Andrew Gee (Calare, Independent) Share this | Hansard source

I'm calling for an independent inquiry into Orange City Council's management of the Orange Regional Sporting Precinct project. This $75 million development is made up of state and federal funding that should deliver a world-class regional sporting facility. Unfortunately, some serious questions need to be answered about what's gone on with this project. One whistleblower, who is also an expert, has provided me with council documents that include scientific lab tests which show that sand supplied to the site for the playing fields contained too much clay and silt, in breach of the contract. Despite failing lab tests multiple times, the sand was apparently spread anyway. The lab test results sourced from council also show that sand failed drainage tests. Questions have also been raised about whether turf laid on the playing fields was washed first in order to remove silt, as required by the contract. Another whistleblower has come forward and stated that, before sand was delivered to the site, unwashed sand was mixed in with washed sand. Washing the sand removes silty particles. When I first raised this with council, their first response was, in effect, 'There's nothing to see here.' Now they've finally admitted that there are problems with the construction of several of the fields but, bizarrely, state that there are no issues with the sand. This isn't good enough. We need full transparency and accountability from Orange City Council. The public needs to know what's gone on here, who's responsible and how much it's all going to cost to fix. We need an independent inquiry to investigate Orange City Council's management of this project.

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