By Ethan Benedicto
Roughly 500 residents gathered outside Guru Nanak Lake, formerly Berwick Springs Lake, on Sunday, 23 March, in silent protest, where critical information was revealed through a Freedom of Information request.
The gathering, led by Michael Ball and the Berwick Springs Community group, highlighted similar key points from the previous one in November 2024; this time, however, with a new initiative to garner 2000 signatures for a 30-minute parliamentary debate.
Ball, who spoke to Star News after the gathering, said that the reception was “great” and that it “identifies the community support and the fact that so many are upset about what’s happened”.
“That’s what we’re seeing here today, communities coming out in support, they don’t agree, and regardless of who they are or where they come from, they just want to be consulted,” he said.
The FOI request featured documents that revealed that the City of Casey had long since been sceptical about leading the consultation process of Guru Nanak Lake, declining the role in December 2023 and deferring responsibility to Melbourne Water, the official naming authority.
It was also revealed that there was some ambiguity with land ownership and naming authority between Casey, the Department of Transport and Planning (DTP), and Geographic Names Victoria (GNV).
Furthermore, an official submission by the Department of Families, Fairness and Housing to Casey requested the latter to lead the consultation, providing a detailed proposal and community engagement history.
This history contained engagement with 19 Sikh community organisations and traditional owners of the land, which occurred between July 2022 and July 2023, and that the lake was chosen due to Casey’s Sikh population and the lack of a gazetted name.
As for the gathering, it began at 4.30pm sharp, with Michael speaking on the 170-year history of ‘The Springs’, which was established by William Clarke in 1855.
Touching back on the petition, Michael said during the gathering that if signed, the 2000-signature petition would go directly towards the Upper House of the Legislative Council of Victoria.
“This petition is going to give us a 30-minute debate, and that debate is going to give us some answers and some accountability as to why that consultation process wasn’t followed,” he said.
“I’m not going to stop until this is reversed; it’s wrong, it’s a travesty of justice, and that’s the message I want to send out.”
Also in attendance were four councillors from the City of Casey, with Shane Taylor, Jennifer Dizon, Michelle Crowther and Lynette Periera showing their support.
Taylor said it was “fantastic to see the numbers” during the gathering, mesmerised by the community’s support of the movement.
“Obviously, this is something that is upsetting the people, that there was no consultation.
“Our Berwick Springs Lake, now Guru Nanak Lake, was renamed without a word from the State Government, no consultation, no notice, just an announcement.
Tying the name with the area’s identity, he said that “this isn’t about the Sikh community, it’s about the disrespect shown to a community that calls this lake home,” he said.
The documents included in the FOI request held conversations between the council, the DTP and the DFFH.
They detailed that Casey was initially meant to handle community consultation but pulled out since they were not the naming authority.
Before this, consultation with the Sikh community groups and the traditional owners of the land had been completed, and without Casey’s cards on the table, there was no replacement figure for the community’s awareness.
The process remains in murky waters, with residents left to wonder where the consultation has been.
