By Ethan Benedicto
As the next council meeting for the City of Casey is fast approaching on Tuesday, 18 March, the community’s appeals have remained the same, as a local MP weighs in.
David Limbrick, South-Eastern Metropolitan Libertarian MP, said that while people may think that the residents of “Casey are out of control, you would have it the wrong way around”.
“This is what happens when a council gets out of control; it is what happens when a council refuses to respect property rights,” he said.
In light of the criticism, Limbrick did acknowledge that the current council were “put in this predicament” by the former administration.
Vice president of the Casey Residents and Ratepayers Association, Anthony Tassone, who was also in attendance of the first council meeting, said that, likewise to Mayor Koomen’s words, he sees that the community is “engaged”.
Touching on the process that the council has in establishing a formidable relationship with the residents, he said, “the best time for the councillors to assert their authority on management staff and the council was yesterday, and the next best time is today”.
“These are still issues that the community feels very strongly about, and I do expect a strong turnout at the meeting next week.
“I also expect a lot of public questions because there’s a strong level of interest from the community, but also because more people are becoming aware of the processes.
“But also there is the greater understanding that council meetings are not a public forum to ask questions from the floor, and that there are processes that need to be followed,” he said.
Speaking on how the current council can improve overall relations with not just the gallery present but also the city’s residents, Tassone said that the council needs to ensure proper “genuine consultation” on the many different issues.
“With the local law, the City of Casey published one Facebook post, and that they’re being reviewed and in that same post, there were four other topic mentioned,” he said.
“It was easy for people to miss, and not surprisingly, there were zero submissions or responses to the consultation.
“That shouldn’t be taken by the City of Casey to mean acceptance or any lack of query or concern.”
Limbrick remained critical, adding that despite being in a cost-of-living crisis, “they are trying to impose a permit system to allow people to keep cars on their own property”.
“They took it a step further when they snatched cars from a resident’s backyard in Hampton Park.
“The good news is it’s not too late for the new councillors to turn this around,” he said.
It’s important to note that Casey Council previously officially stated that no vehicles were removed from the Hampton Park property and that officers did not enter the property’s premises.
These reports initially came when a member of the home’s family posted their friction with the council on Facebook, where they said that on 10 February, when she had come home, she found council officers loading their car onto the back of a tow truck.
Three unregistered cars were towed away on the day without notice, as claimed by the family.
It was revealed, however, that the family first heard from the council in October 2024 regarding unregistered vehicles in their backyard, as well as shipping containers; to which the family said they moved the cars right away.
According to a statement provided by Casey Council, the family was storing their unregistered vehicles on the neighbouring property.
After three months of unfruitful communication, the council sent out a formal notice that provided details of the vehicles that were impounded and how they could be released.
City of Casey acting director of Community Life Callum Pattie said after receiving complaints from the community, officers inspected a property in Hampton Park.
Limbrick had urged the State Government to investigate “these examples of council overreach”; on the other hand, Tassone believes that a lot is left to be done when it comes to mentioned consultation with the people.
“There needs to be a better consultation process, and promotion and awareness of those consultations happening, as well as additional opportunities for residents to ask questions,” he said.
“While council meetings themselves are not the place to do that, residents should be afforded the opportunity for it to happen in addition and separate to council meetings.”
He said that mayor Koomen’s video, which he posted on Facebook addressing the need to touch on the proposed waste transfer station as well as the local laws, was an “encouraging acknowledgement of issues”.
Tassone remains adamant, however, that that form of communication needs to continue and that while it’s one thing to say something, it is something else entirely to do it.
From Limbrick’s point of view, he said that “the residents are not your enemy”.
“You (councillors) still have a window of opportunity to speak to them and restore relations with the people who voted for you.
“I urge councillors to listen to their constituents, respect their property rights and take back control of the council,” he said.
For Tassone, “the sooner that council demonstrates that they are the ones in charge rather than management and it’s not the tail wagging the dog, the people will build that trust and respect”.
