Hobsons Bay council has delivered letters of apology to the residents of Williamstown’s Techno Park Drive, who are facing eviction from their homes.
As reported by Star Weekly, Techno Park Drive residents received letters from council in May telling them to cease living at Techno Park immediately.
The estate, which sits adjacent to a Mobil fuels storage site on Kororoit Creek Road, is home to more than 100 people.
Residents protested before council’s meeting on July 11, calling for council to put a halt to the evictions.
On July 21, council compliance officers delivered new letters to Techno Park residents, apologising to residents for the harm caused by the notice of eviction.
The new letter, seen by Star Weekly, states council never intended to see anyone become homeless.
In the letter, Hobsons Bay chief executive Aaron van Egmond said council is very sorry for the distress its correspondence has caused.
“The community’s feedback has been taken on board and we have agreed to give you more time to work through your personal circumstances and share with council your ability to take the requested action,” he said.
“When council wrote to you, we did not know the extent of residential uses. We still do not know the full extent, however, council now understands that a residential community is living at Techno Park.”
The letter also states that residents who need more time will be granted an extension, but also that council needs to hear from residents.
“Council’s previous letter offered people up to six months, and in some discussions people have indicated they might need more time and this has been offered. Council wants to reassure you, if you need more time, there is more time,” the letter stated.
A council spokesperson said the letters were hand-delivered because council felt it should be its “priority” to apologise and to offer access to support services.
Resident Lara Week said residents wanted justice, not support services.
“If Hobsons Bay council are concerned about the mental health of residents, they will rescind the eviction notices and seek all possible solutions to their planning problem with the goal of keeping everyone in their homes. We are not leaving,” she said.
On the same day residents received the second letters, a delegation of Techno Park Drive residents met with Williamstown MP Melissa Horne, which Ms Week said was positive.
