By Cam Lucadou-Wells
Casey councillor Rex Flannery has been warned to stay away from Berwick Springs roundabout protesters, out of fears for his personal safety.
Fresh from a trip near the Gaza Strip conflict zone, Cr Flannery was told he’d face a wall of boiling dissent at the protest on 25 June if he didn’t promise to oppose a proposed widening of the estate’s roundabout.
In a text message to the councillor, organiser Michael Ball stated: “I cannot be held responsible for residents actions …
“I wanted to let you know just how much community backlash is becoming more evident now the permit has been applied for.
“I do not believe your attendance (at the protest) is advisable unless you are going (to) say NO and refuse this application at council.”
Mr Ball said he’d warned Cr Flannery after a flare-up between a resident and Casey council officer at the start of a community information session on the issue four days earlier.
“It was an uncomfortable situation, a heated exchange. The (officer) stood toe to toe with this resident.
“Had I not stepped in, it could have escalated quickly.
“I told the council employee to back away and I took the other person away from there.”
A Casey spokeswoman said the “very minor” incident “did not detract from what was a constructive and respectful session”.
Mr Ball said many residents were upset by the misleading address given for the proposed roundabout works on the planning permit notification.
The application states Berwick Springs Promenade as well as 36A Shrives Road, Narre Warren.
The latter is the address of the adjoining Hallam Valley Contour Drain and the “location of the land affected”, according to Casey Council.
The roundabout is however situated on Greaves Road, Narre Warren South.
“There are people who think that it’s trying to reduce the number of objections,” Mr Ball said.
Residents were also angry with Cr Flannery for “succumbing to the pressure” and failing to vote against the issue on 21 February.
“He had told us ‘I’ll do everything I can’ … people expected him to stand up for a better solution.”
Cr Flannery, who attended the protest site under the cover of a friend’s car, said he took the warning as a personal threat.
“I wanted to go to that rally but I was told they can’t guarantee my personal safety,” Cr Flannery said.
The developer Moremac Property Group is applying to widen and shift the roundabout at Greaves Road and Berwick Springs Promenade to provide access for its Alira estate.
Residents are opposed to the Berwick Springs bluestone landscaped gateway being bulldozed, then reinstated as part of the estimated $3.6 million project.
While having an “open mind”, Cr Flannery said he couldn’t support Casey spending “hundreds of thousands” of dollars on saving the gateway.
“When I was elected to council, my main platform was not to waste money.”
