Skate park battle may go to ICAC
THE Liverpool skate rink debacle has escalated with the president of the Australian Roller Skating Club, Tony Stevens, taking his fight to State Parliament.
Last month, Mr Stevens met the NSW Opposition Leader John Robertson and Premier Barry O'Farrell to pursue what he called his "fight for justice".
While most of the details of their meeting remain confidential, Mr Stevens said he was advised to send a written complaint to the Independent Commission Against Corruption.
"Liverpool Council said I was paid $50,000 for the rink, but I wasn't paid a cent, I accepted $50,000 under duress," Mr Stevens said. "Council engaged an independent assessor and the skating floor alone was valued at $473,000.
"Documents will be presented to council which will have a bearing to end an injustice to an innocent organisation that this council has the opportunity to rectify."
Councillor Wendy Waller, who was on the council during the negotiations, said Mr Stevens had no grounds to attack the council over historic dealings as he willingly entered a legal agreement.
"At the time, my greatest concern was that Mr Stevens had adequate legal representation and was aware of what he was signing," she said.
"I was assured by council's legal team that he did have legal representation, in addition, the space he was compensated for was in disrepair.
"By the time he was compensated, I don't believe there was any public access at all."
Cr Waller said the site remained the property of Liverpool Council and Mr Stevens was only leasing the premise.
She said it was unfair for ratepayers' money to be used to maintain the site when Mr Stevens was no longer providing a public service.
"This issue was resolved 10 years ago. He took the money, end of story."
Cr Waller also said she didn't believe $473,000 was an accurate representation of the value of the standing structures on the site, but said the council did engage an independent assessor to value the site.
Mr Stevens said that figure was agreed upon by the Oasis developers at the time the site was to be acquired.