Manfred Kriechbaum is the leader of the newly formed Brimbank Residents and Ratepayers Association. 76615 Picture: KRISTIAN SCOTT
By LAURA WAKELY
BRIMBANK Residents and Ratepayers Association (BRRA) have the connections for change in Brimbank, according to their interim president.
Manfred Kriechbaum is the leader of the new group of 15 members, which was officially registered on 20 January.
Mr Kriechbaum said the idea for BRRA had formed over a year ago after residents discussed the need for a group that covers all of Brimbank.
The St Albans resident said members reside from across the municipality and include former Keilor MP George Seitz, sacked Brimbank councillor Maria Kiselis and former Brimbank councillor Lisa North.
Mr Kreichbaum said Mr Seitz, who revealed the new group to Star last month (They’re back, 24 January, Star) would be the spokesperson for the group.
“He’s the one who knows lots of the people, he has a lot of connections with bureaucrats, State and Federal government,” Mr Kreichbaum said.
Mr Kreichbaum denied Labor bias in the group, which he said would be “non-political”, despite his and Mr Seitz’ ties to the ALP.
But he admitted the “connections” would be used in lobbying.
“One of the things that worries us is that council rates keep going up and up and up, but out here there’s a high number of unemployment, low paying jobs,” Mr Kreichbaum said.
“People moved here because they can afford to buy a house here, but we’re paying just about the same amount of rates as they do in the eastern suburbs and their houses are probably worth three times as much.”
Mr Kreichbaum said BRRA would work with the Sunshine Residents and Ratepayers Association (SunRRA) and Keilor Residents and Ratepayers Association (KRRA), but was yet to contact them.
