By Alyssa Fraser

The residents of Techno Park Drive in Williamstown are still in limbo after Hobson City Council locked them out of the last council meeting last month. 

The residents received eviction notices from Council in July but still have no clear plan for alternative housing. Since the Council lockout Mayor Tony Briffa has declined interviews and is instead referring media to a statement issued on August 7.

The statement outlines the long-term industrial zoning status of the site which has been in place since the 1980s and claims that Council had ‘undertaken regular enforcement when it became aware of unlawful uses throughout that time’.

However, in the same release the Mayor says the council was aware of residents living in the area for at least 14 years indicating ‘regular enforcement’ has not been taking place.

While the Mayor says ‘Council has no intention of seeing anyone become homeless’ it has not outlined alternative plans for impacted residents. 

Techno Park residents remain steadfast in their fight for their homes

By Matt Robinson

I am a resident at Techno Park Drive. I was one of the organisers running the protest/march in Altona on the 8th of August to the council chambers. 

The turnout was fantastic, and there must have been about 150 people who came to support our cause. The march up Pier St was conducted in a very orderly manner. The police were very helpful in clearing our path up the road and negotiating the crossings and roundabouts, to guarantee everyone’s safety. We had five to six speakers at the Reserve before the march set out and some speakers outside the chambers, at the end of the march.

The Council cancelled their regular meeting when they heard of the march, and moved it online, preventing any public scrutiny.

We had the support of all the shop owners of Pier Street, who agreed with our fight.

Techno Park is a comfortable and safe place to live and a close and friendly community has built up over the years, the residents have put their heart and soul into making this their home.

Since the area has a history of housing migrants in the past and now a home to over a hundred people of a variety of backgrounds, it doesn’t make any sense that the council is trying to evict people, in this time of a housing crisis.

The residents of Techno Park are not going anywhere and will keep on fighting till common sense prevails and council rescinds their eviction orders.

The fight won’t stop till we win!