The Iemma Government has serious questions to answer about the way it regained the Jenolan Caves House lease, Shadow Minister for The Environment Michael Richardson said today following a newspaper report that ICAC has been asked to investigate the matter.
“It is alleged that the Government deliberately failed to meet its contractual obligations with respect to Caves House to get rid of the Caves House lessee, “ Mr Richardson said.
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“One claim is that the Government’s failure to provide a secure supply of potable water to Caves House, as required under its contract, ‘wrecked the reputation of every business at Jenolan’.
“JMA Food and Beverage, which ran the kiosk at Jenolan Caves, carried out tests showing the drinking water contained the potentially lethal bacteria e.coli.
“The main water tank supplying water to Caves House was filthy and contained bird droppings. So dirty was the water at times, it was impossible to wash the dishes for the Caves House restaurant.
“At one stage the businesses erected signs advising visitors to drink only bottled water. At other times the water supply failed altogether.
“How can any hotel be expected to function without water?
“At an OH& S meeting at the Jenolan Caves Resort House, staff raised concerns that ‘blocked water lines to the Caves House hot water system were not checked by the Trust all winter, causing major inconvenience to every guest and staff’.
“Other basic services the Government allegedly failed to provide included emergency power as well as the removal of dangerous trees and noxious weeds.”
Mr Richardson said it would be a very serious matter if it were proved that the Government had deliberately failed to provide services to Caves House to force the operator, Archer Field, out.
“The Government’s handling of Jenolan Caves over the past 11 years has been a disaster. The latest annual report shows the Caves lost almost a million dollars.
“Tour ticket prices have been forced up and tour times reduced to try and rein in costs – unfortunately the tours are the main reason to go to Jenolan and this has only made the situation worse.”
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