Opinions, Recent News > Editorial: Who is Keeping Who in the Dark?

Editorial: Who is Keeping Who in the Dark?

Filed in Opinions, Recent News by Elizabeth Flaherty March 10, 2016

YESTERDAY the general manager of Council, Waid Crockett contacted scone.com.au to request a correction to the article Council Apologises for Septic Mess.

Waid Crockett general manager of Upper Hunter Shire Council

The sentence “Mayor Wayne Bedggood also tabled his previous questions to the general manger in relation to the matter”, was apparently incorrect because the Mayor’s email was not sent to the general manager, rather the director of infrastructure services.

scone.com.au has repeatedly asked the general manager to answer questions in relation to his management of the septic pit closure in Scone, including when he was made aware of the situation and when he informed Councillors.

To date Mr Crockett has refused to answer any questions from scone.com.au in relation to septic services.

The request for a correction combined with the continued refusal to clarify his management of the septic issue only raises more questions about the general manager’s role in this ongoing fiasco.

The general manager was present in Tuesday’s works and technical services meeting when the issue of capacity at the Aberdeen treatment plant was raised, yet he did not clarify that there was a 5,000 litre daily limit at the plant. See story: Septic Spills Over Again.

Which begs the question was the general manager kept in the dark by his own staff, or was he aware but decided to keep others in the dark?

Either option does not bode well for a functional Council.

Key questions we have asked of the general manager previously have included:

When were you first made aware of the EPA breach at the septic facility?
When did you inform the Mayor of issues at the facility?
When did you first consult with the Mayor regarding the test results from the facility?
When did your staff first raise with you the need to close the facility?
When did you first consult with the Mayor on the closure of the facility?

No responses to any questions have been provided by the general manager to date.

Questions relating to the burst water pipe that flooded Barton Street on Tuesday have also remained unanswered by the general manager, see story Barton Street Hit with Deluge.