Gas powers Ablett

By Bridget Brady
A DESIRE to fix the methane gas mess has driven Casey councillor Geoff Ablett to enter the state political arena.
Cr Ablett, 55, said his dealings with the State Government when he was mayor left him feeling disappointed and inspired to do something about it, and help prevent “innocent” Casey ratepayers from bearing the full brunt of the council’s financial burden.
Cr Ablett will contest the State Election this year after he was endorsed as the Liberal candidate for the state seat of Cranbourne about two weeks ago. He said he would try to establish a financial package to help ratepayers if elected.
Cr Ablett said he was an Independent up until about eight months ago, after he was left feeling dissatisfied with the State Government.
“I felt a sense of being wronged as a resident,” Cr Ablett said.
“Somebody had to take on the fight.”
The council has called on the government to chip in $41.9 million to help cover the costs of the ongoing remediation works at the Stevensons Road landfill.
Cr Ablett said local Labor MPs had not represented local people adequately through the methane gas saga.
“They were in a position to really champion the cause in lifting an enormous financial burden from the Casey and Frankston people.
“They have turned a blind eye. They haven’t really represented the people at all.”
Cranbourne MP Jude Perera said Cr Ablett should use his role as a councillor to ensure Casey got on with the clean-up works at the site, rather than using the residents of Brookland Greens to score political points.
Cr Ablett, a Junction Village resident, said he would apply a grass roots approach to politics if elected, and said he was amazed he had never seen a state MP at a council meeting during his time with Casey.
“Ringing councillors and making connection with local councillors has been very rare.”
But Mr Perera said local members of parliament should show some separation from councillors’ duties.
“Each government has their own tier andhence responsibilities andsubsequently it would beinappropriate for me or any other State Member of Parliament to interfere with local councillors’ affairs,” Mr Perera said.
Cr Ablett said public transport, roads and broadband services were among other important issues to address in Casey.
Labor’s Jude Perera currently holds the seat by a margin of 0.5 per cent.