Ballina Shire Council candidates against the idea of a new dam in Byron’s hinterland are accusing fellow candidate Sharon Cadwallader of false claims in her electoral campaign.
Ms Cadwallader is an incumbent member of the council and also represents the local government on the Rous County Council, responsible for town water supply on much of the Northern Rivers.
She’s the only woman running for Ballina mayor this year, alongside four other current serving councillors: Jeff Johnson, Keith Williams, Stephen McCarthy and Eoin Johnston.
The Greens aren’t running for the mayoral position but have a team of candidates in each of Ballina’s three wards.
Some have accused Cr Cadwallader of using the Dunoon Dam as a political wedge during the election campaign period, and if so, she has likely succeeded.
Ballina Shire Council candidates have taken firm positions either for or against a project already scrapped repeatedly by the Rous County Council.
Crs McCarthy and Johnston say they support Cr Cadwallader’s call for an independent inquiry into the feasibility of a dam near the hinterland village of Dunoon.
But Crs Johnson and Williams and The Greens are against the idea and have relayed their frustration at what they say are false claims made about the Rous County Council Future Water Strategy 2060 in Cr Cadwallader’s campaign ads on television and social media.
The criticisms reflect concerns expressed in a...
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