City of Casey councillors escorted out of meeting by police following tense scene with ratepayers

Police were called to a local council meeting after hundreds of angry ratepayers heckled councillors following a tense debate.

A Melbourne mayor has slammed the actions of community members whose “threatening” behaviour at a council meeting resulted in police escorting council staff out of the building.

City of Casey councillors were met with hostility from community members during their first public meeting of 2025 on Tuesday night, and the first meeting held outside of business hours to ensure the public could attend.

It’s understood about 500 residents attended the meeting in Narre Warren, about 44km southeast of Melbourne’s CBD.

The disgruntled group had attended to ask questions of the council about regulation changes which would allow private landowners required to obtain permits for storing unregistered vehicles and limit vehicle repairs on personal property.

Tense scenes unfolded at the City of Council meeting on Tuesday. Picture: Facebook

Residents would be charged up to $473 for permits allowing them to store vehicles on their properties, under the changes.

Residents are currently charged non-refundable $150 application fee by council, plus a permit fee of $150 for residents to use mini-bikes, motorbikes, go-carts on their own properties.

However, the council will now also be charging $250 per vehicle to store “derelict or unregistered vehicles” and $350 for long-term storage of caravans, camper trailers and tents.

While addressing the public gallery, City of Casey mayor Stefan Koomen denied the changes were a “revenue raising exercise” as had been suggested by some community members, with the policy change only having raised $8000 in the past 18 months.

He said the permits were “not unique” to Casey council, with many other jurisdictions enforcing similar policies.

Council previously said the intention of the permits was to “support and protect the peace, health, safety and wellbeing of the community”.

Despite Mr Koomen’s attempts to explain, members of the public gallery made several interruptions throughout the opening of the meeting.

One frustrated resident could be heard shouting “shut your f---ing mouth” as the mayor spoke.

The council has also come under fire for approving a $27m waste transfer facility on Hallam Rd, which would be within 250m of residential homes.

Police were also called to the meeting to manage the crowd.

City of Casey residents came to the meeting to question recent policy decisions. Picture: Facebook

Residents were given the opportunity to ask questions of councillors about their decision at Tuesday’s meeting but

People could be heard yelling “bulls--t” and booing while councillors attempted to answer the onslaught of questions.

Videos posted on social media highlighted how quickly the public gallery turned on the council, with the meeting being adjourned on several occasions due to ongoing interruptions.

Police were also called to the meeting, and escorted the councillors and council staff following the conclusion of the meeting for their protection.

Mr Koomen issued a statement on Wednesday, calling the behaviour of the public gallery unacceptable.

“As the Mayor of the City of Casey, I want to say that I am incredibly disappointed with the behaviour displayed at the council meeting last night,” Mr Koomen said.

“This behaviour is not welcome and will not be tolerated.

“We had a number of residents attending the meeting in good faith, expecting to hear a response to their questions.

“Unfortunately they, along with our staff and my fellow councillors, were subjected to threatening behaviour.

“The wellbeing and safety of community and staff attending our meetings is our top priority.

“The situation escalated to a point where the police had to be called due to the actions of some individuals in the gallery.”

Casey City Council mayor Stefan Koomen slammed the public gallery’s behaviour at Tuesday’s meeting.

Mr Koomen said he hoped the community would respect the work council was trying to achieve.

“I understand there is a real frustration over the past five years under administration,” he said.

“The new councillors acknowledge this and we’re looking forward to listening to and representing our community.

“However, last night’s behaviour is not the way to go about this.

“I’d like to thank all the members of the Casey community who have reached out to me and my fellow councillors with messages of support.”

However, the Lynbrook Residents Association said in a statement following the meeting that “residents expect accountability, transparency and genuine engagement, not just bureaucratic deflections”.

“To everyone who showed up, spoke up, and stood together – thank you,” the association said.

“This is not the end of the conversation. We continue to advocate for what is right.

“Please remember to respect our councillors.

“They are the people on the ground, actually hearing out residents, and they are locals just like yourself.”

Originally published as City of Casey councillors escorted out of meeting by police following tense scene with ratepayers