Thursday, 27 February, 2025
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Roundabout upgrade
Job loss concerns
Waste debate
Heat policy halts local cricket
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SPORT
Creative spark ignites Hampton Park Uniting Church brought creativity to life on Saturday 22 February, with a fully booked free arts workshop. In the lead-up to the Art, Cul-
ture, and Diversity exhibition this March, facilitators guided participants through a vibrant cultural experience. See story page 14
Lyn McBain, Heather Shepherd, MP Gary Maas, Sierra Balsom (instructor) and Sha Yamin (instructor). (Gary Sissons: 456205)
Mayor speaks out City of Casey Mayor Cr Stefan Koomen has reflected on the gallery’s behaviour during the first council meeting as “disappointing”, as it was adjourned to the next date, while many attendees criticised the public question responses as “indirect,” “unhelpful,” and “irrelevant”. In an exclusive interview with Star News, Koomen said he understood that there might
be some misunderstandings as to how council meetings operate. While he acknowledged the public’s interest in the council’s work, the mayor said he and the rest of the council “felt unsafe”. Many residents said that their concerns were not properly addressed. A more informal open forum was pitched to address the public’s concerns on the municipality’s private land use permits
Thinking of
Selling?
and the proposed Hampton Park waste transfer station. Many in attendance also believed that an open mic should be an option, and that real-time conversation between them and the councillors become the norm moving forward. The thought was not entertained by Koomen,
however, and he clarified that council meetings are not the platform for open debate. While he understood that there were many “genuine residents” who attended, he emphasised that he did not want the meeting to reflect the City of Casey as a whole. Coverage inside
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