By Cam Lucadou-Wells
John Foy, a 78-year-old widower, didn’t even use Facebook but he inspired a social-media army to land a barrage of blows on Casey Council.
The council were hell-bent on compulsorily acquiring and bulldozing Mr Foy’s Narre Warren North idyllic 34-acre property to turn it into a soccer complex.
But Mr Foy wanted to protect his paradise with all the “little critters” that live in it.
He had spent 35 years transforming paddocks and a small billabong into a luscious habitat garden and nesting lake for water birds.
His plight was highlighted by Star News then picked up by TV news, which snowballed into a 9000-signature online petition and a powerful Facebook campaign.
To his surprise – as well as jubilant supporters – Casey Council announced at a general meeting on 7 February that it would drop the project.
A supporter described it as a miracle. Others described the battle as akin to the Australian film classic The Castle.
“I think all the electronic devices got to them,” said Mr Foy.
And so ended the years of stressful negotiations, including a stoush at a Planning Panels Victoria hearing.
Then-mayor Sam Aziz insisted he didn’t bow to the “insulting remarks” on Facebook.
“If you were my father or grandfather, I certainly wouldn’t want you to be in this position.
“I wanted to ensure that you were given free passage to go home and sleep peacefully, to know this is off the books and your property is not in our plans.”
Cr Aziz noted even soccer club members started lobbying on Mr Foy’s behalf.
The property was considered the “last piece of the puzzle” for a trail link between Frog Hollow Reserve and Lysterfield Lake, as well as a site for desperately-needed soccer pitches.
Cr Aziz promised that the council’s plans would be laid to rest – “forever” – to the cheers of Mr Foy’s jubilant supporters.
In a goodwill gesture, Casey offered Mr Foy a free hot water system – which the owner didn’t bother to replace given his dire situation.
But Mr Foy refused the offer, declaring “I can’t be bought”.
“The ratepayers are going to be paying for it, not the councillors,” Mr Foy said.
“They’ll just be taking it out of the ratepayers’ money.
“If I accept it, what does that make me?”
In other words – as they said in The Castle – tell ‘em they’re dreaming.
