For a book that looks at the history of a local golf course, Antill Golf Club Associates has created enough controversy to fill another book.
Last Friday the book was the subject of a hearing in Picton Local Court.
The author, Lynette Styles (pictured), a former Wollondilly councillor, had lodged a statement of claim seeking $125 for a copy of her book that is in council’s possession.
In response, Wollondilly Council filed a notice of motion seeking orders that the statement of claim be dismissed as it was frivolous and failed to disclose a reasonable cause of action.
The presiding magistrate at Picton Local Court, his honour Roger Prowse, heard the case.
After Ms Styles told the magistrate she would withdraw the matter if council agreed to pay, Mr Prowse made an order that Wollondilly Council pay the $125 for the book within seven days.
He also ordered each party to pay their own legal costs.
That’s all well and good, however the real fireworks started virtually the minute the parties left the court.
Ms Styles went first, firing off an open letter to all nine Wollondilly councillors.
As well as presenting the background to the book controversy, Ms Styles accused Wollondilly Council of wasting thousands of dollars to defend a claim for $125.
Ms Styles said that earlier this year she donated a copy of the Antill Golf Club Associates book to Picton Library, but it was “banned’’ because council did not like some of its contents.
She decided to seek payment for the book and the matter ended up in court last week.
Council disputes the claims made by Ms Styles.
In response to questions from the South West Voice in Macarthur, Mr Ben Taylor, the chief executive officer of Wollondilly Council said the following:
“These claims are fake news. Council repeatedly offered to pay for this book, which for reasons known only to the author she refused to accept and instead decided to take council to court,’’ Mr Taylor said.
“Council cannot ignore legal proceedings, so instead took the most cost-effective action available which was to seek to have the matter dismissed.
“On Friday, by order of the court the matter was withdrawn and dismissed.
“Noting the claims of legal costs are wildly exaggerated, I still cannot fathom why anyone would seek to waste ratepayer funds on such frivolous action,” Mr Taylor said in the statement.
We also asked the shadow minister for local government, Greg Warren, for a comment on the case at Picton Local Court last Friday.
“This appears to be a waste of everyone’s time and money, and I’d hope that common sense prevails,’’ he said.
As for Lynette Styles she is sticking to her guns, saying council went over the top in defending a claim for a paltry amount of $125.
“I think it’s unfair of ratepayers having to foot the bill every time council loses a case,’’ she said.
“They should be made to pay out of their own pocket when they lose a case.’’
Time will tell if this is the last chapter in this Wollondilly saga.
Lynette you are amazing, standing up to the council.