships to improve the mental • A safe built environment wellbeing of children and their families through improved referral pathways • Reduction of harm from gambling, tobacco, alcohol and other drugs • updated the Maroondah Liquor Accord • Prevention of violence and other related • installed flood lighting at Ringwood Central crimes Tennis Club and ‘state of the art’ LED lighting solutions at various sportsfields • continued to implement the Food Safety Risk Management compliance program • developed an emergency management workforce strategy • developed a new Gambling Policy • delivered the’ Ask for Angela’ campaign to promote safety in licensed venues • worked in partnership on a range of joint advocacy initiatives for the region involving restricting gaming machines. 8 STATE OF MAROONDAH 2021 The mental wellbeing of children and their families has continued to be a focus State-of-the-art LED lighting has been installed at various sportsfields The Maroondah Liquor Accord was updated During 2020, the offence 47% of Maroondah residents Maroondah’s family rate per 100,000 population feel safe walking alone incident rate per 100,000 in Maroondah was outside after dark which is population in 6,732.1 comparatively lower than 1,306 comparatively lower than 55% which is lower compared to Victoria’s offence rate of Victorians the Outer Eastern Regions’ of 8,227 average at 1,669 STATE OF MAROONDAH 2021 9 Safe, healthy & active We want Maroondah to be healthy Aspirations of the A snapshot of recent Maroondah community achievements In reviewing Maroondah 2040, our community Over the past two years, Council has: said that a healthy community involves: • worked in partnership to establish the • Enhanced physical, social and emotional Maroondah Positive Education Network wellbeing to increase the wellbeing and educational outcome of students • A greater focus on promoting and supporting mental wellbeing to build resilience • launched the Be Kind Maroondah campaign during the COVID-19 pandemic • continued to provide a National