Willunga golfers blast Onkaparinga Council CEO Mark Dowd for using course 40km away — and having council pay for his membership
GOLFERS at the Onkaparinga Council’s Willunga are angry the course might be cut from 18 to 9 holes while the council paid its CEO to play 40km away at prestigious Kooyonga Golf Club.
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GOLFERS at the Onkaparinga Council’s Willunga club have come out swinging — angry the course might be cut from 18 to 9 holes while the council paid its CEO to play 40km away at prestigious Kooyonga Golf Club.
Avid golfer John Firth said many local players are seething the council can fund a $6800 “establishment” membership fee for boss Mark Dowd as Willunga battles a $500,000 deficit.
“This is a good golf course, and if the council is paying then they should be paying to play here,’’ Mr Firth said, adding: “Mr Dowd should have joined this club.”
Another Willunga golfer who did not want to be named said: “We love this course, and to think that the council don’t, well you know..... to say we are a bit angry and bemused is an understatement’’.
The fairway furore erupted after The Advertiser exclusively revealed the Onkaparinga Council had come under stern criticism from State Ombudsman Wayne Lines for paying the fee at the Kooyonga Golf Club in Lockleys and then attempting to hide it from ratepayers.
Onkaparinga is home to numerous golf courses, including the privately owned Flagstaff Hill, The Vines and Thaxted Park courses.
Port Noarlunga Golf Driving Range manager Max Carius said the business operated on council land and they would love to host the CEO.
“Actually the Chinese visitors (whom Mr Dowd said he was entertaining at Kooyonga) love driving ranges more than courses because driving ranges dominate in China,’’ he said.
A council spokesman said in 2015/16 the City of Onkaparinga subsidised the Willunga for around $330,000 and was set to subsidise a similar amount for 2016/17.
The Ombudsman made no criticism of Mr Dowd, whose annual salary is $328,000, and made no comment on whether the money should be repaid, and made a finding that there was no maladministration by the council in the repayment.
Mayor Lorraine Rosenberg, who is also president of the Local Government Association, said: “The decision was made by the elected body, for what was considered to be legitimate business reasons, which included support for our long-term, sector-leading efforts to attract investment to our region, particularly from China’’.
“We can understand community concern if this was about our CEO playing golf, but it was primarily about the City of Onkaparinga’s sector-leading economic development and China engagement strategies, which have delivered great outcomes for our local businesses, specifically by opening the door to the lucrative Chinese market.”
The Onkaparinga Council will discuss the issue at one of its next two meetings, including whether the money should be paid back.
The Opposition renewed its call for statewide council rate capping as a result of the revelations.
“If anyone had any doubt why we need rate capping all they need do is to look at today’s Advertiser where ratepayers paying for a council CEO’s golf membership is outrageous,’’ Member for Mount Gambier Troy Bell told State Parliament.
Mr Dowd, a golf enthusiast who travels the world to indulge his passion, pays ongoing annual Kooyonga membership fees from his own pocket.
