By Cam Lucadou-Wells
Fresh from defeating Casey’s push to acquire his property, Narre Warren North resident John Foy has knocked back the council’s “goodwill” offer of a complimentary hot water system.
The council had offered a replacement hot-water system out of recognition of the stress caused to Mr Foy – who told Star News that “I can’t be bought off”.
Mr Foy said the system burst several weeks ago “regardless of whether there was an issue with the council”.
“The ratepayers are going to be paying for it, not the councillors,” Mr Foy said.
“They’ll just be taking it out of the ratepayers’ money.
“If I accept it, what does that make me?”
Mr Foy said he’d never sought compensation from the council.
“I just didn’t want the bloody (public acquisition) overlay. I’m not looking for anything else.”
Invoking the classic Aussie film The Castle, Mr Foy was backed by many neighbours and Facebook warriors in his battle to preserve his 34-acre home and its bird-rich gardens and wetland.
Casey councillors voted unanimously on a dramatic, last-minute backdown at a meeting on 7 February.
Mr Foy said he was still puzzled as to who and what was behind the stunning reversal, but was thankful for the stoic support of media and neighbours.
He singled out the help of residents Marlene Kane, Sharon Richardson, Peterine Smulders and Sandra Velius.
“I just want to get the message out there to thank everybody who helped me. They’ve made somebody sit up and listen.
“I would have liked to have been a fly on the wall at that (special council) meeting.”
Mayor Sam Aziz said he didn’t regret offering the “goodwill gesture”.
“It was up to him whether to accept it.
“We still extend to Mr Foy our goodwill and best wishes for the future.”
