An attack by NSW Upper House MP Shayne Mallard on Blue Mountains council and MP Trish Doyle has sparked a war of words between the parties.
Mr Mallard, in a press release, called on council to "be transparent" about the asbestos contamination scare in fill at Springwood Country Club.
“I’m aware that councillors were only briefed on this issue on Tuesday, February 12 and that council itself had known of the contamination the previous week. What is alarming is that I’m told the EPA only became aware of the serious health and environmental issue after a call from a local journalist.
“This beggars the question why council didn’t inform the EPA immediately?"
Mr Mallard also criticised Ms Doyle "for her continued silence on the issue", saying she had "gone to ground when asbestos mismanagement surfaces at the hands of the Labor-controlled council".
Council in response pointed out that as soon as the potentially contaminated material was noticed (when council staff were at the course on an unrelated matter), the response team was called in and samples rushed to a laboratory for testing.
The area was also closed off and the material sprayed to contain it.
A spokeswoman pointed out that, while council owns the land, the country club is the lessee.
"The club is responsible for the conduct of the course and to the management of the land covered by the lease," she said.
Council now had to wait for the appropriate agencies - the RID (Report Illegal Dumping) Squad, EPA and SafeWork NSW - to act, the spokeswoman said.
Attempts by the Gazette to contact the RID Squad for an update were unsuccessful.
The Liberal deputy mayor, Chris Van der Kley, said council staff acted as soon as they were aware of the contamination.
"Not only is this a site we do not manage, I am advised that we were not even informed that the fill had been brought there," he said.
Ms Doyle also responded to Mr Mallard, describing his media release as "an absurd and frankly embarrassing attempt at a political smear".
