Residents in Melton’s eastern corridor are angry about their council’s decision to not consider holding meetings at Caroline Springs more often.
Last week, a council meeting was held at the Caroline Springs library for the first time – but it’s likely to be the last.
A bid by Watts ward councillor Lara Carli for every second meeting to be held in Caroline Springs was rejected.
“Eastern corridor councillors, and there are four of us here, are denying their residents [the chance to have meetings here],” Cr Carli said. “What a disgrace – shame, shame.”
Cr Carli last month asked council officers to prepare a report outlining the costs associated with holding meetings outside the Melton civic centre.
At last week’s meeting, corporate services general manager Peter Bean said the council spent about $3400 on the Caroline Springs meeting.
The council report made two recommendations: to “receive the report for information” and consult residents in the eastern corridor to gauge their level of interest. It stated the costs associated with consulting residents by phone would be $3000.
But while presenting the report, Mr Bean said surveying the residents would more likely be closer to $7000.
Cr Kathy Majdlik asked for the matter to be deferred and the full cost of holding meetings in Caroline Springs be calculated.
“Madam mayor, I’m not sure my residents are happy to pay $7000 for a phone survey,” she said.
Councillors Majdlik, Sophie Ramsey, Nola Dunn, Renata Cugliari and Myles Bentley approved the recommendation to receive the report.
Cr Carli voted in favour of the report’s two recommendations while adding a third, to hold council meetings every second month at Caroline Springs. This did not pass.
A Taylors Hill resident, who was at the meeting, said she was disappointed at the outcome.
“I’m just really disappointed that the councillors who were elected by us don’t care about us,” she said.
