By Ethan Benedicto
The debate continues on the naming of the local Guru Nanak Lake in Berwick Springs, as the local community looks to gather once more on Sunday, 23 March.
The meeting will go on from 4:30pm onwards, and Michael Ball, one of the speakers and event organisers of the first meeting in November, has confirmed the attendance of South-Eastern Metropolitan MP Ann-Marie Hermans.
Hermans, a staunch supporter of the lack of consultation during the previous meeting, will be introducing a Legislative Council Petition during the Sunday event.
Likewise, with the local Casey Council now inaugurated, councillor Shane Taylor has confirmed his attendance, with Ball stating that Councillors Lynette Pereira and Michelle Crowther will also be present.
Considering a large portion of the lake falls under Taylor’s Kowan Ward, he said that the “renaming of Berwick Springs Lake has significantly impacted the residents who live in this area”.
“The State government’s approach, proceeding without any consultation or forewarning that the lake was under consideration for a name change, has profoundly disappointed and upset the community.
“While I acknowledge the cultural significance of naming it after Guru Nanak for the Sikh community, the absence of dialogue with those who live near and use the lake daily has eroded trust in the community,” he said.
A release from the Berwick Springs Community group also detailed that invitations have been sent out to the State’s Premier, Jacinta Allan.
This invitation also extended to the minister for mental health Ingrid Stitt, the minister for ageing and multicultural affairs Sonya Kilkenny, the attorney-general, minister for planning and Narre Warren MP Gary Maas.
Ball said that having the support and attendance of the local councillor is “very important”.
“We can never be sure if we would have better representation if there were councillors representing us then, but it’s a good point to take,” he said.
He also added that details regarding his requests from his Freedom of Information inquiry will also be shared with those in attendance concerning the consultation process that was undertaken before the change.
Taylor, like his fellow councillors during that time who were still being inducted, said, “I firmly believe an elected council could have changed the outcome”.
“We’re directly accountable to our residents, engaging with them regularly, and I’m confident we would have insisted on thorough community consultation before any decision was finalised.
“The State government led this process, and without early input from the local community, it’s left a void,” he said.
He also said that the level of involvement and engagement from the local community during the initial meeting was astounding and “underscored the strength of feeling” from the people.
Likewise, he also acknowledged the support of the other petition on the Guru Nanak Lake name, adding that “those substantial numbers reveal a community divided, a division exacerbated by the State’s failure to seek input before acting”.
The meeting in November 2024 steered into a different political platform when it was confirmed that members of a right-wing extremist group were present and had claimed the event as their own, including taking allegiance with the Liberal Party.
The event’s organisers, as well as the MPs in attendance, had denounced their attendance, with Ball previously saying that the extremists were not invited, nor were they welcome.
Taylor said that, in relation to ensuring a grounded conversation between all parties, one that is respectful and inclusive, the council must “restore transparency, demonstrate that we stand with our community”.
Linking events to the initial council meeting in February, he said that “people are upset, and justifiably so; to an outsider, it might appear that no one is listening or addressing their legitimate concerns.
“Having been without elected representation for five years, this sense of disconnection has only intensified.
“We are, after all, affected by the same decisions we make, and we must work diligently to rebuild trust within our Casey community,” he said.
