Moreland Council leads Victoria in Ombudsman complaints
THE VICTORIAN Ombudsman has named that council it got the most complaints about last year, revealing that it received 151 gripes about the northern Melbourne council. This is why.
North West
Don't miss out on the headlines from North West. Followed categories will be added to My News.
THE VICTORIAN Ombudsman has named that council it got the most complaints about last year, revealing that it received 151 gripes about the northern Melbourne council.
The complaint capital of Victoria is Moreland, with the process of solving disputes and problems just too drawn-out, according to one complainant.
The Victorian Ombudsman received 151 complaints about Moreland Council in the 2017-18 financial year, 36 more than second placed Geelong.
Coburg resident Maureen McCunnie wrote to the Ombudsman in March, 11 months after her parking battle with the council began in February 2017.
COMPLAINTS RISE IN MELBOURNE’S WEST
VICTORIAN REGULATOR AWARDS PAYOUTS TO CUSTOMERS FOR UNFAIR DISCONNECTIONS
Ms McCunnie had previously complained to the council about cars parking over her driveway and outside markers in Glencairn Ave.
But she said the Ombudsman was also difficult to deal with, after she was told the Ombudsman wouldn’t investigate the matter while she was still communicating with the council.
“This only acts to prolong the matter unnecessarily when there has been a history of frustrating residents via bureaucracy,” Ms McCunnie said.
Communications and media manager Ainslie Gowan said more than 40,000 people contacted the Ombudsman every year and complaints were dealt with as quickly as possible.
She said residents were encouraged to work through disputes with councils first, but if they weren’t resolved to make contact with the statewide body.
Moreland’s corporate services acting director Olivia Wright said a new strategy regarding how the council dealt with complaints was in its draft stage.
“We recognise that good complaint resolution can rebuild trust and relationships with our community, restore reputation and ensure we don’t miss any opportunities to improve,” she said.
Ms McCunnie questioned the decision by the council to place L-shaped parking markings in the street instead of complete boxes to guide drivers.
Moreland city infrastructure director Grant Thorne said parking in Glencairn Ave was patrolled up to 15 times a week.
He said the L-shaped markings provided a guide to parking without reducing the amount of parks.
MORE NEWS
LABOR’S $11.9 MILLION ROUNDABOU T FIX
Dream start: Young Roo hops into cricket season with stunning stats
A rising Greenvale Kangaroos star, fresh off a dominant winter, has made a stunning start to his summer. He provides the reasons for his form and all the top performers from round 1 of the under-18 premier competition.
$80k trail of destruction by alleged thief
An Altona North man has been accused of leaving a trail of $80,000 worth of property damage after an alleged crime spree across Melbourne’s western suburbs.