By KATHRYN BERMINGHAM
COUNCIL employees washed messages of support for refugees down a storm drain this week, in a move the Emerald Community House co-ordinator believes to be “politically charged”.
But Mary Farrow says the community “will not be oppressed,” and organised for a replacement display to go up within hours of the removal.
On 24 February, the Pakenham Gazette reported that refugee activists covered the bus shelter directly outside the community house in messages of support for the ‘#LetThemStay’ campaign.
But before 8am on Tuesday 1 March, council officers visited the site and pressure washed the shelter, removing the comments, letters and pictures.
The removal has outraged house co-ordinator Mary Farrow, who has accused the council of political bias.
“This is a Coalition country and a Liberal seat,” she said.
“This is censorship and attempt to isolate community members who are feeling disconnected and unheard, contrary to council goals and objectives.”
Ms Farrow said other bus shelters within the shire go “unrepaired, dirty and unsafe” for many years, without any maintenance from the council.
She explained that the council employees had originally been sent out to remove the signage on Monday, but did not recognise the messages on the shelter as “graffiti,” so took photos and left without cleaning the shelter.
On further instruction, they returned on Tuesday morning and blasted away the messages, also damaging tiles and artwork in the process.
The community house took ownership of the shelter on behalf of the people of Emerald in 2007, and has since used the board as a public space.
In a 2012 email provided to the Pakenham Gazette, a Cardinia Shire Council cultural development officer wrote to Ms Farrow to advise her that the council was not responsible for maintenance of the shelter.
“We’ve received an email advising there has been some damage has occurred (sic) to the ECH bus shelter and the bus shelter outside the Emerald U3A,” it reads.
“I’m not sure when it occurred or if you or the ECH or U3A were aware of the damage, but I thought I’d bring it to your attention just in case so that you can arrange for repairs.”
But the council’s open space team leader Kevin Alexander was quick to claim responsibility earlier this week.
“Cardinia Shire Council is responsible for the maintenance of all bus stops in Ranges and Port wards however they are not a council asset,” Mr Alexander said.
He added that posting any form of unauthorised notice, flyer or poster in public places contravenes Local Law 17 and is regarded as vandalism.
“Council officers have the authority to fine people who contravene this local law,” he said.
“The council recently removed protest material from a bus shelter in Emerald. While council respects the views of the community members who posted the flyers and posters, we felt it was inappropriate on this public asset and was therefore removed.”
The new display is a mix of community information, posts supporting refugees and a public photo exhibition.
Among the posters, photos and messages, lettering reads ‘we are community’ and ‘we are not compliant’.
As of Thursday 3 March, the new display has not been removed.
