By Cassie Maher
WERRIBEE Ratepayers Association will hold their first public meeting tonight, in an effort to make council “sit up and take notice” of residents’ concerns.
Former Wyndham mayor John Gibbons has been a driving force behind the formation of the group and believes that the association can make Werribee a more livable place.
“Council are too remote for the people and there’s a touch of arrogance there,” he said.
“As an individual you can be dismissed as just a whinger but being part of a group can give your concerns credibility.”
Fellow member and Werribee resident Lori McClean said starting the group in Werribee made perfect sense.
“We noticed there were ratepayer associations in other areas like Werribee South but not one for Werribee,” she said.
“I always have people coming up to me asking what can be done about different issues around the town and now they can take these concerns to the group and then we can bring them to council.”
Ratepayers Victoria president Jack Davis said there has been a major increase in new associations starting up over the past three months.
“Every week I get at least one new group up and running,” Mr Davis said.
“There’s been so much dissatisfaction with local councils lately and 90 per cent of their concerns have to do with planning issues.”
Mr Davis, a member of the Monash Ratepayers Association for 10 years, believes residents need to speak up about their concerns.
“It is a difficult battle but eventually council will have to do something about the problems brought to them,” he said.
Transport, education and strategic planning are issues Werribee Ratepayers Association are concerned with.
“Schools are overcrowded and there is not enough maintenance being done around the area,” Mr Gibbons said.
“Having been a councillor for so many years I know the responsibility they have to the community to follow through with their concerns.”
Ms McLean agrees that there is strength in numbers.
“Instead of one voice, we can have a combined voice,” she said.
Werribee Ratepayers Association will meet monthly at a yet to be decided venue.
Members of the public can call Lori McLean on 0423 160 228 for more details.
