By CAMERON LUCADOU-WELLS
GREATER Dandenong Council’s bid to mount a campaign against smart meters may hit a hurdle at the Municipal Association of Victoria.
Last week, the council resolved to investigate legal costs for a class action, through the support of the MAV, against the smart meter roll-out.
Greater Dandenong incumbent councillor Peter Brown, who brought the council motion last Monday, said there was evidence of unhealthy radiation levels from smart meters.
He said there was also documentation of devices catching fire and “cooking” during high power demand. “Where there’s a large number of apartments, all the boxes will be lined up in a row. Imagine the sheer volume [of radiation] . . . I wouldn’t want my bedroom next to the meter boxes. If people want to opt out of being radiated, they can and they should.”
Cr Brown said the compulsory roll-out was not supported by law. He said legislation supported suppliers using their “best endeavours” to install the smart meters, but with no mention of affected property owners and ratepayers.
The council voted to “support” the rights of people to opt out of the smart meter roll-out.
But last month, MAV member councils voted down a motion calling for the state government to allow customers to opt out of the roll-out, and to have smart meters removed at no cost.
MAV chief executive Rob Spence said some member councils didn’t consider it was the MAV’s role to advocate on the health impact of smart meters “without really strong evidence”.
“It would require a massive amount of work. Around the issue of [electromagnetic radiation], there’s a case of arguments both ways.”
Noble Park resident Shirley Fernando, who witnessed a next-door neighbour’s smart meter “explode” last December, said a smart meter was rolled out at her home last week.
“We didn’t want to have them but didn’t have a choice. We said we’d put a padlock on our gate and they said they’d just cut it open. They’ve got us over a barrel. I think they should check out what happened next door.”
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