Fisheries agency to vet report

The NSW Department of Fisheries will become the third government agency to vet the Correa Bay water quality study before it is released to the public.

The report is currently being vetted by legal teams at Gosford Council and the Department of Land and Water Conservation to remove any "spurious and defamatory" material.

Gosford Council has agreed with recommendations from its coastal lagoon planning (CLP) committee only to release the report once modified in line with the legal advice.

The committee had formed the view that "parts of the report" contained "both spurious and defamatory information".

The basis for the view has not been disclosed.

CLP committee chairman Cr Malcolm Brooks told the joint meeting with the Correa Bay Water Quality Management Committee (CBWQMC) that no discussion on legalities would take place and Council regarded all legal opinions it acquired from its own legal advisers as confidential.

He said the meeting would be held "without prejudice" to the committee's legal rights and position.

CBWQMC Chairman Mr Derek Britton stated that his legal advice was that the document would not invoke legal action against its committee members, the CLP or Gosford City Council.

The CLP Chairman explained that Council’s legal advice varied from that point of view but did not disclose the detail.

Solicitor Alistair Knibb told the meeting that the CBWQMC had expressed concern that the integrity of the prepared study should be retained and the CBWQMC be given the opportunity to redraft the document.

Cr Brooks acknowledged that large parts of the study, particularly the historical data, were excellent, but some sections must be reviewed to delete any spurious and defamatory information.

This was for the protection of the CBWQMC as well as Council, he said.

He assured the CBWQMC that he would not allow the integrity of the study to be affected and if "large slabs" of the report were recommended to be deleted the CBWQMC be given the opportunity to redraft any identified sections.

Council agenda, April 24