Wagga City Council general manager Peter Thompson has insisted he did not backtrack on a promise not to pursue police action over the installation of unauthorised steel shutters on Tatton Drain last month.
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Boat Club commodore Mick Henderson says he has been investigated by police over his part in installing the temporary shutters across a culvert beneath Lake Albert Road to protest a lack of action on fixing the lake's low water levels.
On January 7, Mr Thompson said he had reported the shutters to police and the Natural Resources Access Regulator, but then told police not to take further action after Mr Henderson contacted him and "expressed remorse".
"It was reported both to the regulator and to police and that's because it is unlawful and we didn't want to be held responsible for that unlawful act," Mr Thompson said at the time.
"I've spoken to the police this morning and said we require no further action because the shutters have been removed."
However, Mr Henderson today claimed Mr Thompson had complained to police about his "defacing council property", saying he had been questioned about Tatton Drain by officers who had not laid any charges.
Mr Thompson said Mr Henderson "may have been investigated by police" over a secondary matter related to the destruction of a weir that has now been fixed by council, but would have prevented recent stormwater running into the lake.
"We became aware that in addition to the original issue someone had destroyed the gates on a weir there, disabling the weir, at a different location. So we updated the police on that issue. So I believe it's probably that issue they've investigated," Mr Thompson said.
He said he had let police know about Mr Henderson's involvement in the Tatton Drain shutters when he alerted them to the weir, but had not spoken to them since.
"I'm a bit concerned that Paul Funnell and Mick Henderson are trying to draw the two issues together and say that we've done something wrong," he said.
Cr Funnell, a friend and political ally who shared his council ticket with Mr Henderson in 2016, called on Mr Thompson to "make a frank and public apology" for the police investigation.
"This is an upstanding citizen who I've known for more than 30 years. He's done a hell of a lot more for this city than just Lake Albert," he said.
Police said on January 7 they were not involved in handling the Tatton Drain matter, but Riverina Police today declined to comment.
Council is in talks with the NSW government over a plan for Lake Albert's water issues.
Catie McLeod
Catie is a reporter at The Daily Advertiser covering health and Wagga City Council. You can contact her on c.mcleod@dailyadvertiser.com.au or 0475 819 651.
Catie is a reporter at The Daily Advertiser covering health and Wagga City Council. You can contact her on c.mcleod@dailyadvertiser.com.au or 0475 819 651.
