THE controversial Macquarie River pipeline project has been referred to the Independent Commission Against Corruption.
The ABC reports the Member for Dubbo referred the Planning Assessment Commission’s (PAC) approval this month of the Orange City Council’s Macquarie River pipeline project, which has received widespread public opposition.
The Friends of the Macquarie group says Paul Forward, chairman of a recent PAC meeting over the pipeline, is also a principal at advisory firm Evans and Peck, which did a pipeline costings review for the Orange Council in 2011.
The PAC says the work took place prior to Mr Forward’s appointment and the company has had no further involvement with council on the project since.
Nationals Dubbo MP Troy Grant has previously expressed his opposition to the project, but says it is his parliamentary duty to make the referral.
“My referral’s simply a responsibility I have to represent complaints and information I have that’s brought to me by my constituents,” he said.
“I make no assessment.
“That’s the job for the Independent Commission to assess the allegations they’ve been provided with.”
Mr Grant says the matter is now out of his control.
More at: http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-06-28/pipeline-icac/4786736?§ion=news
