Pop-up opinion identifies key priorities

THE City of Casey has submitted a petition to the State Government after it was revealed that more than 1000 residents want better infrastructure in the area.
The council became aware of their opinions after it hosted a ‘pop-up’ advocacy stand at Westfield’s Fountain Gate Shopping Centre last week at which residents were invited to sign the council’s petition to support its seven key projects in the lead up to the state election on 29 November.
State election advocacy spokesperson for the City of Casey councillor Sam Aziz welcomed the support of the community in the Make Your Voice Count campaign.
“This is the first time council has hosted a pop-up advocacy stand of this scale and we’re delighted with the positive response with many shoppers stopping to sign the petition, chatting with council officers about our advocacy priorities or picking up information materials,” he said.
The key priorities listed by council which the petition supported were:
* Frequent and direct bus services;
* Thompsons Road duplication/Western Port Highway intersection upgrade;
* Hallam Road duplication/South Gippsland Highway intersection upgrade;
* Narre Warren – Cranbourne Road duplication (stage two);
* The Casey Cultural Precinct;
* The attraction of investment and creation of jobs in the Casey Cardinia region and
* Youth mental health services.
State election advocacy spokesperson councillor Wayne Smith said that the council has now closed the petition and sent it to the Victorian Premier and Opposition Leader.
“With less than seven weeks to the election, we hope the petition will spur both the Victorian Government and State Opposition to announce further funding commitments for Casey, especially council’s seven priorities,” he said.
While the pop-up stand has closed, residents can still have their say by writing or emailing their state MPs or election candidates using the council’s template available at www.makeyourvoicecount.com.au.