By Cam Lucadou-Wells
Casey mayor Sam Aziz has launched an extraordinary salvo against Berwick residents campaigning to preserve their premium estate’s bluestone gateway.
The residents, originally outraged by a proposal for the Berwick Springs landscaped wall feature being shifted for a wider roundabout, have since returned fire in an open letter to Casey Council.
The spat started with Cr Aziz’s stinging rebuke on the residents’ ‘Berwick Springs Estate’ Facebook page on 14 January.
“Unfortunately, you have all been taken for a ride by (residents’ organiser) Michael Ball,” the post begins.
Cr Aziz accused Mr Ball of manipulating residents as part of a “malicious self-promotion political campaign”.
“Given his appalling conduct and his deliberate manipulation for his own ego at the expense of the interests of our residents, I will no longer deal with him … neither will our officers.”
Cr Aziz said he would instead listen to the executive of Berwick Residents and Ratepayers Association.
In the post, Cr Aziz denied the council was to blame for the lack of community consultation for the gateway changes at the corner of Greaves Road and Berwick Springs Promenade.
Cr Aziz said the Metropolitan Planning Authority, an arm of the State Government, was responsible.
Meanwhile, the residents’ open letter accused Casey of being “underhanded”, “seriously out-of-touch” and exhibiting a “sheer lack of transparency”.
Its Facebook page has posted for Cr Aziz to “stop bullying and attacking the messenger”.
Mr Ball responded on Facebook that Cr Aziz should have taken it on himself to inform residents of the proposal.
“I would not report in the Berwick News that this is a non issue or that we are jumping at shadows.
“It also disappoints me that Cr Aziz thinks he can shift the responsibility and blame from his council and start personal and vindictive attacks upon myself.”
Mr Ball stated Cr Aziz had not replied to several requests to meet with residents.
Another resident Georgia Mandarino posted in reply to Cr Aziz: “The very things that you say about Michael Ball are the things the community feels about you.”
