By Laura Michell
The Mernda Town Centre has been delayed again, after five Whittlesea councillors failed to attend a rescheduled council meeting to consider issuing a permit for the development.
The council called the December 21 meeting to consider a planning application for the town centre, after it was unable to deal with the development at its December 11 meeting.
As reported by Star Weekly, the development was included on the agenda for the December 11 meeting but could not be dealt with because not enough councillors was present to hear the item.
Councillors Ricky Kirkham, Norm Kelly, Alahna Desiato, Caz Monteleone and Mary Lalios did not attend the meeting after raising concerns about Simon Overland remaining as the council’s chief executive.
Cr Sam Alessi declared a conflict of interest, leaving the council without a quorum.
The same councillors were also absent on December 21.
The saga has been going on for nine years, with a development first approved in 2009. Since then, there have been a number of delays and revised plans.
Cr Tom Joseph labelled his colleagues absences as “extremely disappointing”. He has called for them to end their “strike” and attend the February 5 council meeting to prevent further delays.
Maija Poljansek, who moved to Mernda two years ago, said she was fed up with the delays.
“In two years, the state government has drawn up plans for a train, built a train line and there is still tumbleweeds at the town centre site,” Ms Poljansek said.
