Brimbank City Council moved that the petition be accepted and referred, at the February ordinary Council meeting. This was a promising start, but has sadly yielded a less than desirable result.

After 3 months, a mandatory response had not been received by Council. After a follow up with Council's Governance department, I received the following letter of response via an email from Jodie McGoldrick on behalf of the letter writer:

"Dear Ms Meilak 

Re: Petition - Opposition to Fireworks in Brimbank 
T 92494000
W brimbank.vic.gov.au 

PO BOX 70
Sunshine, Victoria 3020 

I refer to your Petition regarding the issuing of Fireworks Permits at events in Brimbank. 

The Petition was tabled at the Council Meeting held on Tuesday, 20 February 2024 and Council resolved as follows: 

That Council: 

a. Receives a petition from 368 petitioners, requesting Brimbank City Council to stop granting permits that allow the use of fireworks at events in the community. 

b. Refers the petition from 368 petitioners, requesting Brimbank City Council to stop granting permits that allow the use of fireworks at events in the community, to the Chief Executive Officer for consideration and response. 

As the matters raised in the Petition sit within my portfolio of responsibility the Chief Executive Officer has asked me to respond to you on Brimbank’s behalf. 

I provide the following in response to your Petition: 

Brimbank officers have considered the matters raised in the petition received by Council at its meeting of Tuesday 20 February 2024. 

The possession, use and sale of fireworks is currently administered via State Legislation, being The Victorian Dangerous Goods Act 1985 (DG Act). Any illegal use can be investigated and enforced by Victoria Police and Worksafe Victoria https://www.worksafe.vic.gov.au/search?q=fireworks . 

Permits currently issued by Brimbank Council are minimal and strict guidelines are enforced with regard to the use subject to the DG Act. 
24/213859 
Council officers have formed a view that the majority of issues caused by fireworks are through the illegal use and detonation of fireworks which is not covered under Council’s permit system. 

These issues are best dealt with by Victoria Police in terms of investigating the use and sale under DG Act. 

Should any changes in State Legislation occur Council will ensure the permit system and Brimbank Local Laws are amended accordingly. 

If you have any further enquiries, please contact Council’s Manager City Regulatory Services, John Petroro on 9249 4000. 

Yours sincerely 

Kelvin Walsh Director City Futures "

 
THIS RESPONSE IS TOTALLY UNACCEPTABLE!
Not only does this letter not address the issue raised in the petition, it actively aims to shift our attention to the under-resourced police, rather than make any commitment to or even acknowledge the request being made.

The following reply email has been sent and CC'd to the CEO and the monitors currently sitting in on Council:

"Hi Jodie,

I am most disappointed in this response and to be honest, find it unacceptable. Not only has it taken 3 months to receive this response, but the petition and its 368 signatories, call on Council to cease granting permits to event organisers, that allow them to have fireworks displays. In case there is any confusion, the petition clearly states:

"BRIMBANK: IT IS TIME TO END THE USE OF FIREWORKS AND START USING SAFER ALTERNATIVES!
We call on Brimbank City Council to stop granting permits that allow the use of fireworks at events in our community. There are better and safer alternatives available, such as drones or lasers, and we need to see these become the only option for event organisers.”

Starting that "Council officers have formed a view that the majority of issues caused by fireworks are through the illegal use and detonation of fireworks which is not covered under Council’s permit system” and advising people to make a complaint to the police, is both pointless and completely unacceptable.

The 368 people who have signed this petition have not asked for your opinion of what is causing the most harm to the community, nor does it ask Council to address the problem of illegal fireworks and as such, I respectfully request a response that directly addresses what the petition and its signatories are calling for; an immediate cessation of Council granting permits to event organisers to host fireworks displays.

I look forward to your timely and appropriate response.

Regards,
Shannon Meilak"

I URGE EVERYONE WHO HAS SIGNED THIS PETITION, TO IMMEDIATELY CONTACT COUNCIL VIA EMAIL AND ADVISE THAT YOU WANT A RESPONSE THAT DIRECTLY ADDRESSES THE ACTION WE HAVE CALLED FOR -
THAT IS FOR COUNCIL TO STOP ISSUING PERMITS TO EVENT ORGANISERS FOR FIREWORKS!

Thank you for your continued support in this campaign.