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2 JULY, 2025
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Established in 1875 as the
A win for residents By Cade Lucas
12533599-HC07-22
Just over two years after it tried to evict them, Hobsons Bay council has decided to allow some of the residents at Williamstown’s Techno Park estate to stay. On Thursday, council announced it had approved the existing use rights application for residents living in block 11 of the Techno Park estate, after they proved they’d been living there continuously for 15 years. “This is a great outcome for those living in this section of Techno Park,” said Hobsons Bay mayor Daria Kellander. “I’m really pleased that they now have more certainty over their future.” The approval ends a two-year ordeal for the 25 residents of block 11, who along with residents of Techno Park’s other four blocks, were served with eviction notices by Hobsons Bay council in May 2023. At the time, council argued that the former migrant hostel was situated on industrial zoned land and that the surrounding fuel storage tanks posed a safety risk. The Save Techno Park campaign was formed in response, forcing council to pause its eviction attempt, and in February 2024 the state government altered planning laws, allowing residents to apply for existing use rights if they’d lived in their property for 15 years. With a new council elected in last October’s municipal elections, hopes
were high that Techno Park residents would be allowed to stay, but campaign spokesperson Lara Week said Thursday’s decision was still a relief. “We’re extremely relieved and so happy,” said Ms Week, adding that the feeling extended throughout the estate.
We’re extremely relieved and so happy ... it’s such a win - Lara Week for all of us “We’ve all been working together across these last two years to make sure that everyone’s home is protected. And so even though this decision only applies to one block so far, it’s such a win for all of us.” Ms Week said the application for block 11 included more that 100 documents of evidence and the case for the other blocks was just as strong. “We’ve got residents, both past and present, who’ve written stat decs (statutory declarations) with all the details of their life at Techno Park. We’ve got people’s photos of their homes, bills, years worth of pet registrations from the council.” Hobsons Bay council said it was expecting applications for existing use rights from residents of other Techno Park properties and that they had until January 16, 2026 to submit.
WestSide roller derby members Jessica Hunt aka ’Massica Jones’ and Mel Buttigieg aka ’Bleeder of the Pack’ will compete in the metro roller derby. (Damjan Janevski) 484215_03
Skating up roller derby fun Footscray is all set to rumble as four powerhouse roller derby teams clash in an action-packed triple-header, led by the west’s own WestSide Roller Derby. Victoria University Community Sports Stadium will transform into a battleground for round two of the metro season on Saturday, July 19, with the first game starting at 1pm. It will mark the return of competitive roller derby to Melbourne’s west, with teams rolling in from across Melbourne and Sydney. Roller derby is a fast-paced, full-contact sport played on roller skates. Each team’s designated “jammer” scores points by lapping
opposing strikers, while “blockers” try to stop them. WestSide Roller Derby skater Massica Jones, aka Jessica Hunt, said “Footscray has always had a gritty and passionate spirit, so we are super thrilled to bring derby back to the west, where it belongs.” The event features three back-to-back games, headlined by WestSide Glory versus Sydney’s Inner West Roller Derby Skatecrashers. Limited seating is available, however spectators are encouraged to bring a camp chair, cushion or picnic rug for the best experience.
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