A boisterous public gallery demand answers
By Glen Atwell
MORE than 500 angry Brookland Greens residents were left with more questions than answers after a heated public meeting in Cranbourne last night (Thursday).
City of Casey mayor Janet Halsall, in her first appearance at a public meeting to address the methane mess, struggled to control the crowd during discussion.
Local MPs were also grilled by the fierce gallery.
Cranbourne member Jude Perera and his Narre Warren North counterpart Luke Donnellan did their best to appease the crowd, but their answers left many of the affected with residents with more questions.
State opposition leader Ted Baillieu and councillor Paul Richardson were clear crowd favourites and received standing ovations from the boisterous gallery after speaking.
Cr Richardson said the methane mess was the biggest disaster to hit the municipality in history.
“It’s a bloody mess,” he told the large crowd.
“The City of Casey may have to buy back every house in the Brookland Greens estate.”
Cr Richardson said the blame should be shared between the council, the state government and estate developer, Peet.
After the meeting, resident Con said the council was still avoiding the hard questions.
“I’ve live in the estate for more than five years, and after three months I knew something was wrong,” he said.
“Yet the council officers stand up there and expect us to believe that they didn’t know there was a problem.”
“We’re asking the hard questions and they’re avoiding the real answers. I’ve had enough,” Con said.
Kerry Rosevear, of Taylor Street in Cranbourne, said she was disappointed that new information was not provided to affected residents.
“Everything the council officers said tonight has been in information handouts,” she said.
“Only Cr Richardson and Mr Baillieu offered us any hope. I hope Cr Richardson is running for mayor,” Ms Rosevear said.
