Asphalt company leader hits the road

The outspoken leader of one of Wagga's biggest asphalt companies has left town and disbanded his workers.Director of Wagga Hotmix Bill Casley has been engaged in a lengthy and costly legal battle with Wagga City Council over his Coolamon Road site this year. He now says he's having to seek work elsewhere.Early yesterday morning Mr Casley led a six-truck convoy out the gates of his site, destined for Katherine in the Northern Territory.Council and Wagga Hotmix have butted heads for months over issues of non-compliance and failed development applications. Efforts to strike out-of-court arrangements have been unsuccessful as each pursues legal action against the other.Mr Casley estimated the court proceedings have cost him about $30,000 and initial court orders have reduced the working capacity of the asphalt company.As a result, Wagga Hotmix has been split up. Ten of the 18 full-time workers will travel with Mr Casley to Katherine. The remaining eight will travel to Adelaide to seek work."I've got to look at all my options; you have to work," Mr Casley said yesterday.Mr Casley vowed to continue the legal fight on November 2 and hopes to return with all his workers to the Coolamon Road site. Failing this, he will turn to Coolamon and Junee councils for help in relocating his business away from Wagga.Wagga Hotmix business support manager Glenn Cleghorn yesterday said it was a sad day for this business."The whole thing is just a mess, it's a disgrace," he said.Council's acting general manager Andrew Crakanthorp yesterday released a statement in response to queries from The Daily Advertiser."Given that the matter is still before the courts, Wagga City Council is not in a position to make any further comment on this issue," the statement read.