Jennifer Pittorino
Techno Park Drive residents, who are fighting Hobsons Bay council to remain in their industrial-zoned homes. marched to the Altona council chambers to “stop the evictions”.
But residents, supporters and councillors were left with a bitter taste in their mouths when council made the last minute decision to move the August meeting online.
A council spokesperson said, “the decision to hold the meeting online was taken in the interests of the safety and wellbeing of the community, councillors, and council staff”.
Former Altona council chief executive John Shaw showed up to Logan Reserve, Altona, where the march started, and delivered a powerful message to the current council.
“I worked in local government for 30 years, I have to say this decision of council in my opinion is the worst decision the local council has ever made in my lifetime,” he said.
“They could not have picked a worse time to try and evict people from their homes, this act of council is an act of bastardry.
“Having heard that those of us that could attend the meeting tonight, are no longer able to attend is a very cowardly decision of the council.”
Several protesters were due to appear at the meeting and ask questions. However, more than 12 of those questions were still read by mayor Tony Briffa in the online meeting.
Cr Briffa said moving the meeting online was a difficult but necessary decision
“Council is keen to have all our meetings conducted in-person however, there are several factors that led us to believe that going ahead with an in-person meeting at the Civic Centre risked exposing the community, councillors and council staff to an unpredictable, stressful and potentially volatile environment.”
Maribyrnong councillor Jorge Joquera stood by the only Hobsons Bay councillor at the march, Daria Kellander, as he labelled the other councillors as “spineless.”
“There are another six councillors who aren’t even willing to face you, they closed down the meeting with poor excuses,” he said
“Where are they are supposed to be representing you, we have to keep the pressure up on those councillors.
“It is a brutal irony that we are meeting here today in support of the Techno Park residents, threatened with eviction during National Homelessness Week.
“What a cruel irony that we are meeting here meeting in defence of your human right to a home.”
Resident Lara Week addressed her fellow neighbours by reminding the more than 150 attendees the fight is not over.
“We stand in solidarity with all people in insecure housing, housing is a human right and people deserve to be treated with care, respect and dignity and no one should be evicted from their home.”
The march was organised by a coalition of residents, including renter Matt Robinson, who told council it is time to find a solution.
“Council have chosen to create this problem, it’s time to choose to solve this problem by working with the community to keep people housed,” he said.
“We are going to win, it is going to be a battle but we will win.”
