A resident leading a community rebellion against maggot-infested FOGO bins is undeterred by the Premier’s claims that he’s causing unrest in Rockingham.
Hundreds of locals packed the Gary Holland Community Centre on Tuesday night to urge changes to the City of Rockingham’s bin collections, wanting a return to weekly collections from the fortnightly pick-ups.
Issues with the FOGO (food organics garden organics) red bins in Rockingham have been long documented with shocking images of maggots spilling from lids, reports of foul smells and rubbish dumping at local parks.
Residents gathered to vote on five motions including reinstating weekly red-lidded bin collections.
They also sought an independent audit of the FOGO waste system, establishing a public transparency register for lobbyists and developers, implementing a mandatory ratepayer impact statement for capital projects over $500,000 and creating a public accountability dashboard for tracking questions taken “on notice”.
The special electors’ meeting was prompted by a petition by local Jarrad Krollig who collected the signatures of 440 ratepayers.
Mr Krollig, who has no political background, was inspired to start the petition after his mum, a foster carer, struggled with the fortnightly collection of bins.
The next day, Roger Cook commented on dysfunction in local government, after multiple councillors resigned at Carnarvon, and ratepayers turned up in droves to the Rockingham meeting.
While he admitted the sector was a “mess” the Premier defended the City of Rockingham saying: “They’re a strong council, but they’ve been undermined by community campaigns which are utilising digital technology to see unrest in the community.
Mr Krollig said he was shocked by the comments.
“So making videos about the council and asking for transparency, and then lodging a legal form, one that is designed to give the ratepayers a voice, is undermining the local council?” Mr Krollig said.
“Well, then I guess that’s what we’re doing, so I’m just a traitor that’s followed the legal process designed to give people a voice.”
Rockingham was also left reeling after long-term councillor Craig Buchanan stepped down last month.
He accused the city of misleading the council regarding the funding of the Lark Hill Cup.
Since the special electors’ meeting, where all motions were passed, Mr Krollig said he’s been approached by ratepayers from all around the state asking for guidance on how to tackle local government processes.
“I’ve been approached by people in other cities interested in what we’re doing, because they’re also feeling unheard,” Mr Krollig added.
“From me going to my first council meeting ever on February 24 because my mum and my mate were really upset about the bins, to reading the Local Government Act to help people and find a way that they can be listened to, when they should have been given a say in the first place.”
Mr Krollig said he learnt how to tackle the complicated Local Government Act by listening to it on his headphones while at work using text to voice technology.
But Mr Krollig has also faced criticism after One Nation senator Rod Caddies supported the cause and turned up to meetings.
He said from the members from all political parties he approached for help, including Liberal and Labor, Mr Caddies was the only one who showed support.
On Wednesday, speaking to 6PR, opposition leader Basil Zempilas also weighed in on the debate.
“I’m from local government, as you know. I believe in the sector. I admire the people who put in so much for their community,” Mr Zempilas said.
“But the problem is when three or four go rogue, they give everybody a bad name, and they open the door to that criticism, which the community often seems to want to walk through and walk into.”
Mr Krollig hopes this is the start of more people taking on their local governments over inaction on core functions, like bins.
“Just listening to all the people hearing them say they’re not being listened to, I just thought it’s not really fair,” he added.
“So I just decided to do something about it.
“People power … That’s what I tell everyone when they’re like, good job, I tell them I can make all the videos in the world, but if they don’t show up to have their voice heard when it counts, it’s all for nothing. I’m just a guy talking to my friends online.”
The motions passed at the special electors’ meeting will now go before full council to be decided.
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