HOBSONS Bay’s Maltese community has put the council on notice, saying its population represents nearly half of voters in some wards.
The warning comes after the Maltese Association Hobsons Bay was unsuccessful for the sixth consecutive year in its bid to secure car park funding for its Altona East premises in Collins Avenue under this year’s council budget.
A big group of association members turned up at last week’s council meeting, leaving in disgust on hearing that car parking would be a priority next year.
President Joe Attard said the club had about 500 financial members but only six car parking slots.
“What the councillors who raise their hands against us forgot is that the Maltese community in their ward hold 48 per cent of the Maltese voters and those connected to the Maltese.
“This is the sixth year that the parking came in front of the councillors and each year it was left top priority for next year.
“This is a health and safety issue, for the disabled, disadvantaged and people that before lived in isolation.”
Mr Attard reserved most of his anger for Malta-born mayor Angela Altair.
“In all her time as councillor or mayor, we never received any assistance from her,” he said.
“Her main concern was always arts, craft and entertainment, which we call smoke in the air.’’
The club formed in 1992 to help people suffering from depression and to encourage the elderly, disadvantaged and isolated to socialise.
“We hold the mayor and those councillors responsible for those disabled, disadvantaged and those people that took us [volunteers] 21 years to get them out from isolation, if any one of these get hurt in any way or return to isolation.’’
Cherry Lake ward councillor Tony Briffa, also of Maltese background, successfully moved a budget amendment to revisit the issue mid-term.
Cr Briffa’s amendment was to direct the CEO to provide a report to the council about options for providing the association with a car park.
