By NICOLE WILLIAMS
CASEY councillors have said time to think was the reason behind the backflip over plans to install a statue of Greek Olympian Spiridon Louis.
In February, City of Casey councillor Mick Morland moved a motion to erect the statue of Louis next to a statue of Edwin Flack in High Street.
The motion was in opposition to a decision made by the council in February last year to put the statue in Edwin Flack Reserve, after a campaign run by Berwick community groups.
Four Casey councillors voted in favour of both motions and have defended their actions.
Cr Sam Aziz was mayor when he stepped moved in February 2012 to push for the Edwin Flack Reserve location but voted in favour of High Street only one year later.
“I have gone with the belief that the ward councillors should have the opportunity to shape the decisions that affect their ward,” he said.
“The reason I stepped in was because I was mayor and I felt the councillors weren’t doing much to understand the interests of the community.
“I felt the matter was getting out of hand.”
“The ward councillors were elected by that ward and at the end of the day I will support the ward councillors.”
Councillors Geoff Ablett and Wayne Smith said the 12 months gave them time to rethink the decision.
“I didn’t have a problem either way before, but the argument was compelling and I had a rethink,” Cr Ablett said.
“In High Street it will have more exposure and people will talk about it.
“The way it was presented by Mick Morland, they (Edwin Flack and Spiridon Louis) were mates and High Street already has Edwin Flack.”
Cr Smith said he didn’t agree with the decision at the time but wanted to support the other councillors.
“At the time I didn’t agree but I went along because they agreed it would be at Edwin Flack Reserve,” he said.
“I believe there is a genuine link between Edwin Flack and Spiridon Louis and so I am happy to have it there (in High Street).”
The community groups fighting for the Edwin Flack Reserve location have also raised the question that the most recent motion is illegal as the original motion was not rescinded.
A spokesperson for Casey Council said that was not correct.
“Council has partially changed its mind in relation to the statue – it is still supporting a statue of Spiridon Louis, but just in a different location,” the spokesperson said.
The Gazette did not hear from Casey Mayor Amanda Stapledon before deadline.
