Government Failure

Daniel Andrews Commitment

Daniel Andrews was at the Blackburn Gurudwara (Sikh temple) where he announced funding of $1 million for the refurbishment project being undertaken at the premises.

He stated that Victorians must celebrate Guru Nanak’s 550th birthday in a more “permanent” way.

“We’ll bring the Sikh community together and have a discussion on what kind of permanent landmark in the name of Guru Nanak should be created,” he said.

“It could be a street name, it could be anything – now I don’t want to suggest what it should be, but if we win the elections, we will sit with all Sikh leaders in Victoria and decide what it should be. It is such a significant occasion, and we must do something to mark it as a permanent acknowledgement.”

Landmark Identified for Renaming

The Department for Multicultural Affairs identifies a landmark to be named in consultation with Sikh community leaders.

We now know that the two locations offered to the Sikhs were both in The City of Casey – The Royal Botanical Gardens, Cranbourne and Berwick Springs.

Other parties involved in the process include the City of Casey, Melbourne Water, Bunurong Land Council, Victorian Multicultural Commission, and Emergency Service Telecommunications Commission.

At no point were residents of Berwick Springs consulted.

Further consultation with Sikh Community Groups

DFFH and City of Casey held an in-person consultation session with representatives from Victorian Sikh organisations who responded to DFFH’s invitation, including Gurduaras Council, Sikh Interfaith Council of Victoria, Siri Guru Nanak Darbar and Dream Harmony Seniors.

Sikh Communities provide feedback to DFFH

Sikh community representatives undertook further consultation with Sikh community members, and provided feedback to DFFH on the landmark site, preferred name and monument design. They indicated strong support for both the naming project and the proposed site, and for a particular name.

Casey “comfortable with the Project”

City of Casey’s Landscape Design and Construction and Connected Communities teams confirmed that they are responsible for the management of physical infrastructure at the site. City of Casey have indicated they are comfortable with the project*, including installation of plaques, signs and benches at the site.

*According to documents created by the DFFH and released under freedom of information requests.

DFFH Sends “Proposal” to City of Casey

DFFH sends a proposal to The city of Casey to provide the details for Casey to create the renaming proposal to be presented to GNV.

Much of the timeline of 2022-2023 is derived from this proposal.

Melbourne Water Requires Broader Consultation if it is to Lead the Renaming

In an email dated 14th December 2023 Melbourne Water wrote:

“The feedback from Geographic Names Victoria and Casey Council is that the current community consultation has not been exhaustive, and rather was focussed on Sikh communities opposed to the broader community.

For Melbourne Water to consider this name change proposal, broader community consultation should be led and undertaken by DFFH with support from DEECA (GNV).

This commitment has come from the Minister, and should be led by the relevant department. It is Melbourne Waters preferred position that this consultation is led by the relevant Government Departments seeking the name change, who have the required resources and subject matter expertise to lead a community consultation process for this location.

Melbourne Water consider this different from a Community or Traditional Owner request where Melbourne Water would typically support and lead this consultation process where required.”

Kilkenny ignores the GNV Preference for “Broader Consultation“

Despite receiving a briefing stating that Geographic Names Victoria’s’ recommendation was for “broader consultation with the community and relevant stakeholder groups”, Kilkenny opted for ministerial direction, ignoring the community around Berwick Springs Lake.

MP’s Descend upon Berwick Springs

Seven MP’s descend upon Berwick Springs Lake, including two ministers of state, to publicly celebrate the renaming. Not a single local resident was invited, many still remain unaware of what happened.

Local MP Gary Maas attended the ceremony. To our knowledge, he did not discuss this issue with members of his electorate and only recently has engaged with the Berwick Springs Community Association.

Brad Battin Questions Lack of Consultation

Brad Battin, the Liberal member for Berwick asks in Parliament about the lack of consultation but does not receive an answer.

Maas Wades In

Gary Maas appeared to be of the opinion that believing in the democratic process, expecting Government to follow its own rules and their MPs’ to consult with their constituents, makes a person a Neo Nazi.

The post was later removed but not before a descendant of a holocaust-survivor was appalled at the inference she was a Neo-Nazi.

City of Casey – “Not Involved”

City of Casey creates a post on its website:

“Council is aware of conversations that took place between the Victorian Government, Melbourne Water, and Geographic Names Victoria; however, Council was not involved in the naming of the lake or have any authority on the naming of the lake.”

This, despite almost constant involvement from 2022.

Maas Finally Responds to Residents

Maas sends an email to the residents who had been contacting him for days. He argues that Berwick Springs Lake, the very same lake he dropped trout into in September 2022, did not have a name.

He also wrote: “The lake landmark was selected due to its positioning in the City of Casey which is home to a large Sikh community population”

As we now know that “large” Sikh population accounted for 1.9% of Narre Warren South’s population in 2021.

For “the avoidance of doubt” he went on, “the Guru Nanak Lake was not named under the ‘Name a Place’ Campaign.” This despite the initial media release inferring that it was and two statements from Melbourne Water, the landowner, stating outright that it was.

He confirmed what was becoming apparent from other communications, consultation had taken place with Bunurong Land Council, Victorian Multicultural Commission, City of Casey, Melbourne Water, Emergency Management Victoria, Geographic Names Victoria and multiple Sikh Community Groups.

Why were Berwick Springs residents NOT consulted, when it is a requirement of the naming process?

Jacinta Allan uses the term Neo-Nazi

The Victorian Premier, making the most of Parliamentary Privilege, used the term ‘Neo-Nazi’ in the context of the discussion about the renaming, inferring that those opposing the renaming of Berwick Springs Lake were Neo-Nazis.cw

City of Casey advocates Consultation Regarding “Signage”

“Council has advocated that a consultation process be undertaken with the community regarding the design, installation and location of any signage. A letter was sent on 23 December 2024 to the Department of Premier and Cabinet and Geographic Names Victoria (GNV) to this effect. To date no response has been received and it is unknown whether Council (and the community) will be consulted on any signage proposed.“

CIty of Casey minutes, council meeting, 18 February 2025

Website Launched, Social Media Presence Extended

Residents of Berwick Springs gathered together to form the Berwick Springs Community Association (BSCA). Its purpose is to protect The Berwick Springs name, heritage,  surroundings and the multicultural, multifaith, inclusive community. 

Berwick Springs Lake has a name, no reason to change it.

www.berwicksprings.com.au