Council addresses mail box mix-ups

By Sarah Schwager
STREET names have again caused a stir at Casey Council as councillors try to take mail-sorting issues into their own hands.
The issue of renaming two Cranbourne streets – Conway Court, which is conflicting with Conway Street, and Frances Court, competing with Frances Crescent – came up at Tuesday night’s council meeting.
The third time the issue has come before council, officers had this time recommended to change the names of Conway and Frances courts after advice from the local postmaster.
However, deputy mayor Kevin Bradford put forward an opposite recommendation that the street names not be changed.
“There are 168 streets in the City of Casey alone that are similarly named,” Cr Bradford said.
“What sort of precedent is this going to set? This is not our issue to deal with.
“Eventually there will be enough residents in the area to require new postcodes.
“The postcodes are the main issue anyway. Until then Australia Post need to look at ways of improving technology.”
Mayfield Ward councillor Steve Beardon, who lives on Conway Street, said he had fought for the name changes because residents had come to him as the ward councillor and not because he lived on the street.
“This issue has been identified by residents in submissions. The issue has been going on for 12 years – well before I was elected,” he said.
Cr Bradford said the matter would be laughable if did not have such serious consequences.
He said residents of Conway Court, including one elderly man in particular, were being seriously affected as they tried to come to terms with the financial burden and hassle a name change would incorporate, including changing land titles, bank details, health records and the street directory.
Conway Court residents Alan and Margaret Millerick, aged 74 and 75 respectively, said changing details on land titles and so on could run into the thousands of dollars.
Mr Millerick said he had nearly had a heart attack when he heard the issue had come up again.
“We are pensioners, we couldn’t afford the money it would cost,” he said.
“We don’t understand why this is coming up. We have never had any problems with the mail.
“My wife and I have got a good relationship with the people in the opposite street. They were amazed. They didn’t even know it was an issue.
“This issue has upset other elderly couples on the street as well, and also a young couple with two kids, it’s upset them too. They are the same as us, they live from week to week.”
City of Casey planning and development director Peter Fitchett said council officers had recommended to change the street names after advice from the Cranbourne Postmaster, who said he had received complaints from the majority of residents of those streets at some time or other in the 18 months he had been working at the post office.
Councillors eventually decided not to change the street names.
Councillor Rob Wilson also attempted to make a motion that stopped the issue from coming before council again but it was ruled out of order.