Anger over ‘backroom deal’

By Bridget Brady
A CASEY councillor has accused some of his fellow civic leaders of giving in to their “political masters” at Spring Street.
Springfield Ward councillor Sam Aziz said Labor affiliated Casey councillors had struck a behind-the-scenes deal with the State Government in nominating a figure of $20.5 million as the least amount the council would accept from the government to assist with the Brookland Greens clean-up.
“Behind the scenes there’s a bit of a delicate operation to try to persuade people to accept the offer. I sincerely hoped that those councillors would stand up for the ratepayers who elected them and not making the problem go away for their political masters at Spring Street,” Cr Aziz said.
Mayor Lorraine Wreford agreed, and said “politics is playing its ugly hand in council”.
“The Labor councillors have folded to the whims of their political masters,” Cr Wreford said.
But Edrington Ward councillor Daniel Mulino, who ran for preselection for the Labor Party in the State seat of Mordialloc, refuted the claims.
“Now isn’t the time to be making those kinds of accusations. Now is the time for us to work together as a group to get the best outcome for ratepayers and that’s what ratepayers would expect,” Cr Mulino said.
Cr Aziz said his earlier notice of motion, which was lost, left the door open for negotiation.
“The most disappointing thing is the motion that passed actually puts a cap on what the city can get,” he said. “Instead of my colleagues on council who are affiliated with the Labor Party pursuing the best deal for the ratepayers they represent, they have capitulated and gone and accepted the first offer which falls significantly short of what the city has asked for,” Cr Aziz said.
In a tight vote at a meeting on Tuesday night, council resolved that $20.5 million would be the minimum they would accept after the government presented an offer of $14.5 million. Casey council had asked for $41.9 million to help shoulder the huge costs associated with ongoing works at the Stevensons Road landfill.