Tom, Community Advocate for Casey

24/09/2026

16/09/2026

Wow well done to all councillors.

Even better that you have the CEO actually working for councillors and residents finally. It’s a big change from the previous Mayoral management.

Great news for our community.

At the September Council Meeting I moved Notice of Motion 3271 calling for data centre-specific planning rules and guaranteed community consultation, and I’m really pleased it passed with the full support of every councillor.

Across Melbourne’s growth corridors these facilities are increasing quickly with applications. While they bring investment and jobs, they also raise real questions about noise, land use, local amenity, and pressure on energy and water.

Right now the Victorian Planning Provisions have no clear policy for data centres, and in Precinct Structure Plan areas applications can proceed without public notice. That leaves residents locked out of decisions that affect their own neighbourhoods.

This motion sets three practical steps: • A structured 21-day public consultation so Casey residents can share their views by 30 November 2026.
• A letter from our CEO to the relevant Ministers asking for clearer State rules and mandatory public notice.
• Working with other growth councils and peak bodies to push for consistent, transparent planning standards.

It’s about giving our community a proper voice and making sure planning keeps pace with change. The feedback we gather will directly strengthen our advocacy for better planning policies going forward.

Importantly, this is about improving the broader planning framework – it does not determine the outcome of any individual application. Those continue through the normal statutory process.

Thanks to my fellow councillors for unanimously getting behind this motion.

If you’d like to have your say when the consultation opens, keep an eye on Casey Conversations... I will be sure to post the link once it goes live.

15/09/2026

🌿 COMMUNITY WIN: CASEY COUNCIL REFUSES GREEN WEDGE DEVELOPMENT

Tonight, City of Casey councillors voted to refuse Planning Application PA25-0374 for the proposed Place of Worship development at 600 Cranbourne-Frankston Road, Cranbourne South.

CRRA welcomes the decision.

The application attracted 237 objections, with residents raising significant concerns about the scale and intensity of the development and its impact on the Western Port Green Wedge.

Importantly, Council’s refusal recognised that while a Place of Worship is a discretionary use and can be considered within Precinct 2, the scale, intensity and development footprint of this particular proposal did not achieve an acceptable planning outcome.

The refusal grounds addressed the proposal’s built form, patron numbers, reliance on private vehicles, car parking and hardstand, vegetation removal and impact on the rural and landscape character of the area.

👏 Tonight, our elected councillors listened to the community and stood up for the long-term protection of the Western Port Green Wedge.

CRRA has consistently said that the fact that a use can be considered does not mean any proposal should be approved.

And we want to be absolutely clear: this was never about prejudice, religion or any particular faith.

It was about the planning process, appropriate land use and whether a development of this scale and intensity belonged on Green Wedge land.

A huge thank you to everyone who took the time to lodge an objection, ask questions, contact councillors, follow the planning process, attend the council meeting and speak up for the future of our community.

Your voice mattered.

On tonight’s council decision, CRRA President Anthony Tassone said:

💬 “Green Wedge protections have to mean something in practice. Tonight, the Casey Councillors demonstrated that they do.”

🌿 “Once our Green Wedges are lost, we don’t get them back. Tonight, Councillors made a decision that helps protect this one for future generations.”

Thank you to our councillors for listening and to our community for speaking up. 👏🌿

02/09/2026

Data centres will double the cost of electricity

https://www.facebook.com/share/r/1acYbnWNkX/?mibextid=wwXIfr

14/08/2026

So Mayor of the City of Casey Stefan Kooman is hoping to be elected to State government as a Labor member - and that’s great - he appears to be a caring honest and hard working guy . The down side is he appears to have used his position to further Labor policies at the expense of the needs of residents.
He is stepping down during this period as Mayor pre election .
This week there is a council meeting and no doubt he has selected his replacement ,but it will be another Labor sympathiser rather than a councillor who is better suited for the position. This is where the system is so screwed .
We have a billion dollar Data centre being planned with residents and ratepayers having no say with deliberate withholding of all information .
No doubt a Labor mayor will ensure a very corrupt Labor party who have approved the building of a Billion dollar data centre in Clyde North will attempt to hide behind local and state planning laws to avoid making a decision.
The decision has already been made regardless of what residents needs are.

Councillors that approve the Data centre should not be re elected .
Traditional many residents around the world have voted the councils out .
There is no insinuation of corruption by these councillors , rather Labor councillors voting to Labor policy and corruption ( as a consequence ).

My bet for councillor votes to be Mayor
are either Jennifer or Melinda ( not sure of their political alliance ) but they appear be Stefan’s favourites.

It’s sad to thing this council fails to meet the needs of residents and rate payers
The system is corrupted (politically) and the buck stops with Stefan.
Then Stefan should not be elected to state politics if he neglects the needs of residents and rate payers .

13/08/2026

Will Councillors overide the Casey Town planning Scheme or will they hide behind it ?

Casey councillors will decide on the controversial $1.1 billion Clyde North data centre proposal. Casey's outgoing Mayor Cr Stefan Koomen 'called in' the application, which means decision-making power over the application had been moved from council officers to councillors, who will vote on the prop...