Former Wagga councillor Paul Funnell has called out councillor Jenny McKinnon for what he claims to be inconsistent decision-making regarding developments with environmental concerns. Photo: Supplied.
Farmer and One Nation spokesman Paul Funnell has called out Greens-aligned Wagga councillor Jenny McKinnon over what he perceives to be hypocrisy regarding environmental issues.
Cr McKinnon expressed her disappointment recently at Wagga Council’s decision to progress with plans to widen Plumpton Road that saw the removal of at least four trees.
Cr McKinnon said she had hoped more consideration would have gone into protecting Wagga’s tree canopy and that council had missed the mark by choosing to build a direct route instead of allowing for the trees.
Mr Funnell said her stance on Plumpton Road was at odds with decisions she had made regarding other recent developments across the city.
“I don’t understand her actions,” he said.
“The four trees in question on Plumpton Road all had rot in them, they were dying, and if you ask anyone who lives along that area, all of them would have preferred the new road rather than the protection of four dead trees.
“What’s even more jarring is that she makes these claims about Plumpton Road, but just the other night, Cr McKinnon called for the reversing of council’s decision to refuse a telecommunications tower in San Isidore.
“Every councillor except Cr McKinnon and Cr Parkins voted against the tower on the basis that there were potential risks to the environment relating to PFAS.
“Then there’s the Oura Abattoir. For years, local residents have called out the potential environmental issues that development poses, but she and every other councillor (except Cr Tanner) voted in favour of.
“How can you claim to care for the environment where on multiple cases just this week, you’ve voted in favour of a development that poses risks to the environment?”
Jenny McKinnon did not want to be drawn into a debate with the One Nation spokesman. Photo: Shri Gayathirie Rajen.
When contacted by Region for a response to Mr Funnell’s comments, Cr McKinnon declined, saying she didn’t respond to what she called “hate speech”.
Wagga-based MP Wes Fang also had a dig at the Greens councillor on Facebook, saying she was “completely silent and says nothing when they’re chopping down hundreds of trees for transmission lines and renewable energy projects”.
In response, Cr McKinnon said the National Party politician had “relevance deprivation disorder”.
During Monday night’s council meeting, she said the reason for her voting to reverse the San Isidore communications tower development decision from the previous council meeting was to allow for councillors to visit the site before making a final decision.
“There are issues of flooding out there, with quickly rising waters [in that area],” she said.
“There can be car accidents out on the highway out that way, and it’s really important that people can use their mobile phones and know that they will have reliable access in case of natural disasters and emergency situations.”
Cr McKinnon said she strongly considered the community’s concerns about the development, as well as reports regarding potential flooding and PFAS.
“I do want to assure the community that I, for one, have taken their issues that they’ve spoken about, and the objections that were put in. I’ve taken them very seriously,” she said.
“My understanding is that PFAS may be present, but there will be regular soil testing to identify whether there is any PFAS there and if there is it has to be dealt with appropriately.
“[Based on reports] this telecommunications tower will not impact flooding or the direction of flooding. Instead of refusing this development, we have the chance to visit the site and talk to the community and really see if this development poses a risk.”
