By Ethan Benedicto
Roughly 500 residents gathered outside Guru Nanak Lake, formerly Berwick Springs Lake, on Sunday, 23 March, in a silent gathering in protest of the lack of consultation.
The gathering, led by Michael Ball and the Berwick Springs Community group, highlighted similar key points from the previous one in November 2024, this time however, with a new initiative to garner 2000 signatures for a 30-minute parliamentary debate.
Ball, who spoke to Star News after the gathering, said that the reception was “great”, and that it “identifies the community support and the fact that so many are upset about what’s happened”.
“That’s what we’re seeing here today, communities coming out in support, they don’t agree, and regardless of who they are or where they come from, they just want to be consulted,” he said.
Multiple details were revealed during the meeting following a series of Freedom Of Information requests made by Ball, and other members of the group.
Documents shared by Ball to Star News obtained by this FOI request show correspondence between The City of Casey and other relevant bodies regarding the naming of the lake, which include Geographic Names Victoria (GNV) and the Department of Families, Fairness and Housing (DFFH).
The gathering began at 4:30pm sharp, with Michael touching on the 170-year history of ‘The Springs’, which was established by William Clarke in 1855.
Speaking from a table that jutted just after a sidewalk near the edges of the lake, he also presented a brief ‘history walk’, which displayed a timeline of events that led to the recent title of Berwick Springs Lake.
Touching back on the petition, Michael said during the gathering that if signed, the 2000-signature petition would go directly towards the Upper House of the Legislative Council of Victoria.
“This petition is going to give us a 30-minute debate, and that debate is going to give us some answers and some accountability as to why that consultation process wasn’t followed,” he said.
“I’m not going to stop until this is reverted, it’s wrong, it’s a travesty of justice and that’s the message I want to send out.”
Also in attendance were four councillors from the City of Casey, with Shane Taylor, Jennifer Dizon, Michelle Crowther and Lynette Periera showing their support.
Taylor said that it was “fantastic to see the numbers” during the gathering, mesmerised by the community’s support of the movement.
“Obviously, this is something that is upsetting the people, that there was no consultation.
“Our Berwick Springs Lake, now Guru Nanak Lake, was renamed without a word from the State Government, no consultation, no notice, just an announcement.
“Victoria’s own naming rules require them to consult the ‘immediate community’, that’s us, they didn’t and that’s completely unacceptable,” he said.
Taylor, with his family, moved into the Berwick Springs Estate not too long ago, recalling the community, the atmosphere, and the lake itself being critical factors in their decision.
Tying the name with the area’s identity, he said that “this isn’t about the Sikh community, it’s about the disrespect shown to a community that calls this lake home”.
“We’ve walked its trails and raised families here, yet we were left completely out of the process.
“What has happened and now it has happened, is just wrong,” he said.
Cr Crowther was on the same page, expressing her distaste for the “lack of community consultation about the name change”.
“I am disheartened by the failure of the State Government to follow its own processes,” she said.
Taylor also spoke on the significance that the motion for the change was passed, before the current councillors had been sworn in.
When he addressed the crowd during the meeting, he made it known that he was a “resident first and councillor second”, and that even then, “I wasn’t consulted”.
“There were no heads up, just a big announcement last November right before the newly elected councillors were to be sworn in, so we hadn’t even done that and the lake had already been renamed,” he said.
Dizon, while her ward is further south, said that there was an importance in showing support for the people, adding that she will take the steps to “represent the community”.
“It comes down to supporting these people here, and I’ll do everything in my power as a councillor to make sure their voices are heard,” she said.
Monique Davis, whose family had a long lineage of residency in the estate, was also present and read out a statement from Southeastern MP Ann-Marie Hermans who was not able to attend.
She read out that she had not been able to attend due to the lack of available police presence, and security concerns.
However, Ball reinforced with the crowd that “Hermans is 100 per cent behind us”, regarding the new name’s awareness.
The gathering ended just after 5:30pm, with Ball reiterating the lack of respect and the significance that councillors have shown their support.
Before the crowd dispersed, many took their time to speak with Ball and the councillors, with Ball commenting later on that his phone had not stopped buzzing with notifications, showcasing the willingness of the public to be involved.
This story is developing, and more information regarding the FOI and other details will soon be published.
