By LACHLAN MOORHEAD
TENSIONS reached fever pitch at Casey Council last week, when councillor Rosalie Crestani challenged several of her colleagues who, she claimed, had raised partisan motions.
Not for the first time Cr Crestani found herself to be a lone dissenting voice last Tuesday night when she challenged councillors Sam Aziz and Amanda Stapledon over motions they raised putting pressure on the Labor State Government.
Lingering hostilities saw Cr Aziz label Cr Crestani’s comments “disgusting”, while Cr Crestani hit back asking him to “grow up” after the Springfield Ward councillor later referenced her previous dissent when he brought forward an unrelated matter of urgent business.
Casey Mayor Mick Morland ruled Cr Aziz’s comment out of order.
The verbal barbs came after two separate motions – advocating for road upgrades in Casey and the Port of Hastings – were raised by Cr Aziz and Stapledon and opposed by Cr Crestani.
Cr Crestani dissented against both motions on the grounds councillors Aziz and Stapledon were trying to make political mileage at the expense of the Labor Government.
In November’s State Election Amanda Stapledon ran as the Liberal candidate for the seat of Narre Warren North, while Casey councillors Susan Serey and Geoff Ablett also ran for the Liberals in the seats of Narre Warren South and Cranbourne respectively.
Cr Crestani ran as a candidate for the Rise Up Australia Party.
Cr Aziz hit back at Cr Crestani, calling her implications “disgusting” and responding that the City of Casey advocated on behalf of its residents, no matter which major party held office.
The first motion saw Cr Aziz urge council to organise a meeting with the Minister and Shadow Minister for Roads to reiterate Casey’s road priorities.
This was carried after a division was called, with Cr Crestani and Cr Rafal Kaplon the only ones voting against it.
Soon after Cr Stapledon then asked council to write to both major parties to re-affirm the City of Casey’s advocacy for the Port of Hastings over the Andrews Government’s preferred Bay West project.
Again a division was called, with Cr Crestani the only one dissenting.
