Former mayor Fred Maddern, left, resident Dianne Purton, and former mayor Michael Clarke, are upset at the VEC report. 70257 Picture: DAMJAN JANEVSKI
By Charlene Gatt
FOOTSCRAY City Council veteran Fred Maddern is outraged by a Victorian Electoral Commission recommendation to put Kingsville in the same ward as West Footscray.
Mr Maddern, who sat on Footscray City Council for 23 years and was mayor twice, strongly believes that Geelong Rd provides a physical barrier between Kingsville and West Footscray and to associate the two suburbs would be disregarding locals and local issues.
“Most of the people I have spoken to strongly oppose it,” he said.
“We have a great, close-knit community, so why destroy it? Why rip out the heart and soul of the community with changes that are totally inappropriate?
“We’re not West Footscray people, we’re Kingsville people, proud Kingsville people.
“It just smacks of complete idiocy and I am going to call on Kingsville residents to revolt against the VEC and let them know where they can stick their proposal.”
Mr Maddern’s outburst comes after the VEC recommended changes to existing ward boundaries as part of a review of the municipality.
The changes include moving Kingsville from Wattle Ward to Bluestone Ward, placing the entire suburb of Yarraville within Wattle Ward, extending the boundaries of Stony Creek Ward and redefining Sheoak Ward to include all of Seddon.
Under the plan, Saltwater Ward is also altered to include most of Footscray and Ironbark Ward is enlarged to meet the lower boundary of the Medway Golf Club and some of the former Bluestone Ward.
Another two alternative options are also being presented for public comment, including a three ward structure with two two-councillor wards and one three-councillor ward; or to increase to nine councillors with three three-councillor wards.
Wattle Ward councillor Michael Clarke is also angered by the proposal.
“Kingsville issues are very much issues to do with the southern part of the municipality – issues to do with Seddon, Kingsville and Yarraville,” Cr Clarke said.
“To align Kingsville with Bluestone is to really not recognise the community of interests here. It’s about issues that are pertinent to the community, and Kingsville issues are Yarraville and Seddon issues – they’re not West Footscray issues.”
