How and why MADRA was formed.
In the middle to late 1970’s when the Gael Court and Brendan Street, were established and people started to purchase land, the sales people told them that within a few years both gas and sewerage would be available. In the space of a few years and nothing happening, most people gave up and or forgot about this issue.
In the late 1990’s a decision was made by the government of the day to put in place a high pressure gas pipeline from the gas fields direct to Wodonga, to service both Wodonga and Albury, and beyond. At this time enquiries were made as to whether the Mernda Township could access this high-pressure pipeline. The answer was it would cost over a million dollars to put in a gateway, and the usage levels would be so small that it would not be viable, unless a commercial customer was found. Also it was stated that the high pressure was a major problem.
Again it was left alone until we started to see work being done just north of the township at the side of the road just past Toll’s. Shortly it was announced that a pipeline was to be established to service the township of Whittlesea, and we watched in anticipation expecting that it would extend to Mernda. In about May 2004 the first domestic user was connected in Whittlesea Township and connections continue.
Mernda residents decided that they had had enough, as firewood prices were going up with supply dwindling, and using bottled gas, although an alternative is still expensive. They started phoning the Gas companies and Whittlesea Council only to be told that there is nothing planned in the near future. As individuals they were treated poorly and were constantly getting the run-around from these people. The next step was to organise a petition around the township and petition forms were placed in the Milk Bar, Post Office, and Hotel for people to sign. The response was overwhelming and gave these people heart, so a public meeting was organised and held at the Mernda Primary School. A representative from council was asked to be in attendance and he bought along a display showing all the development in the City of Whittlesea. This covered Epping, South Morang, Mernda and Whittlesea townships. About 30 people attended and listened to the council representative only to be informed near the end of the presentation that in fact there was no immediate plan to service the Mernda Township with natural gas, causing those in attendance to see red!
Chris Noonan, principal of Mernda Primary School addressed the meeting and suggested interested people put their names down with the intention of forming a committee to represent the residents. A meeting was called for the 5th October 2004, with 63 people in attendance. Chris chaired the meeting and put several proposals to the group, including becoming an incorporated body. He had downloaded items of interest from the Internet and applied for a kit from Consumer Affairs to be sent out. He called for nominations to form a committee of at least 5 but no more than 10 people, and these people then elect a Chairman, Secretary and Treasurer.
The following is the first committee of the Mernda and District Residents Association.
President Michael Bradley
Secretary Warrick Peters
Treasurer Michael O’Brien
Committee Members were elected as follows
Chris Atkinson
Michael Augustus
Graeme Bushby
Wendy Harrison
Greg McColl
Kathy Meyzis
Darren Paynting
Ideas were collected from the people attending and written down for discussion at the committee meeting. On the strength of interest with the initial petition and as the Federal election was imminent it was decided to conduct a more in depth survey at the polling booth if allowed by the returning officer. Permission was granted and a survey was conducted. We asked for the persons surname, address, whether they wanted natural gas, would they connect, did they have LGP and what appliances using LPG, and what appliances they would change. A database was started and the data entered and then checked to only have one entry per household.
A public meeting was set for Wednesday 27th October 2004 at the Mernda Recreation Reserve. Introductory letters were sent to Fran Bailey MP, Danielle Green MP, Councillor Allan Cann, and former councillor Rex Griffin, along with an invitation to attend the meeting to give us some assistance. As this was a committee meeting only the committee and invited guests were in attendance. Fran Bailey was unable to attend but sent along a staff member to take notes and report back to her. We heard from all guests about their views and those of the state government and the Whittlesea council from Danielle and Allan respectively. Danielle Green in two speeches to parliament mentioned both our Gas and Sewerage issues.
Incorporation of the group was discussed and the easiest way is to adopt the model rules and make any sub rules for ourselves. The statement of purposes was discussed and appears on the home page. A slight name change was suggested and the name MERNDA AND DISTRICT RESIDENTS ASSOCIATION was adopted. On the question of membership it was decided to have an entry fee of $10, with a yearly membership of $5. It was also decided to invite Mr Andrew McKenzie, who is the marketing manager at Envestra, the company responsible for laying gas pipelines in Victoria, to our next and public meeting.
An open public meeting was set for Wednesday 17th November, 2004 at the Mernda Recreation Reserve. 51 residents and 3 guests attended. Mr McKenzie addressed the meeting and gave an overview of Envestra and its requirements for laying pipelines. He explained that at South Morang with the new developments happening there is a need to have extra gas pressure and a new line is to be run from the Citygate north of Mernda to South Morang by May 2005. This he explained was extremely fortunate for Mernda as it now made it possible to connect gas to Mernda in the short term, not long term as previously indicated. He further said that surveys need to be done on residents and usage rates and conversion rates before any pipes are laid. Mr Allan Cann stated that he was negotiating with council for a survey to be conducted by the council in the near future.
The survey from council came out shortly before Christmas 2004 but had to be filled in and returned in one week. The survey has been collated and of 197 forms sent out 116 replied. The results are that 63 were very favourable, 37 favourable with 10 somewhat meaning they would change within 5 years. Only 6 replied with not favourable in that they would not change.
In February 2005 the incorporation was granted and we are now an official body.
Contact has been made with the Friends of South Morang, especially Mr Trevor Carroll the president. MADRA will now join forces with the FOSM, in lobbying for the train line extension to South Morang and hopefully to Mernda. Other issues where we can work together will be the upgrading of Plenty road and improved public transport throughout the entire area.
Warrick Peters
Formation Secretary
Mernda & District Residents Association
