By Benjamin Millar
Chaotic scenes erupted at Maribyrnong Council’s Footscray headquarters on Tuesday night as Victoria Police’s public order response unit evacuated more than 100 people from the building.
Those ordered from the council office foyer following an alarm being triggered had earlier been involved in an emotion-packed protest against a proposed Melbourne Victory football club redevelopment of Footscray Park.
The protest was held outside the offices shortly before 6pm, timed to coincide with the council’s monthly public meeting.
About 150 protestors crowded the town hall steps, holding placards and even performing a song written for the campaign.
As protestors attempted to file in to the office building ahead of the meeting, they grew frustrated as it became clear the majority would be unable to gain access.
Maribyrnong mayor Martin Zakharov said an alarm that was set off about 6.30pm, as the meeting was due to commence, may have been triggering by someone trying to force open a closed door.
But he said another staff member had suggested rainwater entering the building upstairs during the heavy rainfall may have been responsible for triggering the alarm.
At least two MFB fire trucks arrived at the scene in response.
Maribyrnong chief executive Stephen Wall later left the offices by a rear exit, telling Star Weekly the meeting was cancelled.
More than a dozen police, who had arrived in at least six public order response vehicles, barricaded the doorways and refused entry to anyone trying to enter the building.
They eventually ordered the protesters out of the foyer and back into the rain, chanting ‘Save Our Park’ as they exited.
Police searched the building for anyone who may have been left inside and remained at the scene after the protest dissipated.
Cr Zakharov defended the decision not to allow the protesters into the scheduled council meeting.
He said the council had been due to consider a ‘long agenda’, so prioritised entry for people who were directly involved in matters that were included on the agenda.
“It was a difficult one, we certainly want to make sure people aren’t forced out of the discussion,” he said.
“We want to try and find a way forward with the Save Footscray Park people, so we are going to try and meet with them.”
He said the cancellation of the meeting followed a recommendation from the police.
Maribyrnong Council beefed up its meeting security in 2015 after two councillors were assaulted during a fiery meeting over paid parking in Yarraville village.
Councillor Grant Miles was king hit and Cr Nam Quach was bodyslammed to the floor after anger boiled over after a move to repeal paid parking in Yarraville was voted down.
Cr Zakharov said he was concerned protesters outside the council on Tuesday night had been “noisy and verbally aggressive”.
The protest was held in response to plans by Melbourne Victory to build a new soccer academy on a portion of Footscray Park.
More than 4000 people have signed an online petition against the proposal, but others in the community have come out in support.
Save Footscray Park’s Gemma Cafarella said the protest had been orderly and the Council had mismanaged the situation.
“If there’s an emergency evacuation there’s an emergency evacuation, but plainly we weren’t going to be let in even before that happened,” she said.
“They had police here to stop us when we first got here, they locked the doors so we couldn’t get in.
“I still feel incredibly disappointed with the council, my hope is that they will come to their senses.”
A police spokeswoman said police including officers from Public Order Response Team removed protesters from the building after some protesters attempted to enter a restricted area of the building about 6.25pm.
“No one was injured during the incident. At this stage no arrests have been made.”
A decision on the Melbourne Victory proposal is scheduled to be made in August.
