Jennifer Pittorino
The Techno Park Residents Association says some people living in the Williamstown estate have already become homeless, despite Hobsons Bay mayor Tony Briffa stating that was never council’s intention.
As reported by Star Weekly, on Monday, August 7, Cr Briffa released a statement about council’s decision to issue eviction letters to people living in the estate at Techno Park Drive.
The estate is zoned as industrial land and is adjacent to a Mobil fuel storage site on Kororoit Creek Road.
Council issued the eviction letters on May 18 and last month apologised for the way it had handled the situation.
In her statement, Cr Briffa said “council has no intention of seeing anyone become homeless”, and urged residents who needed to support to contact the council.
But the residents association said some people had already become homeless.
“There are landlords and real estate agents who followed council’s direction and evicted their tenants immediately, or in the following months,” a statement from the association read.
“Others remain living in their homes but are suffering daily from fear and anxiety for their future, people are sleepless and are struggling at work.
“For many, this threat against our homes and community is unbearable.”
The association also refuted Cr Briffa’s claims that council has never accepted residents living in Techno Park Drive.
“For decades, council has accepted pet registrations to Techno Park addresses,” the association said.
“People have voted in council elections while on the electoral roll at Techno Park addresses.”
The residents are calling on council to find an alternative solution to their eviction.
“If we’re talking about the welfare of 100 residents, many of whom are vulnerable, why wouldn’t we do that?”
