It was a rocky start to 2025 for the Casey Council, as the first monthly meeting brought with it confused and upset locals — along with loud opinions about Casey’s Local Law Act.
Confusion surrounding the local laws began to fester during the Christmas period of 2024, where Casey resident, Tom Kapitany, who owns a property in Devon Meadow, shared information from the council’s webpage regarding permits needed for certain activities on private land.
According to this information, Casey residents would need a permit when storing or repairing a recreational vehicle; storing a shipping container and storing unregistered vehicles for up to 90 days, as well as storing unregistered vehicles, for up to 90 days.
It also outlined that a permit would be needed when putting up temporary dwellings and when dismantling, repairing or serving a non-commercial vehicle on private land.
The outrage prompted a petition calling for the abolition of the permit requirements for private land use in Casey and in January 2025, it had gained nearly 15,000 signatures.
Almost a week after the backlash, the council released its first media statement saying that inaccurate information regarding the council’s private land use permit had been published online and as a result, its customer service department had been subjected to threatening behaviour.
But locals were quick to defend their confusion regarding the matter, highlighting that the alleged misinformation that was being circulated was attributed to Casey’s own webpage.
Locals also found further inconsistencies between the information provided on the webpage and the information regarding permits in the Casey Community Local Law 2023.
On 7 January 2025, came the council’s second media statement, acknowledging the inconsistent wording on its own website.
“Our residents do not need a permit to do minor maintenance on their car on private property, for example, an oil change or belt change,” it stated.
It also said that the residents did not need a permit to park a caravan on their property.
But it didn’t ease Casey ratepayer’s concerns about permits needed for private land use.
In February 2025, a few days before the first council meeting of the year, fuel was added to the fire following a report by 7News revealing that several vehicles, allegedly without notice, had been impounded from a Casey family’s property.
The council stated that the family was storing unregistered vehicles on their neighbour’s land and that they had sent out multiple formal notices.
And on 18 February 2025, hundreds of locals packed the gallery at Bunjil Place, expressing their anger by heckling throughout the meeting, including through Mayor Stefan Koomen’s Acknowledgement of Country and diversity statement — resulting in a police intervention and adjournment to the meeting.
About 60 submitted public questions were read and most were related to the private land use permit as well as a proposed Hampton Park waste transfer station.
But the tension in the room increased after the questions were read out, where hecklers in the assembly began to call for their questions, that were not officially submitted, to be answered.
Later, Mayor Koomen adjourned the meeting for the night after continuous high emotions from the gallery during the council officers’ reports, Victoria Police came out to escort the councillors and council officers.
The March 2025 council meeting was moved online, where it was announced that the council would be comprehensively reviewing its controversial Local Law 2023, as well as fees involved for private land use permits.
The review, the council said, would allow for community feedback that would ensure the outcomes benefit locals.
The community consultation process that took place in April and May garnered over 1000 submissions, 74 formal draft submissions, workshops 12 pop-up sessions and over 400 door knocks — and in August, the Casey Community Local Law draft was presented at its monthly council meeting.
The controversial clause regarding the regulations for vehicle repair and unregistered vehicles on private property was ultimately removed in the 2025 draft plan and rather, it suggested that matters relating to excess unregistered vehicles on private land would be managed under the unsightly clause.
But following further community submissions, residents called for clearer definitions and clarity on regulations that ensure different property types are being held to equal standards.
And finally, in December 2025, after nearly a year since the controversy was laid bare, Casey councillors unanimously adopted the Casey Community Local Law 2025.
The new local law outlines that permits for shipping containers on private land were replaced with an amenity-based standard, which aims to ensure containers do not diminish the character of comfort of the relevant environment.
As suggested in the draft in August, the clause that required permits for vehicle repairs and unregistered vehicles on private property was removed and once the plan is officially adopted in March 2026, it will be dependent on whether they are “unsightly”.
As the new law suggests, ‘unsightly vehicles’ includes two or more unregistered, broken or dismantled vehicles.
According to the December report, in the case of vehicle related activities that impact amenities, such as noise or visual impacts, provisions exist for the council to intervene.
Many of the councillors at the December meeting acknowledged and reflected on the extensive process that had taken place in reviewing and finalising the new local law.
They championed the council’s commitment to listening to the community and establishing laws that in turn, benefit Casey at large.
“We have just demonstrated how significant it is to show our voices are needed and heard, and the officers went to heavy work and provided a beautiful Local Community Law of 2025″, said Kalora Ward councillor, Melinda Ambros.
“The adoption of the Local Law 2025 is not just a regulatory update. It’s a commitment to listening, engaging, and acting in the best interest of the Casey community.”
Since the shaky 2025 February meeting, the council has implemented a registration system for those who want to attend.
