WARD CALLS ON SHOALHAVEN GREENS TO APOLOGISE FOR DELIBERATELY MISLEADING THE COMMUNITY

Member for Kiama Gareth Ward has called on the Shoalhaven Greens to apologise for deliberately misleading the community over claims the council had been exonerated by the Department of Local Government over the waste of millions of ratepayer dollars involving the bungled Bioelektra project.

In a Media Release on 5th December, Cr Tonia Gray claimed a Department of Local Government report had cleared council over the millions of ratepayer dollars wasted on the failed project.

“Yesterday, I received written confirmation from Shoalhaven City Council that no report from the Department of Local Government has been received by council in relation to the Bioelektra project,” Mr Ward said.

“Council have informed me that as soon as any report is received, Councillors will be advised, and clarification will be sought on releasing the report to the public. I reiterate my calls for transparency and accountability when council receives feedback from the Department of Local Government.

“Cr Gray must apologise for deliberately misleading our community by making up the claim that council had been cleared by a report that doesn’t exist.

“According to Cr Gray, on the 5th of December there was a report. On the 6th of December, Cr Gray told 2ST radio she would provide them with a copy of the report. On the 7th of December Cr Gray went on ABC Illawarra and was adamant that the Department of Local Government hasn’t released the report she claimed cleared the council only two days before.

“Is it any wonder that people have lost total trust and confidence in the Greens-Labor rabble that is controlling Shoalhaven City Council.

“People want answers on how council got this project so wrong. To claim that a report had cleared council of wrongdoing when the report doesn’t exist cannot be characterised any other way than deliberate and delusional,” Mr Ward concluded.