It’s important to set the record straight on The Village Observer (TVO) March 2023 edition
6 March 2023: A joint statement by Councillor Bridget Kennedy and Councillor Merri Southwood.
The Village Observer (TVO) is seen by the community as a valuable source of information about happenings in the Lane Cove area.
It was distressing, therefore, to see an advertisement on page 31 of the March 2023 issue of the TVO with false information targeted at the two independent councillors of Lane Cove.
As the only two candidates elected on an independent ticket at the last local government elections, the notice is clearly referring to us, Councillors Bridget Kennedy and Merri Southwood.
“We know that we are in NSW State Government election mode but this advertisement has gone too far.”
The advertisement states that it has been authorised by Scott Bennison, David Brooks-Horn and Katherine Mort – the three Liberal-endorsed Councillors on Lane Cove Council.
The advertisement is clearly political as it advocates for a vote against candidates on an Independent ticket in the forthcoming NSW State Government election.
It contains some statements that are completely untrue and others that are misleading.
The advertisement states that we voted to cancel a contract to build nine multi-sport courts and a function centre.
It says that our vote to cancel the contract cost the community $18 million in additional costs.
And that we never mentioned our intention to cancel the contract during our election campaign.
The facts
During our election campaigns and since our election, we have been clear that we recognize the need for more indoor sporting facilities for our community and we have actively sought to explore all options to address this.
When we took office in January 2022, a Council DA for a nine-court facility was awaiting determination by the Sydney North Planning Panel (SNPP).
Some Councillors had concerns about the environmental impacts of the proposed development on the golf course and wanted to explore other locations for the development as well as the possibility of joint venturing with other councils.
With six of nine Councillors having been newly elected, several Councillors thought that the DA warranted more consideration by them before it was determined by the SNPP.
On 24 January 2022
7 of 9 Councillors voted to seek a deferral of the SNPP hearing to allow for more detailed review.
Cllr Brooks-Horn declared a conflict of interest and did not vote.
Cllr Bennison voted against the motion.
The SNPP refused the request for delay.
On 28 February 2022
Council voted to withdraw the nine court DA from the SNPP in order to consider all available options to meet the demand for indoor sporting facilities in the Lane Cove area.
Cllr Brooks-Horn declared a conflict of interest and did not vote.
Cllrs Bennison and Mort voted against the motion.
We now have a new DA for an eight-court option awaiting determination by the SNPP.
No contract has ever been negotiated or signed for the building of nine multi-sport courts and a function centre.
“We DID NOT vote to cancel a contract to build the centre – there has been no such contract.”
We’re at a loss to know how Councillors Bennison, Brooks-Horn and Mort have come up with a figure of $18 million in additional costs to the community as a consequence of the cancellation of a contract that has never existed.
And to suggest that we did not disclose to our community during our election campaign our intention to cancel a contract is bizarre when there was no contract.
What we’re doing about it
We’ve sought at all times to be transparent in our decision-making.
The TVO advertisement contains untrue statements and statements that are misleading and cannot be supported by evidence in the public domain or by evidence known to Councillors on a confidential basis.
But, most concerningly, it misrepresents our actions, views or statements and draws into question our integrity as Councillors.
For these reasons, we are obtaining advice as to further avenues open to us – legal and otherwise – arising from the TVO advertisement.
The NSW Electoral Office has a copy of the advertisement and has been advised of our concerns.
Councillor Bridget Kennedy Councillor Merri Southwood
